How to Convert an Audio Tape to CD on a Mac

Use a Mac to convert audio tapes to CDs.

Audio tapes degrade the more times you use or listen to them. Transferring audio tapes to CDs creates a backup that will not degrade with use and is more durable than an audio tape. It is possible to record from a cassette deck straight to a CD recorder. However, with audio editing software on your Mac computer, you can improve, clean up and adjust the audio tape recordings before you put them on a CD.

Things You'll Need

• RCA-to-stereo Y cable
• Cassette deck
• Recording software
• Blank CD

Instructions

1. 

   RCA-to-stereo Y-cable.

   Connect the red and white (or black) connectors on the RCA-to-stereo Y-cable to the RCA output jacks on the cassette deck. Connect the other end to the input/microphone jack on the Mac.

2. Insert the tape into the cassette deck and make sure it is rewound to the beginning.

3. Open the recording software. Many Macs include GarageBand as audio recording software, but many other software programs are available. Make sure they are Mac compatible, though, before buying or downloading them.

4. Click the "Record" button in the software program. Make sure that your preferences are set so that the input/microphone jack of the Mac is set as the input device. With many Mac programs, you can click on the program's title in the menu bar, then click "Preferences." Some programs may require you to create a new track before recording. If this is the case, click on "File," "New Track." With some programs, clicking "Record" only arms the recording software, and you have to click "Play" or "Record" again to start the recording.

5. Push "Play" on the cassette deck to play the tape. As the tape gets recorded to the computer, you should see a waveform being created in the recording program. If there is no waveform, check your preferences.

6. Wait until the entire tape runs, then stop the cassette deck and the recording program.

7. Click on "File," "Save As" (or "Export") to save the audio. It will most likely save as a AIFF file, though it may save as an MP3 file. Select the location of where you want the file saved and name the file. Then click "Save" (or "Export" or "OK") to save the file.

8. Open iTunes and create a new playlist. iTunes is included with the Mac.

9. Drag the audio files that you recorded into the playlist on iTunes. Open Finder by clicking on the desktop and clicking "Cmd" + "N" or by double-clicking on your computer hard drive icon, which is on the desktop. Find your file, the click and drag it into iTunes.

10. Insert a blank disc into the disc drive on the Mac.

11. In the iTunes playlist, click on "Burn Disc" in the bottom-right corner to burn the CD.

Tips & Warnings

• Some programs like Garageband allow you burn the CD directly from the recording software.

References

• Macworld: From Tape to CD