OT : Recording advice needed...

[Phil]

Hi,

I want to start recording some of my fave (and very precious) tapes to CD and/or PC H/D.

I have picked up a half decent Sony Walkman, a cable to connect from the walkman headphone socket to my Soundcard, but I was wondering if any of you *oh knowledgeable* ones could offer any advice or tips on recording, i.e what programs do I need, suggestions on Sample Rates, volume/recording levels, compression etc.

Do I have to record in .wav format?, or can I record direct to MP3 format etc?...

Any hints or tips are welcome...

When I've got a few I hope to put them on CD in MP3 format (should be able to get a few tapes on each CD then!).

many thanks in advance,


Phil

[Shooms]

mate - you need to record to wav 1st & then convert to mp3...

Sound forge is a good proggy - pm me ya addy & I will rip for ya (along with some good sets to fill cd)....

Shoom - good intentions - long delays in delivery lol

[JAZ]

I've copied lots of my tapes into digital and the best way to do it I've found is to ---

1-get cooledit pro (other ppl will advise using sound forge or something but I know cooledit as I've allways used it)
2-Dont record from your walkman use your hi-fi instead as it will produce better sound quality.
3-record as a .wav file
4-when I record I grab the tape from the start of the tape (hiss/background noise etc), doing this lets you remove all the hiss/background noise by using the noise etc at the start as a profile (as the hiss/background noise is generally constant throughout a tape).This works best with tapes that are generally good quality to start with.
I can explain about the noise reduction in depth later if you need me too.
5-after you've cleaned the recording up then convert it to mp3, I use xing encoder at high vbr quality and I say do the same as you might as well maximise the quality and the file sizes aint much bigger than a 192k file.

btw I can sort u out with the software needed (for evaluation purposes untill you decide to legitimitly buy them of course)

I might put up a couple of small clips later to show u a before and after with a tape file...

[Phil]

Thanks for the advice guys, think I've fallen at the first hurdle!...

Connected my cable to the PC, and can't even record anything.

Cheers anyway!.


Phil
(feelin more than a tad pi**ed off and extremely useless!)

[Shooms]

mate - check yr audio settings to make sure 'line in' is selected for recording

[doolz]

actually the hifi aint such a great idea unless it has a dedicated line out
headphone socket is a bit shit due to the fact u alter the volume yaself

[JAZ]

what u mean dools mate?
i dont understand, I just use my tape deck phono out puts at the back but I could just use the amps tape out socket, unless u meaning you think I meant use the headphone out on the hi-fi...

[JAZ]

ahhh i see what u mean now it was using headphone out from amp, nahh that would be silly thing to do :p

[doolz]

yeah jaz phono outs is what i meant by dedicated line out
seperates are ok
hifis aint coz no proper line out

[VinylAnimal]

Moved to help

This one's been asked a few times - would be excellent if someone could post a complete "step by step" guide to rippin' stuff

Someone must have come across one they can lift

[Phil]

Sorry for posting in the wrong area fellas!..

Still findin' my feet with this forum stuff!.


Soz!


Phil

[Jimmy]

how to preserve your choonage for as long as the police don't impound your PC

1. Get summat that'll play your vinyl/tapes/8 track etc
2. Get a computer with a mic/line in input
3. Click on the speaker icon (volume) on the right hand bottom of your task bar
4. click on options and make sure your mic and or line in are checked
5. Get a proggy to Rip what u want. I use music Match Jukebox cos I bought it and it records catalogs and saves mp3 without complicated editing n stuff. i'm a bit lame on the use of cool edit not to mention very impatient.
6. Play the choons and tweak the levels (with the volume control aka 3) so as not to get any distortion
7. Rip n enjoy.