How to Put Songs From Cassette Tapes On Your Computer

Transfer your tapes to WAV or MP3 files.

Cassette tapes and tape players have fallen out of favor as digital forms of music have taken over. For people who have a tape collection, it's often less convenient to have to manually play a tape than an MP3. Fortunately, digital advances have made it possible to convert cassettes into digital files on your computer. With these aids, you'll be able to consolidate your music into one digital collection that you can conveniently play anywhere you go.

Things You'll Need

• Tape Player
• Cassette
• Audio Software

Instructions

iMic

1. Plug a 3.5-millimeter cable into the headphone jack of the tape player and attach it to the port marked "in" on your computer. Position the line/mic knob to select "line."

2. Plug the cable from the headphone jack into the "In" jack on the iMic. On a PC, go to the "Start" menu and open the Control Panel. Under the panel, choose "Sounds and Audio Devices." Click on "Audio" to choose iMic as the device for "Sound Recording."

3. Connect the cable into the same jack for a Mac, but follow the Mac options. Click on "Sound" under "System Preferences." Select "iMic USB Audio" for the input.

Free Software

1. Download and install a free audio software program such as Audacity for PCs and Final Vinyl for Macs. Designed for basic audio and recording needs, these programs will easily convert music from cassettes into digital audio.

2. Use a male mini-jack cable, and connect one end into the cassette player's headphone jack, and the other into the microphone/line input on your computer, to connect to your sound card.

3. Use your cassette player's "line-out" jack or a headphone jack, if necessary. Connect the other end of the plug to the "line-in" jack on your computer.

4. Check that sound is coming out of the speaker. If you need to turn the volume up, go to the audio settings under "Control Panel" for Windows or "System Preferences" for Macs.

5. Rewind the cassette back to the beginning and push "play" on your tape recorder. Click the "Record" button on your software. After the tape or song has stopped playing, press the "Stop button" on your software. Go to the file menu and save your project. Export your file as either a WAV or MP3.

Tips & Warnings

• You can burn the WAV or MP3 files you created to CD.

• If your line-out or headphone jack isn't the standard 1/8th inch size, you can find a converter at an electronics store.

References

• The New York Times: How to Transfer Music From Cassette Tapes
• nsftools.com: How to Transfer a Tape to a CD Using Audacity