Recording Mp3 Files from Tapes and Records

Making MP3 files from CDs is an easy process because the audio is already in a digital format. But what about older analog recordings like cassette tapes and records? Although the procedure is a little more complicated, converting other audio sources into MP3 files is not that difficult.

Almost all computers have soundcards that accept input from external sources. A typical sound card will have a microphone input and an auxiliary input which can be used to record sound from sources such as cassette players or radios.

These external sound sources are analog, which is defined as an electrical signal that is modulated smoothly and continuously. Digital audio slices the smooth waveform into discrete pieces – and each one is represented by a number. In order to get an analog signal into a digital computer, it must be processed by an analog to digital (A/D) converter.

The main limitation with low cost sound cards is their A/D converter. A budget sound card has a budget converter, so will it not give you the same results as a professional grade card. So upgrading to a premium sound card is a consideration.  However, considering that the sound source is likely to be old analog cassettes of questionable audio fidelity, the built-in sound card of most computers may be adequate. The only way to find out is to give it a try.

The average tape deck can be plugged directly into a sound card's auxiliary input, but record turntables are a different matter. The output level directly from a record turntable is too low, so it needs to  pass through a preamplifier before being plugged into the computer. 

Once the external audio source is connected to your computer, you need a sound recording program to capture the audio. Microsoft Windows does have a built-in sound recorder but its editing capabilities are limited. For more flexibility you should consider using a dedicated audio program. There are many commercial and freeware programs available.

When your sound software is running, you generally just click a "record" button on the screen, and then hit the play button on your cassette deck or cue the needle onto a record and let the recording begin.  This type of recording has to be done in real time.

Some recording software automatically splits the tracks into separate files, by detecting zero sound level in between tracks.  But in most cases you'll end up with one big file. That's not a problem - it is relatively simple to split the file into separate songs if your recording software has adequate editing features. Most software displays a visual representation of the audio signal, which makes it easy to identify where each song begins and ends. Simply use the mouse to highlight a section and save it as an individual song file.

Records can have scratches on them, and cassettes can have a bothersome hissing sound. Some of this noise can be removed by the audio recording software by using special filters.  This is one feature to look at when shopping for audio software.  If the entire recording seems to have excessive distortion in it, then the A/D converter of the sound card is probably to blame.  A professional grade sound card will improve the sound quality.

After the audio has been recorded and reduced to a file on your computer it will be in an uncompressed format such as WAV. Now you can burn the WAV files to CD or compress the files into MP3 format.
Of course you can do both.  MP3 files are much smaller than WAV files so they save space on your computer and you can fit more onto a recordable CD.  However not all CD players can directly play MP3 files.  Which is one reason why small MP3 players have become so popular.  You can easily transfer songs to them from your computer and listen to your music whenever you want.