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How to Digitize Audio Cassettes

So you're ready to get rid of that big pile of audio cassettes, but you're not ready to dump all the great music that's stored on them. Now that everything is digitized, you can fit a great deal of music in some devices that are smaller than the palm of your hand. Plus, tapes can become warped and dirty, so it seems like a no-brainer to convert them to a media that won't age with time.

Things You'll Need

  • Cassette player
  • 1/8 inch male to male stereo audio cable
  • Computer
  • Sound card with "Line In" or a stereo microphone input
  • Audio recording/editing software
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Instructions

    • 1

      Plug your stereo audio cable into the "Line Out" jack on your tape player, or if it doesn't have one you can use the headphone jack.

    • 2

      Plug the other end of the stereo audio cable into the "Line In" jack on your computer's sound card, or you can use the stereo microphone input.

    • 3

      Select the correct input in your recording software (links to three programs are available in the Resource section below). This can be found in the Audio Settings or Audio Preferences menu.

    • 4

      If you used the headphone jack on your tape player, adjust the tape player's volume so it doesn't clip, and it is not too quiet. Use your own judgment to choose the best volume.

    • 5

      Set your cassette player to the desired start point on the tape.

    • 6

      Hit "Record" in your software first, then press "Play" on your cassette player. The software should start recording the music from the tape. The record, play and stop buttons in your software are marked with a circle, triangle and square respectively, the same as your cassette player.

    • 7

      Stop the tape at the desired point, then press "Stop" in your recording software.

    • 8

      You can now save the song in your desired digital format. Click "'Save As" in the File drop-down menu in your recording software.

    • 9

      Find the drop-down menu below the Save As dialog box where you type the filename. Select the file extension of your choice.

    • 10

      Choose a save location for your file, then click "Save."

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