Copying cassette tapes to digital requires a tape deck and computer equipped with a sound card and recording software. Most newer computers are bundled with recording software, although free programs are available for downloading over the Internet. A Y-adapter with RCA-style jacks on one end and a 3.5mm mini-plug on the other will be necessary to connect the tape deck to the PC or laptop. Once the magnetic tape has been converted and saved to the computer's hard drive, the new digital file can be burned to a CD or uploaded to an MP3 player or iPod.
Instructions
1. Hook up the audio cables to the tape deck's "Playback" or "Audio OUT" jacks, using the red plug for the right channel and the white plug for the left audio channel.
2. Insert the plugs on the other ends of the cables into a Y-adapter (available at electronics stores), then insert the mini-plug on the Y-adapter into the computer sound card, which is a jack usually labeled "Aux In" and located on the back of the PC's central processing unit (CPU) or along the back edge of a laptop.
3. Open the recording software (see Resources section) installed on the computer by double-clicking the name of the program.
4. Insert a cassette tape in the deck and press "Play."
5. Click "Record" on the recording software. The button should feature a red circle in the center.
6. Click the "Stop" button when finished recording. Then click the "File" tab and choose "Save As."
7. Type a name for the digital recording and select "Save as .WAV," which is a file type suitable for burning to a CD or uploading to an MP3 or iPod.
8. Click "OK" to save the digital recording to the computer's hard drive.
Tags: recording software, tape deck, computer hard, computer hard drive, digital recording
