capturing from audio cassette

[kreavit]

been messing around trying to record from tape to pc and it sounds terrible i got a 16 bit sound card and ive tried recording from the line outs to the pc and ive also tried from headphone socket to the pc using goldwave, and real producer software and it sounds bad
even when i adjust the sound settings from my sound options has anyone had a simular experience or has anyone got a solution to this
ive also noticed that recording vinyl to pc is ok and it sounds good just cant work out how to get a good sound out without it sounding over deviated & distorted and very trebble on the vocals on a song

 

[sabio]

There shouldn't be any problem if vinil records get right. I think perhaps the output sound from the Tape player is too high and may be distortion the input signal, try using a lower output level sound.

 

[Carlos1960]

My friend I have done what you ask several times using cool edit pro. The way I did it is the following. Using the earphones exit I connected to my sound card´s input. Jack to Jack connection. Then you must do a test to control the volume of the signal in order not to get distortion. Please also check your sound card settings and cancel any other input signals. For instance I discovered once that while I was recording from a Home CD player the signal was distorted because of the microphone.
If your tape recorder is good and the tape is ok you should get a very acceptable quality of music.

 

[MadJohn]

Another vote for it can be done. I have recorded countless
tapes, including entire audio books, to CD. Also using
CoolEdit.
I used a regular home stereo dual-tape player, connected
the standard RCA out jacks with a single mini-plug adaptor
to the line-in of a Soundblaster Live. Then, I just used the
plug-ins in CoolEdit to get rid of the tape hiss and any other
unwanted noises.
Can you bee a little more specific than just "sounds terrible"?

 

[lore]

Headphone plug should not be used 'cause the signal is pre amplified, if you capture this it's normal it gets distorted.
Use MadJohn way, the RCA signal is just perfect for soundcard line INs. Don't forget to adjust the recording level on the mixer of your soundcard, if it's too high the sound will get very bad even though your source is perfectly clean

 

[kreavit]

Madjohn
when i say it sounds terrible the music is fine except for when it hits certain high frequencys then the audio sounds over the top no matter how much i mess around with the sound options and sound options i use in goldwave including using the equlizer
just downloaded cool edit pro can any of you guys ghive me a run through how to carture audio tape
and also do i need any plug ins?

 

[albedo039]

I had to take the line-in volume almost on my SB AWE down to nothing to get a good recording. Anything above that was all distorted no matter what the source.

 

[lore]

Mhh...just making sure you guys understood what I told
There is a big difference between Line IN volume and recording level, volume is just for adjust the sound you hear, recording level adjust the signal which is captured by the soundcard
This note was just to make the point if your settings are ok seems quite strange to me the sound get distorted
Hope this helps