How to Record From CD to Reel to Reel

If you need to record from a CD onto a magnetic tape reel using a reel-to-reel tape machine, there's good news. While the styles of recording are different and a reel-to-reel will likely be much older, the connections remain the same.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Get a mini to RCA stereo cable. You only need one with red and white RCA plugs--yellow isn't needed because it's for video. Make sure the cable's mini plug has at least two black bands around it.

2. Connect the mini plug to the CD player's audio output jack. This is the jack where you would normally plug in headphones.

3. Connect the player to the reel-to-reel by plugging the RCA connectors to the reel-to-reel's line input. Keep in mind, RCA jacks often aren't color-coded on old machines. The red plugs go into the right and the white plugs into the left.

4. Install a fresh, blank tape reel onto the reel-to-reel machine for recording. Place the disc you want to record from into the CD player. Connect a set of headphones to the reel-to-reel so you can listen in on the recording.

5. Prepare the reel-to-reel for recording. Make sure the "VU" meters aren't moving into the red zone. Press the red line record buttons on the tape select dashboard and then press the big "play" and "record" buttons together.

6. Flip the switch to start the tape reel and play the CD to begin recording.

Tips & Warnings

• Using cables with brass or gold-plated plugs will work better because of their low noise, shielded quality. They will give you the best sound quality.
• If your CD player has an RCA line outlet (which it should if it's not a portable one), you can connect it to the reel-to-reel with a dual RCA cable for better quality.