The easy transfer of cassette recordings into MP3

The easy transposition of magnetic (analog audio recordings), from a cassette or audio tape (reel to reel) to a digital format that can fit in your computer on a disk drive, USB storage or CD/DVD can be done with the help of a simple device available at a low cost in any electronic accessories store. It will save you time and provide an excellent quality copy of your precious memories, or sharing or lectures. We don’t have to be specialists to do the job. We have used this technique for hundreds of recordings with no loss of quality. Once it is transferred to an audio file, the sound quality can be improved with an application on the computer. The files can be saved as backups on regular media and saved or shared for archive needs.

Here are a few steps to show you how to get the work done. :

1) Plug the cassette tape player in the right electrical outlet :


2) Plug in a Y cable with two male RCA ends in the outputs of the reader Line Out (output) and the end with the male stereo plug of 3,5 mm in the microphone input of a 4GB (or other).

Digital voice recorder like the Sony IC recorder or another brand of the same type. The first recording will reveal if the copy is comparable to the original recording. Do not expect it to be better than the original, some mechanical noises may also be recorded but the digital device is not to be blamed.

Make sure there is enough space in the memory of the device and that the batteries are good to do the recording in one step. The device can record a large number of audio material. An hour of voice recording will consume less than 1% of the device memory. A little less with live recording. The device can also record a live lecture or a share! Make sure there is enough space in the memory of the device and that the batteries are good to do the recording in one step. The device can record a large number of audio material. An hour of voice recording will consume less than 1% of the device memory. A little less with live recording. The device can also record a live lecture or a share!



3) It advised to clean the heads of the tape recorder once in a while. A Q-Tip with rubbing alcohol will do the job.

4) Put the cassette in the tape recorder and push the play button.

5) Push the record button of the digital voice recorder. First make a test before doing any transfer. There could be some adjustments to do on the tape recorder, like turning up the volume button, but this is rare if you use the end Line out/output. I needed reread the instruction manual of your recorder. Our recorder doesn’t need to be adjusted, the frequency, the line or voice select or the volume are automatically set for the proper usage. You won’t find such an easy way of recording on any computer.



6) Start your recording by pushing the red (REC/PAUSE) button of the digital recorder then push the PLAY button of the tape recorder. The transfer and conversion to MP3 will immediately begin. You can listen at the same time (use earphones or headphones on either device) and take note of the subjects being recorded at a the precise time when it occurs. You will have a very useful index of the content of the audio file. Keep it with the converted file in a Word.doc file with the same name, like : 1962-10-19 Dave Bancroft-Mtl Que-Que_Prov_Bil_Conf.mp3. Other options are available but, that’s another story.

7) Once your recording is done, to transfer the file from the digital recorder to the computer, use a mini USB to USB cable. The small end, like the one used in many digital cameras and accessories, will be plugged into the output of the digital recorder and the bigger end in the computer USB inlet.



8) The computer will recognize the new peripheral and open a disk window. We then transfer the recordings from the Voice folder of the recorder to any folder you chose or create in the proper disk drive.


9) It is preferable to use a folder with a name that can be found easily, indicating the time, place and event when the original recording was made.
You can also refer to this manual for all technical information concerning the

http://www.sony.ca/