Preserved Topic: audio tape quality... (Page 1 of 1)

Hello,

I know CDs audio quality in addition to other qualities listed in the 'soundrec32 / convert now' list.

What is the quality (or best that can get) of a normal audio tape?



Elias,

Depends on the tape. It alters depending on the width of the tape, the width of each track on the tape, what the tape is made out of and the speed it's recorded at. If you had a good enough tape material, and if it was wide enough you could get CD quality audio on a tape...but that would not be ecomonical.

Koan 63, written on the wall of cell number 250:
Those who Believe
Can
Those who Try
Do
Those who Love
Live

since a tape is an analog media and not a digital like a CD or DAT you cannot categorize it by numbers like 44800kHz...

And then there's that. Thanks grumble, kinda forgot that one.

A more appropriate question (only answer if you've experienced it):

Have you ever tried to convert from audio tapes to mp3 files?
what software did you use?



Elias,

You should be able to use pretty much any software you want. You just need to run a line from a tape player to your line in of your sound card, record the track to a Wave file and then convert it to MP3 There are a few sound programs I know of that will allow you to record straight to mp3 but the ones I know are all high end sound editing stations. Only downside of this is that any material you record this way will not be able to use the CDDB lookup to get track info. (This works based on a very precise measure of the track length, neat eh?)

Note a sound card has 2 input's usually, a line-in and a microphone-in. You almost always want to use the line-in (Except of course for microphones) The microphone input is expecting a much lower level input so it has a pre-amp built in to raise the input level to line level. If you put a line level input into it you have a real good shot of blowing out that pre-amp (especially the really cheap one's on sound cards).

The only issue here is if you for some reason are trying to record straight from a phonograph which have their own level somewhere in between the two. Best bet for this is to run the record player into whatever amp you use to listen to it and then run a cord from the headphone jack to the line in and let that amp deal with it.



.:[ Never resist a perfect moment ]:.

I've been using MusicMatch jukebox for my format conversions. I have my entire stereo attached to my computer so it's a bit easier for e to handle. I agree with bitdamaged though in that you should use the headphone jack rather than a direct RCA connection. MMJB will let you convert directly to an MP3 file and edit your track titles before you record so you don't have to go back in and edit them after the recording. With records and cassettes I've found it easier to record an entire side and then split the file. I've used 'Cool MP3 Splitter' to do that. Oh! BTW both programs register at $20.00 for a multi year upgradable copy. For $50 bucks or so you can get a lifetime license for MMJB. I'll attach links to the progs assuming I can find both of them.

Music Match Jukebox
Cool MP3 Splitter

Hope this helps.

GrythusDraconis
"Be careful not to anger the Great Dragon for you are crunchy and taste good with Ketchup" T-Shirt Somewhere