Audio Casette > MP3 Format?
 

This may sound stupid, but does anyone know a process to transfer audio from an Audio Cassette to MP3 Format?

You can record any audio tape to your computer in a few different ways. If your tape player has left and right audio output just connect that to you computer's sound card left and riight audio. If your computer sound card doesn't have a left and right audio you will need a stereo Y jack. Left and right audio on one end and stereo mini jack on the other (that will go to your computer's sound card.

Then all you have to do is play the tape and record to one of the many programs out there that will capture either wav or mp3. It's real time so it will take some time but it usually worth it. The better your sound card - the better the transfer will be.

For simple easy to use capturing programs I use Super MP3 Recorder - it used to be free but I think it's about $30.00 now.

http://www.supermp3recorder.com/

This is as easy to use as a mechanical tape player - even the buttons are familiar. It will record either wav or mp3 format. Set it to listen to "What you hear" and it will record anything going through your sound card.

A big step up in quality programs is Adobe Audition which is what I use now.

There are various portabe media players that have in-line recording. I have an iAudio (Cowon) A2 which I can connect an external source to and record to MP3 format.

Actually - so do I - I have just never tried using it to record. Have you - does it sound good? Mine is the X5 so there is plenty of room - I just have no idea about the sound quality.

I also have a professional (stealth) rig for bootlegging concerts which is why I have been unwilling to try the iAudio. I can only get so much into a concert without being caught LOL. It's going to get a workout here the next month or two. :D

Are there any special external devices that I may have to purchase to play the Audio Cassette on? Or will a normal Tape Player be fine?

A normal tape player is fine as long as it has an audio output - usually left and right audio. A tape player is not going to have an optical out since the tape is analog not digital to begin with.

You can use a headphone out if your player does not have the outputs that Kathleen mentioned.

Kathleen, I also have the iAudio X5. I have used it to record a song that was playing on the internet and then transfer it back to the computer instead of using a program to do it. It sounds decent. I dont know if the poorness of the quality comes from the song coming from the internet or the actual recording on the device.