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How to Copy Music Cassettes to a Computer

Whether you want to upload your band's cassette-recorded jam session to the Internet or preserve some out-of-print tunes released only on cassette, you'll need to know how to copy music cassettes to a computer. You can convert your cassette music into digital audio and make it sound like new.

Things You'll Need

  • Audacity
  • Cassette tape deck with RCA output jacks
  • Stereo RCA cable with mini-jack connector
  • Sound card with line-in jack
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Instructions

    • 1

      Download and install Audacity (audacity.sourceforge.net).

    • 2

      Plug the male side of both RCA cables into the matching female connectors of the cassette tape deck labeled "Line Out" or "Audio Out."

    • 3

      Plug the mini-jack connector into the line-in jack on your computer.

    • 4

      Open Audacity.

    • 5

      Click on "Edit" at the top of the screen, scroll down and click on "Preferences."

    • 6

      Click on the drop-down menu for "Device" under the "Recording" heading and choose the device that matches your line-in device. Click on the "OK" button.

    • 7

      Press "Play" on your cassette deck to monitor input levels.

    • 8

      Click on the downward-pointing arrow under the red recording level meters to adjust the input volume.

    • 9

      Stop and rewind your tape to the correct starting position.

    • 10

      Click the "Record" button in Audacity, and press "Play" on your cassette deck.

    • 11

      Click the "Stop" button in Audacity to stop recording. Press "Stop" on your cassette deck.

    • 12

      Click on "File," scroll down and click on "Save Project As."

    • 13

      Enter the desired track name into the empty "File name" text field and click on the "Save" button to save the cassette music to your computer.

Recording Music

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