Convert Cassettes To Digital Options

[imjagdish]

How can we convert a recorded song in cassette (audio or video) into a digital file?

[imranwajid]

Deewani Parnam

I was going through the help given by yourself for audio to digital conversion. I find it interesting and helpful.
I have got many cassettes of old eras especially of 70s belonging to my seniors. I was thinking to convert them to digital ones. There are few questions.

1) If I go through the exercise of converting them, what will be the quality say using 256Kbps. It totally depends on the cassette recording quality. Because of my experience of downloading your uploaded songs which are converted through casetttes have the quality of near to vinyl ones. I am really grateful for those songs.

2) I have a Kenwood mini hi fi system. It has only video/aux jacks doen't have Line out jacks. Whether it can be used for your metioned method.

3) If the aforesaid system cannot be used. Can you recommend me any tape recorder which is cheap but gives good quality for the method mentioned by yourself. I will purchase it.

I haven't used the word "Jee" with your name as you have told me once a year ago I hope so. It is very difficult for me to write anybody's name with due attribute of respect. In my opinion respect for other is the most pivotal and mandatory ritual to be perfromed by any individual. Though i concur with this bizzare statement that respect is in one's heart we don't have to show it pretentiously. But respect shown either hypocritely or sincerely it has to be there.


one verse (as addicted to poetery)

Manzalein Shauq-e-tajasus ko sulah datee hain
Hum Rahoon ka talab gar hain Manzil ka nahi

Translation: Destiny gives zeal to reach it, We desire for routes not the destiny.

Hope to get the answers of few parashans. I will not lock the answers they will remain open.

Regards

[deewani]

1) If I go through the exercise of converting them, what will be the quality say using 256Kbps. It totally depends on the cassette recording quality. Because of my experience of downloading your uploaded songs which are converted through casetttes have the quality of near to vinyl ones. I am really grateful for those songs.

First of all, you are very welcome, and I'm glad you are enjoying them. When I record for myself Imran, I record in .wav file, that way it can be recorded straight to CD if one desires, without losing quality. Also, it's better to perform noise reduction on the uncompressed .wav rather then a compressed mp3 file. Then, I use db power amp to convert that .wav to a high quality vbr file for myself (ranges from 256 to 320kbps variable bit rate). When I upload on the boards however, because of previous size restrictions (and other reasons), I usually transcode to 160 kbps. Also, my recordings are often made from pristine brand new never before played cassettes - owing to the fact that I lost my entire collection in a fire in the 90s, causing me to re-purchase much music I had collected since I was a child. However, fine recordings can be made from well worn cassettes, provided they have been cared for in terms of storage, etc. Preference for bitrate is a personal choice, some say old recordings - 256 at constant bit rate is more then enough.. but to me, old songs have lots of "ups" and "downs" too, so I use variable bit rates. There's much research and debate on the web on this topic, after all everyone's equipment and ears are different.

2) I have a Kenwood mini hi fi system. It has only video/aux jacks doen't have Line out jacks. Whether it can be used for your metioned method.

You can use it, however, in that case, any adjustment you make on your Kenwood will affect the quality of the recording. Meaning, that if you adjust the bass or treble on your Kenwood, that change will be reflected in the recording as well. So I would set your Kenwood to what you think are optimal conditions before you hit record. Personally if I had to do it that way (and I never have), I would think that I would turn the bass and treble to the middle and any GEQ settings off. One question though - when you say video/aux, I'm not clear if it's an input or output set of jacks.....do you mean video in or video out? My Aiwa has aux jacks too but that's to bring sound IN to the unit from an iPod for example, or a DVD player.... If your jacks are output jacks, then you are OK.

3) If the aforesaid system cannot be used. Can you recommend me any tape recorder which is cheap but gives good quality for the method mentioned by yourself. I will purchase it.

I don't recall where you live....my preference, as I said before, is for the old Aiwas, and if not the Aiwas, then the very old Sonys, or any number of even higher end units like Denon, etc. You can usually find used units in excellent quality these days for sale by individuals as most are getting rid of their cassette players. I had done research on the web and had bought a vintage Onkyo - a model that was considered to be the best deck out there, but honestly I only use it as my rewind/forward deck, saving the heads on the Aiwa for recording... Bottom line, if YOU like the sound coming of it, go with it. Many people even use walkmans - though that would be my last resort. If you live in the US or the UK, then I would recommend searching on sites like craigslist.org.



This post has been edited by deewani: Oct 9 2008, 01:13 PM

[shabbirkumar786]

Hey Deewaniji,


It Official & Theres Absolutely No Question Or Doubt About It....

Deewaniji U Are The Best & Its Confirmed Now Full-Stop!

Ur Always Going Out Of Ur Way To Help Anyone & Everyone Possible! (& I Mean Anyone)

Always Absolutely Ready Totally Willing & Extremely Able!

I Know I Speak On Behalf Of Most HF Members - When I Say We are very very Fortunate To Have Such An

Amazing Person amongst HF.



So Com On Everybody Together Now....


Deeewaaaaaaaaaaniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.... Zinabaad! (Lol)

Mazdoor Union Zindabaad (Giving My Age Away Mow Lol)


Deewaniji Ur Just A Great, Genuine, Honest, Down To Earth Human Being Whos Always Willing To Help No

Matter Wat.



Ps.

Must Confess Almost Everything Iv Learnt At HF Is Totaly Down To Deewanjis Kindness!


Bless Ur Cotton Socks (Lol)


Take Care.

Bash.