Sorry to be late to this very useful thread! Thanks.

Since I used do a wee bit of collecting I learned a couple of great lessons about recording and playing back and/or converting audio-images at the best quality.

99.99% of prerecorded cassette is high quality and what gets playback at the same level is a decent tape deck. I have a 'Nakamichi' basic model, and never realized how hi fi prerecorded tape can be! It is a surprise to notice how soft and rounded analogue audio sounds as opposed to the prerecorded harder digital imagery!

Next to digitize with the best S/N either go via Mini Disc - yup its stoopid stoopid but hey - or like me 10 years ago, a DAT tapedeck.

Now if you want to edit whats on DAT or MDisc then getting a Creative Labs - 'external USB '- sound card is the ideal solution since that provides very hi fi results but allows you to use the massive resources of the modern PCs. I know the older setups used the internal card and I too have an old machine like that, but the quality of the image is often spoiled with a pop or hiss that was not noticable on the old type amplifiers and speakers. Today all has changed, and one almost has to buy a purpose-made PC to get similar results.

SoundBlaster OC know all about the tech side of todays audio and accordingly responded with this Audigy NX. BTW This soundcard has both
Coax(SPDIF) and Optical in/out ports already set up- as well as the standard ports, also if you have USB 2 it will do both record and play ..ie Computer based multitrack SW apps.

Final suggestions, get good quality connecting cables, and if you have to paste live into anything, absolutely get decent input gear.