Download and install free audio editing software, such as Audacity or Wavepad (see Resources). Audio editing software allows you to record sounds and separate and name tracks.
Connect the headphone jack of your tape player to the line-in jack on your computer with the audio cable.
Configure your computer to record from the line-in jack by adjusting the audio devices properties. From your Windows Control Panel, click on Sounds and Audio Devices, then Audio, then Sound Recording. Select Volume and check the box underneath that says Stereo Mix or Line-In.
Play the tape from your cassette player through the speakers of your computer and adjust the volume of your tape player for clarity. If your tape player is set too loud, your recording will sound distorted. Generally half or three/fourths of the maximum volume is sufficient.
Open your audio recording software and set it to record by clicking the red record button. Press play on your tape player and allow the tape to play through before pressing stop on your recording software.
To save the recording as a whole, select File, then Save in your recording devices. To save portions of your recording as separate tracks, select the portion of the whole recording by holding down the left mouse key and dragging your cursor over the selection you want to save as a separate track. Select File, then Save Selection and name the file. Repeat this process for the entire recording.