Reording audio tape to PC?

[chrisjones]

Hi,
My wife is a teacher and wants to copy an old tape of songs to CD. Can anyone suggest a decent peice of software to record and edit from an external source?

Many thanks.

[Delta Whiskey]

The freeware Audacity will do the job. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

[Matty_]

I can also recommend Audacity (go for the 1.3.12-Beta) as iv`e done quit a lot of old Hacienda/house tapes with it (the Effect/Noise removal helps ). Give us a shout if you have any issues.
You will also need to download and install Lame mp3 encoder binaries if you wish to save the output as mp3 format.

If you wish to listen to what your recording you may need to right click on the speaker, select "Recording devices"->Double click your Line In -> Select "Listen" and tick the box "Listen to this device".

Also when recording via Audacity you may need to tweak the ouput volume of the tape player. You wan`t the blue waves to be just reaching the outer edges (like in the pic).
When saving you need to hit Export and from the drop down choose your file type (e.g. mp3) where you can also choose your bitrate by clicking Options, next add title, etc if wanted.

[Halcyon]

If possible record from the line in port and not the microphone port as the microphone port can often over amplify the volume levels.

[Graham M]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

If possible record from the line in port and not the microphone port as the microphone port can often over amplify the volume levels.

And will normally only be Mono...

[TheNorm]

Originally Posted by chrisjones

Hi,
...copy an old tape of songs to CD. ....

Another method is to use a device such as this: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=280934

Although probably not worth the expense for one tape.

[chrisjones]

Thanks everyone job done :-)