CDs from old cassettes

Subject: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 03:30 PM

Yes, I know that there are just short of 8 million threads on home recording. This one will be brief and very specific. Like most of us, I have just short of 7 million cassette recordings of stuff I've recorded at home on various tape recorders, and umpty-dozen tapes of concerts that I've done. I've used various computer software through time to burn CDs from cassettes but felt frustrated with the lack of ability to freshen the sound, remove the tape hiss and edit individual tracks.

A couple of months ago I bought Roxio Easy Media Creator 8. Before that, I bought a stupid expletives-deleted Cakewalk Pro for my computer and could never get the stupid expletive-deleted thing to work. The Easy Media Creator is just that... easy. Even for Senor Wences. Better yet, it has a lot of controls for not only eliminating clicks and hiss and editing the start and end of each track, but a ten-bar equalizer. I just finished putting together a CD of my own stuff and it's been great fun. One of the tapes I used is from when I was working with Luke Faust back in the early 60's. It's a tape copied from reel to reel onto a Radio Shack normal bias tape which is in itself close to 40 years old. Radio Shack electronic equipment is just a smidge better than Fischer-Price, so I was very pleased to be able to get a reasonably listenable sound from it.

Now, I'm excited! I have about 6.9 pounds of music cassettes with old performances, tracks never released on my albums, and just messing-around stuff with friends. It's all going on CD.

If you are like me - electronics-challenged, I'd highly recommend this software. It's been reduced in price substantially and is a great investment.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 04:42 PM

Jerry,

How cheap is it?? As you know, that's a major factor for me.

And how easy? As you also know, I know how to get e-mail and that's about it!

Right now I'm sitting here looking at just about a thousand cassettes waiting to be converted. (That is an accurate number.) After all the times I've posted to Mudcat threads before and/or without thinking enough about what I'm saying, it should be apparent to most of you out there in cyberland that I've got WAY too much time on my hands!!

This sounds like just the project I need to keep me occupied and sending the collected things I've saved out to friends, like you, and, maybe, to the Library of Congress Archive Of Folk Culture as well.

AQrt

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Duane D.
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 05:08 PM

Jerry, I have the same problem, I need to archive my old cassettes onto CDs. Do you have any suggestions for a decent quality, currently available cassette deck with a decent drive system, that I can interface to my computer? All my cassettes are analog, no DAT. Many of my cassettes have deteriorated to the point where interior reels don't turn freely. I figure I'll pry open the case and replace the guts into a case that screws together and then use that case as a master for all the other sticky ones. Thanks.

Duane.

Oh, BTW, I thought you'd like to know, if you hadn't heard this in another earlier post, I've joined up with a yahoo group of collectors of mp3 archives of the Dr. Demento radio shows. I've since received 3 distributions of mp3 DVDs and CDs, such a wealth of old and obscure songs, many to learn. There's enough material to learn to last the remainder of my lifetime. AND, 2 of Art Thieme's songs were played on that show and are somewhere in the archives.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,KT
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 06:44 PM

Good on ya Jerry! I've been sitting here looking at about 6 boxes of tapes that have so much goodf stuff on 'em, but have't figured out how to convert to CD. Let me know when you're finished with yours...since you're having FUN doing it, I've got about a zillion you can convert for me!!   Actually, that could be a pretty lucative business for someone!

KT

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: artbrooks
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 06:50 PM

I am working my way through the vinyl using Magix Audio Cleaning Lab (now $40 at Best Buy, but I got it on sale for about $25). I've also done a few cassettes using the same program, and am very happy with it.    It has features similar to what Jerry describes for the Roxio program.   LPs work best with a cable run from the "record-out" on the tuner to the "mic-in" on the computer, but cassettes don't have quite enough gain that way. I've had good results by running the line directly from the cassette deck's "line-out" instead. The current price from costco.com for Roxio Easy Media Creator is $79.95, with a $15 rebate.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: wordfella
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 06:57 PM

All of the audio-mix programs will work. It's just time-intensive.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 07:25 PM

I too am in the process of doing this with the Magix system which is great, and so simple, I heartily recommend it folks.
Giok

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Effsee
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 09:11 PM

I'll second that giok! Easy Peasy.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Effsee
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 09:11 PM

Sorry, Giok.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 10:55 PM

Hey, Art: The cost is already posted, which is a considerable drop for when the software came out a few months ago at close to $100. I am still learning how the system works, but it really is pretty simple to use. I had done a CD with 13 songs on and am trying different spacing between songs and fade in and fade outs on recordings that may start out distorted or end oddly. The great thing is that you can listen to the CD and go back and re-edit individual tracks if you're not satisifred.. (satisfied, but I kinda liked satisfred better..) The down side on expense is that you have to use a 48x speed blank CD. The really cheap ones I use for making copies aren't fast enough to keep up with the burning. That requires some shopping around to get the best price. Even then, you may end up having to pay a dollar to a dollar and a half for a CD that can store 80 minutes of music... still a great buy.

Most of all, it's fun to actually be able to make something work right on a computer. I'll send you a copy of this first one when I make a few changes. Many of the songs are ones that I've sent you over the years on cassette.

And thank everyone for other suggested software. It helps a lot to know that someone has used a software package successfully. You also know who to e-mail when you run into a problem :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Cluin
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 11:19 PM

A bit of drift here...

I've got the Roxio Easy Media Creator 8 package too, and it's great for making CDs, burning discs and the like.

However, I'm less satisfied with the video editing capabilities of the package. The video capture included usually creates synch problems with the soundtrack and video. The sound is often ahead of the video by several seconds when it captures the video data and saves it as editable MPEG-2 files.

I'm talking about home movies that have been transferred from video tape to DVD-R or DVD-RW, then copied to the hard drive for editing. The DVD creation software doesn't work very well either. The final product looks pretty crappy, compared to the source DVD used.

Looks like I'll have to look for more dedicated software for that purpose.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 08:16 AM

Hmmm, the sound and the picture are offset on film as you need a constant speed for the sound, but the film is pulled thru the gate jerkily for the picture.

I thought that the transfer would handle that properly though - unless something is wrong with the transfer from film - unless it is correct on the DVD made as the transfer, and then screws up when you put it on disk.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Dr.Quelch
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 12:02 PM

Cassettes to cd? Try MAGIX Audio Cleaning lab/10 deluxe. Absolute doddle. Piece of p---.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Amos
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 12:15 PM

KT,

If you can't get MAGIX for your Mac, you can do just as well with a tape player plugged into a little adapter called an iMic, which then plugs into your USB port. You play the taped song while capturing it on the Mac using, for example, Sound Studio, or any other Mac audio recording program.

For cleaning out hisses, pops and such, nothing out there I've seen beats SoundSoap, made for that very purpose.

A

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: artbrooks
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 12:22 PM

Dear Dr. Quelch...is that different from the one I recommended above?

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 12:29 PM

I started experimenting with transferring cassettes to CD last year (BB--before burglary) and was having modest success. I was using a cassette player on a system in my office that isn't the best, no equalizer abilities. Next time I'll run cables from the good sound system in the living room to the computer. That way I can do the lion's share of the correction (hiss and pop and various levels) on the good equalizer, minimizing what I have to do with software later.

I'll chip in if some folks want to go ahead and buy a copy of the Roxio software to send to Art Thieme. I'd like to see him start getting those tapes of his transferred.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Cluin
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 12:41 PM

I am trying top figure out if the Dr. is being sarcastic or really recommending the software.

Foolestroupe, I guess I wasn't too clear in my post above.

I have a VHS to DVD-R/DVD-RW machine, which will copy videotapes (without copy protection) to DVD for me, but editing on it is clumsy. So I copy the whole tape (a home movie, etc.) to the DVD-R or DVD-RW, then import it to the PC for editing in the video editing software that came with the Roxio package (VideoWave). While the software for editing is nice, it's the capture software that creates the synch problem.

Because I need an editable digital video file, like an MPEG-2 or AVI file, I have to use Roxio's video capture utility to convert the DVD files to that form. That's when the audio goes out of synch because digital videos employ a separate time code each for audio and video. In the conversion, they lose sight of each other. And it's not a constant gap; it gets worse as the duration goes on, i.e. the gap between video and audio grows wider as it plays (at the beginning, it's negligible, at the end it is several seconds apart after an hour).

So I guess I either need a better capture utility and/or a better video editing program. But Adobe Premier is around a grand, $Can.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 01:58 PM

Hey, Stilly: COunt me in... PM your address to me and I'll mail you a check..

I still(no pun intended, but when I think of Art, they come out) think of you as Silly River Stage. I can see it pulling in to town right now..

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 02:05 PM

I've been wondering what to get Art for St. Swithin's Day.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 05:38 PM

"Next time I'll run cables from the good sound system in the living room to the computer."

You need to have high quality cables to run any distance, or you will have some losses. I'd prefer to have the 2 boxes very close, but that is not always practical I know.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 06:52 PM

I've got to make CD's for old cassettes, old vinyl, and old reel-to-reel tapes. Yes, I have a reel-to-reel tape recorder....

Some of the stuff just isn't available any more. Like "Mass in F Minor" by the Electric Prunes or the various versions of "Hair".

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 06:58 PM

Okay, send a PM if you would like to participate in this little venture. I'll go in for $20, and there's a rebate right now (I'll check around, Roxio has the rebate but somewhere else may also have it for sale). I heard from Rapaire as well as Jerry.

Art Thieme, you'd better PM me your address.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 08:07 PM

Count on me for $20. If anyone wants to hear what can be done with 40 year old Radio Shack cassette COPIES of an old tape, and want to PM me, I'll be glad to send you the 14 track CD I just did... haven't done the layout for the booklet and all the rest yet, but if you want to hear what the software can do, this willo give you a good idea. I'm so excited about it that I'm already laying out plans to do a second CD and perhaps record some new stuff to go with the old. And then, I have a Gospel Messengers CD sitting in my office, to burn from tapes.

A copy of the CD will be in the mail to Art and LeftyDee for starters.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 09:01 PM

I just e-mailed Art about the software and what else he will need. I'll walk him through that, and the software, once he gets connected.

And isn't it wonderful to be able to do something positive on the Cat? These days there is so much mud-slinging that it's refreshing to have a thread where the only name we call each other is friend.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Dr. Quelch (John from Elsie`s Band)
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 05:58 AM

Dear Artbrooks,
               I assume the MAGIX Audio Cleaning lab 10/deluxe is an upgrade on the original programme and it is very easy to use although once I get into the host of facilities it offers I am a little lost.
Dear Cluin,
             Yes, I do recommed it and am not being sarcastic.
                                                      Regards, John.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 10:31 AM

Query on the program for Art:

Easy Media Creator 8 (Suite) is for video as well as audio. It probably is packed with a whole bunch of little support programs for file editing that go with the master program. Will you (Jerry) be able to help from a distance in sorting these programs, or should we instead look at their program called "Record Now!" Here is the package blurb:

Sonic RecordNow! is the state-of the-art CD and DVD mastering tool that takes the guesswork and complexity out of CD and DVD burning. With an award winning task-based user interface designed by usability professionals, it's never been easier to get the most out of your CD or DVD burner. Sonic RecordNow! Deluxe includes all the features needed for creating music CDs, data CDs and DVDs, exact copies, disc images, file archives, and bootable discs and it can all be done with just a few clicks of the mouse. And now, with dual layer support, you have double the storage space you once had because dual layer support writes two layers of information on one side of your DVD!

It means you'd have to learn to use this software to talk Art through it, but it might be more in line with what he's trying to do. Has anyone used this? I'm asking because I know that the main thing Roxio prides it self on is the ease of use, but we still have to factor in a learning curve.

This program costs less than the other one, so if there is an overage on what people send I'll put it in a gift certificate to Staples or Office Depot to cover the cost of blank CDs. (Any recommendations on brand and speed will be appreciated by more than just Art--Jerry mentioned to me that CDs have to be 48x to work right. Why is that? Won't any speed work, it just has to do with how quickly it writes to the disk, doesn't it?)

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 10:52 AM

In answer to your questions: Yes, no, and it depends. And It just does.

(A friend of mine responded to a letter that I wrote to him after a year's time lag, with that kind of a response..) :-)

I also have Record Now! I've used it for a long time, and it is not nearly as versatile as Easy Media. It doesn't have the great editing controls that Easy Media does. It works fine if you are just burning copies of CDs, but I'd recommend spending the extra money on Easy Media. If there is a short-fall in money for Easy Media, I'd rather cover it than get software that doesn't do the job as well.

Yes, I have Easy Media on my computer and have just done a 14 track CD from old cassettes, as I've mentioned in this thread. I am very excited about the quality. On a couple of recordings, there was distortion at the start of the song, and I was able to fade in and eliminate the distortion and tape hiss. While Easy Media does have other programs for DVDs and photos, they are pretty much free-standing and can be ignored. I spent a couple of months trying to figure out the Cakewalk software I bought to do what Easy Media does and after several weeks of exchanging e-mails with the company and never getting the stupid thing to work, I gave up. With Easy Media, I installed it, fooled around with it without even reading the manual and quickly started recording successully. The manual is excellent and easy to understand (which is a rarity for manuals.) And I am a certified computer Klutz. And yes, I will walk Art through the software by e-mail, or phone if necessary.

As for the 48X speed, each track records at a different speed (don't ask me to explain why, because I have no clue.) The cheap CDs won't record at a high enough speed for some of the tracks. I found this to be true for the Cakewalk program, too. Earlier software that I've used worked fine with the cheap CDs, and Easy Media makes copies fine with the cheapest CDs produced. It's just when you're doing the Master that you need a 48X speed. Spending an extra fifty or seventy five cents for the master CD is not a financial burden. Then, you can make as many copies as you want on cheap CDs.

I just started working on the insert and booklet, and that program is a definite upgrade over Record Now and other earlier software I've owned.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 11:12 AM

That's what I wanted to know, if there was something more with the bigger program that was going to make a difference (instead of just confusing the user). We'll stick with plan A and get the Suite. Considering the nominal cost of the program and the media versus the value of the material that Art is holding onto and what he can do with it, this is a tiny blip of an investment with a huge payoff, don't you think?

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 11:16 AM

Great, SRS!

I'm mailing a copy to Art of my first CD with this software so he can hear the job that it does...

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 04:42 PM

Good timing for this thread to turn up.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Cluin
Date: 20 Feb 06 - 05:08 PM

Thanks, Doc. I wondered if you were calling it a piece of poop, i.e shit. Just wanted clarification, which you've provided.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 09:40 AM

It looks like we're ready to move on getting the software for Art. I've been in conversation with him and SRS and Art's son Chris will take care of the installation and a first run through. I'll keep in touch with Art to help if he runs into problems (that I can resolve..)

If anyone else would like to chip in on the purchase of the software, now's the time. If we get any surplus it will go toward a gift certificate for buying blank CDs..

Onward..

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 11:26 AM

We're close. Someone please PM me Art's mailing address.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 05:14 PM

It's in the mail.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Ron Davies
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 12:08 AM

I'll definitely chip in for the software for Art. Could you PM me with the details?

Thanks

Ron

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 08:28 AM

PM sent.

I just searched on those big two office supply stores. There is a Staples in town (4350 Mahoney Drive, Peru, IL 61354, 815-224-8650). It looks like all of the Office Depots are closer around Chicago. If we send gift cards to cover the cost of some of the CDs he'll need, that looks like the easiest way to manage it. Jerry, do you have any name brands you would recommend in the CDs for masters? Might as well make it as easy for someone picking these up as possible. Myself, I never buy the "no-name" disks anyway, since the recognizable ones are inexpensive enough on their own. But do you have a preference?

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 08:46 AM

I'll check at Staples for prices today. I've used Memorex, and they work fine for burning Masters. The cheapest CDs known to mankind work alright for making copies once the Master is burned. I just bought a stack of 50 Maxell 48X blank CDs at a very good price and will try using one to burn a CD Master today.

Get back to you..

(Me giving advicve on anything relating to computers? Was that a pig I saw flying by, out my window?)

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 10:22 AM

You notice I didn't ask you what make of ribbon cable to use to wire in a new CD burner into his computer. . .

Durability is an important question. Even after these cassettes are transferred onto CD, the originals need to be safeguarded, because the cassette tape is a very durable method for keeping the information. CD allows a lot more flexibility and easy reproduction, and with that goal in mind, good CDs should be used. They don't need to have the fanciest name, but they need to have the reputation for long-life.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 11:25 AM

Mia quasi-culpa:

I've been burning copies of CDs this morning... several different CDs madeon earlier software. I bought a stack of 100 blank CDs at BJs a while back and was using them. They don't even say what speed they are. About half of them are spit out by machine, which refuses to burn a copy. The other half work fine. Don't buy blank CDs at BJs! I switched to the Maxell CDs I bought at a good price and I'm having no trouble making copies.

(I tried burning copies with Roxio CD Now! which I also have on my computer, and it didn't work any better on the BJs CDs. So, it's not the software or the original CDs. It's BJs blankety blank blank CDs.

Buyer Beware. Sometimes, you just have to experiment and see what works. I've successfully burned CDs from blanks I bought at Walmart that were inexpensive.

Whatever works works.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: JudyB
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 01:13 PM

We've had bad luck with Memorex - were using them originally to do Charley's CDs (which cram a lot of material onto the CD), and 1 in 7 or 8 had static in the last track or two. We switched to Maxell, and haven't had a bad CD in the hundreds we've burned since then. I also use TDK for non-music stuff (when they're cheaper than Maxell at the local store) and have had good luck with them, though haven't gone through the quantity that we have of the Maxells.

I haven't tried cheap and/or generic CDs - we buy the printable Maxells online, and I consider the extra cost well worth the time and sanity saved - they're only 37 cents each for a hundred-pack, and these are the ones we can run through our printer - the basic non-printable ones are less.

With the Memorex, I had to listen to the last song on every CD I burned to make sure it didn't have static, and I'd feel compelled to do the same with any other brand that hadn't proved itself on my computer the way the Maxells have.

Of course, your CD burner may prefer a different brand - I'd make a point of listening to the first and last tracks on everything you burn, until you're comfortable that there won't be any surprises.

Good luck - and enjoy!
JudyB

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 03:25 PM

I copy music CDs occasionally but haven't on the whole burned enough yet to have much practice with the different media brands (I mostly burn data CDs to do with my writing and photography work).

I see blank CDs listed for music or data when I am in that part of the store, but haven't taken the time to do the research. Does it really make a difference? Isn't data just data, regardless of the type of files? (John in Kansas needs to pop his head in here one of these days).

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: JudyB
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 05:43 PM

As it was explained to me, for most of what we're probably doing, it doesn't matter. However, if you have a CD burner built into your boombox or home stereo, it needs the music type CD - no clue why.

If you're burning the CDs on a computer, either will work.

JudyB

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 05:52 PM

All burned music CDs are likely to have errors. When the data is written. some numbers in the stream are burned incorrectly. Each individual burned music CD is likely to have different errors.

Thus went down in flames for a good technical reason, the plot of a novel I was planning which involved each spy having a disk of music to use as a key for encrypting and decrypting messages...

On music playback, the CRC fixes many errors - but for music it is likely that you will not hear any problems (data is of course a different matter!).

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 07:42 PM

For the record, Staples sells 48X blank Maxell CDs for $14.95. A good price, and good quality.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 01:03 AM

I have used literally hundreds of CDs in my audio restoration work, vinyl/tape to disk etc and tried several different makes initially.

Final outcome (and NOT the most expensive) were Maxell. I now use nothing else, printables for customers and glossy for archive.

Having said that, another name that I have found relatively cheap, bought in one hundred tubs is Ridisc Extreme, 52X CD-R Grade AAA+, which are full face printable.

Don't know whether these are available internationally or just here in the UK.


whb

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,jo
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 06:17 AM

Someone up there mentioned tapes sticking - true, some you can take apart and rehouse, but if the problem is that they are sheding gunk (rather than just too tight) that wont help. On the other hand you can bake them - not in a normal oven, the temperature setting isnt sensitive enough, but a food dehydrator will do it. Ive got one from a website dedicated to mushrooms! Put them for several hours at warm, and that helps - doesnt totally get rid of teh gunk, but it makes it a lot better.
if you put in tape baking to google you'll find instructions - mostly they are designed for reel to reels, but it works for cassettes too.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 10:24 AM

Who knew that we'd end up exchanging recipes on this thread, eh?

bias baste tape. . .

;-D

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 12:41 PM

You people are too much! This thread is mindboggling though. I think I'll wait until Chris can write it out, step by step, for me. My malady makes multi-tasking hard of late unless good notes are here for me to follow. But this is amazing--truly. Again, thank you!

Art

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 02:13 PM

Art, I'm planning to send a printout of it to you in the mail. I'll also include information about the blank CDs people are recommending.

You're looking at a big job, and there is a learning curve to work through, but this software is as user-friendly as any out there. Once you're accustomed to the process you'll be doing a yourself and all of us a service by saving the work you think is important and also (hopefully) making notes about it. What a resource!

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: MMario
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 02:18 PM

The important thing is to make sure you keep the original WAV files produced during the process as well as your edited files - at least until you have a satisfactory master. This would be for two major reasons - one, so that as your skills increase - you can go back and redo tracks; and secondly - to make sure that accident doesn't have you losing a track!!!!

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 02:33 PM

Hey, Art: If I can figure out how to use this software, even your Uncle Ned could do it. You'll find the on-screen instructions pretty clear. Places where I've had to putz around alittle... like editing the booklet, I can save you many hours of putzing. I know that you have time on your hands, but not to putz.

Boy, does that sound misleading.

You know what I mean, though.

There's a CD in the mail of the first album I finished, with a rough draft of the booklet. I've since refined the booklet to the point where it doesn't look like I could have done it. But I did, by Golly.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 02:34 PM

Raw data and edited data need to be clearly marked. Maybe we need to include a pack of colored Sharpies for all of the labeling he's going to be doing? :)

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: JudyB
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 04:22 PM

Not sure if it's necessary, but I have a pack of 4 different-colored markers made specifically for writing on CDs. A little pricier than Sharpies (and not as many colors as those new 12-packs!) - but I like playing it safe(r) when possible. And maybe the ink is less likely to play badly with the coating of the CD.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Joybell
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 04:37 PM

Count us in for something towards the project SRS. We'll send it off when we go to town.

I'm using Sound Forge for our tapes, using a line in from the tape-player. Then Nero to disk them. Very easy it is too. Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 04:47 PM

They make markers just for writing on media? Who knew! What can you tell us about them? Did you get them in the U.S.? (Around here the Sharpies seem to breed like bunnies--they're in every desk and tool drawer in the house and come in handy for so many things.)

We haven't discussed cases either. I use a mix of jewel cases and those tyvek sleeves (when they're going in a file box of some sort). The sleeves are inexpensive and the beauty of that option is that they don't take up nearly as much space as plastic cases.

They make CDs (as mentioned above) that some printers can print onto. My HP uses that "LightScribe" program to laser print lables but I've never bothered with it. You can also buy labels that can be "stomped" onto CDs, but I've never fooled with those either.

Any thoughts?

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 04:53 PM

The stick on labels may unbalance the CD - this may cause them to explode in high speed players.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 04:53 PM

Nero has a lot of little editing programs to work with, and that is the one I use. It's a good program, but it has a big learning curve (I owned it for quite a while before I finally really figured out how to use some of the bells and whistles with it).

When I first had a computer with a burner I had the Adaptec (morphed into Roxio) and it was the easiest one I've ever used. Someone talked me into trying Nero, and I've learned to use it, but Roxio's bread and butter comes from the ease of operation of their software.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 04:58 PM

SRS, goodonya for spearheading such a gracious effort. Sorry I am come late to this thread. Please PM me your addy and I will contribute, too.

Just a thought, which might be easier, in a way, for Art; he could upload his sound files to www.mixonic.com and have CDs produced, from 1 up to whatever number, and we could fund them. It is not that expensive and it would save space and some effort. If Art didn't want to do the uploading, he could send the files to one of us to do so. The files are safe there and the quality is not bad. We've done two of my brother's classical music and not had any trouble with them, plus they print the label right on the CD.

Of course, it might be more fun for Art to have those markers and CDs all over the place. **BG**

I've used freeware Audacity for recording from cassettes to my harddrive, then converting the WAV files to burn to CD. Have also used it for reel-to-reel ones.

Great thread, folks!

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 06:54 PM

Now she mentions reel-to-reel! I have a couple of stacks of those around here also. My aunt gave me a tape recorder a couple of years ago to use for playback, but I bet I'll have to cobble something together cable-wise to run to the computer.

Uploading isn't something I considered, but then, I didn't know about this service either. He's talking about transferring 1000 cassettes to CD--that's going to tie up the phone for years to come!

Since contributions came in right away I was able to have Amazon ship the software directly to Art (no tax or postage!) and Amazon says it will get there around March 4.

Before finalizing anything CD-wise, I will check with some folks on campus where I work. The campus print shop copies CDs all of the time, and they buy the things by the case. I'll find out what brand they get and how much they are per disk. They might do a special order for a very good customer. (This is the shop that I use for all of our library publications, and they turned out the Blue Bottle Special for MMario).

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: JudyB
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 08:13 PM

My little pack of markers for writing on CDs are Maxell DiscWriters, and I probably got them at either Staples (giant US office supply chain) or Strawberries (US chain CD/video store that sells blank CDs and DVDs - no idea if giant or local) - they were almost certainly placed near the blank CDs. I'm in Maine (far-rural corner of US) so if I found them, they're no doubt everywhere in the US if you look for them.

I agree that sticky labels are not a good idea. Printable CDs don't cost much more than non-printable ones, but need a printer that will print them - another layer of complexity. I'd go with markers for now, or with writing a good description on the jacket or sticking a card in with the disc - whatever works. Once there's a copy on CD, it can be copied to a fancy CD later - the initial task of converting to CD should be the focus for now. (in my humble opinion)

JudyB

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 12:15 AM

Brainstorm via PM talking to katlaughing--I bet if we order the CDs here the Staples in Peru will deliver them. All of those places deliver. Will check it out, and will look into those markers. I should probably use them myself (there are still plenty of other uses around here for those Sharpies).

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 12:35 AM

People!! I truly appreciate this, I do... I'm sorry, though, but this is overkill. I'm gonna run and hide from anything this complex. Symptoms I don't want to go into won't allow it. So save your money--please.

Jerry, if it's really simple, I'll try it...but slowly.

Again, thanks so much!

Art

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 09:53 AM

Art, we're thinking out loud but trying to keep it simple, so you have the software on your computer and a box or a few spools of CDs to draw from as you work your way through the cassettes you want to transfer. And when you finish each disk, you'll have a sleeve to put it in after you write the list of contents on the disk.

Promise! We'll keep it as simple as that!

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 11:33 AM

I sent Art an e-mail assuring him that he doesn't have to color-cordinate Sharpies, or understand the difference between a Wave and a Wac. Just follow the simple directions.

Understanding can always come later, when you're listening to the wonderful CD you produced without it.. :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 01:58 PM

I ought never post when I'm exhausted. Got out to hear Bob Bovee and Gail Heil last night. A wonderful kids show. One boy who wouldn't smile or look at them at the beginning was paticipating fully and just glowing by the end play-party dance. Wonderful things that our music---and people---can do.

Thanks again. I'm looking forward to puttin' the disks together.

Art

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Chris/Darwin
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 08:32 AM

The thing I have found amazing is just how good old cassette tapes can be. I have a good quality Technics deck - nearly 20 years old - running straight into a good sound card in my PC. I edit files using DC6, which is a little more expensive than ROXIO - about $80 I think.

Stewie asked me to convert his copy of "That's the Ticket" into CD, and the result was almost perfect. Is this available as a CD? - I hadn't heard it before and instantly fell in love with it.

Chris

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 11:22 AM

The cassettes are probably going to last a lot longer than the CDs they are copied to. They shouldn't be discarded once they are copied, they should be stored safely away.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 01:13 PM

Chris / Darwin,

My LP album for Folk Legacy Records--- "THAT'S THE TICKET" ---IS DEFINITELY ON CD NOW from Sandy Paton at:

www.folklegacy.com

I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for saying so out loud here. Give my best to Stewie and Cathy and all the rest of the "TOP END" folks in Darwin, Northern Territory. My brother, Richard, is in OZ on a speaking tour even as I write this. I wish I was there too---and could meet you people.

All the best,

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Chris/Darwin
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 06:50 AM

Art

Good to hear from you - I will pass on your regards to Stewie and Cathy. I will certainly look up Folk Legacy Records.

The Australian Consumers' Association recently did some tests on a range of blank DVD brands to see how accurate they could be recorded at different speeds by different burners. The results were surprising - nothing was error-free, but the best brands were pretty good. With a couple of the worst brands, it was virtually impossible to burn a DVD that was playable. The best brand was Verbatim, from memory. I don't think things are quite as bad with CD-Rs, because the burner doesn't have to work as hard, but I suspect similar problems occur with cheaper brands, particularly when you try to burn too fast. My 2.4GHz P4 won't burn at 48x regardless of the media, and despite using supposedly 52X discs. And that is with a brand new burner with the latest firmware!

Durability wasn't mentioned, but I had previously read an article about CD-R durability which wasn't encouraging. Most brands at the time didn't make it past 7 years in accelerated aging tests. Hope things are better now!

I won't be throwing out my old tapes just yet!

Chris

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 10:12 AM

So the success I've had at transferring some video files over to DVD has more to do with "dumb luck" than skill--I bought a stack of Verbatim DVDs on sale a while back and have been happily working my way through them. Lucky me! :)

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: bobad
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 11:34 AM

Another option for preservation is to keep your music files on your hard drive (backed up of course) and play them through your home stereo using one of these . I've been using this product for a while now and can vouch for the sound quality - it is superb.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 06:27 AM

Art, if you find you need to transfer more than you can handle, please let me know and I would consider it an honour to help archive your brilliant work.

If you need testimonials for peace of mind you can see some here

I am sure that I could produce an acceptable finished article on CD and would consider it a priviledge to be involved.

There would of course be no cost to yourself I will pay any postage involved.

The only thing that might put you off is that I am in the UK, but having said that I am doing work for loads of people in USA, Canada, and even India.

Anyway, the offer is there should you want to take it up. In the meantime have fun with your project and if I can be of any help whatsoever don't hesitate to contact me.

whb

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 09:58 PM

whb,

Thanks for your way too generous offer. I had been to your website before --- back when I was thinking of having my wife's John McCormick LPs transferred to CDs. But our son took 'em and might be doing that--I hope. We will see...

Actually, I don't need to transfer anything of mine to CDs. Dennis Cook in Maryland graciously took the eleven 90-minute cassettes I had of never before issued live stuff of mine and put it all on CDs. Through the kindness of Mr. Cook, my soon to be released CD was culled from some of that material.

So I will s-l-o-w-l-y make CDs from the things I've "collected" from singers over the years---and also from guests on my old NPR radio shows of the 1980s---etc. It'll be fun to try to make it work.

Again, thanks for your offer!!!!!
Art

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:00 PM

Sorry---that was me in the post above!

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:22 PM

I've spent most of today putting together a Gospel Messengers CD, which is long overdue. I am contually impressed with the Easy Media software. I've been taking tracks from a CD done of a live performance at a benefit concert that we did, and was frustrated by the initial sound. It was recorded with one stereo mic placed about 15 feet away from us and it sounds like we're singing in Grand Central Station. Also, on the songs where my bass singer sings leads, the harmonies are louder than the lead. By boosting the bass in the mix, I can bring Joe up in front of us, even though I have no individual tracks to work with.

The other thing that I'm starting to realize is that CDs weren't invented by God. They are definitely not infallible. In some cases, I'm having more trouble using tracks from copies of CDs of live performances (not the one done by Dennis Cook in Washington, D.C., by the way which is impeccable) than of some of the cassettes. I suspect that the copies wre made on Walmart fire sale blank CDs and have enough erros in them that I can't copy some of the tracks. All of this is invaluable to me, as are many comments on this thread. I'm going to stick with Maxell for all my copies, including those made for friends. For a few pennies more per CD, I feel more comfortable about the quality.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 07:53 AM

Penny wise, Sound foolish!

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:50 AM

I don't think that's the case, Fools.

Ron, your letter got here. Thanks!

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:54 AM

Oops. Sorry Robin. I was thinking of the software the thread started about. You're absolutely correct about the CDs. In fact, I called the press where they do the commercial duplications and asked about the disks they use. My friend there said they buy them 50,000 at a time and would sell me a case, but he figured that while the price would be less in bulk, the cost of these reflects the fact that they are printable. We'd be better off putting those pennies into the better recording side, not a writing side. I agree with him.

Things are shaping up here, and in the next day or two Art should get the first part of this order, the software. Part B (CDs, sleeves, and markers) will be soon on its heels.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 06 - 10:05 AM

Jerry, your CDs sound very good. How old were the tapes you made them from? What kind of popping and hiss did you have to remove? You can't do anything about the mic being a distance from the performer, so you can hear the room accoustics, but there is no hiss in these at all.

These really do make the case for this software and media selection we've been discussing.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 04 Mar 06 - 12:17 PM

Hey, Stilly:

I', amazed that I could get as good a sound as I did. The two tracks done with Luke Faust come from a 40 year old Radio Shack Normal Bias cassette which was in turn a copy from a reel to reel tape. Even with the songs that were recorded at a great distance from the microphones in a large auditorium, you can birng the sound in and amplify it to sound far better than the original.

I am just doing a final mix on a Gospel Messengers CD and played it for the guys and some friends who were here for practice this morning. One of my friends is a computer genius, and he tried to use Cakewalk and gave up on it, as I did. He was in charge of the music ministry in this church for many years so he brings a deep knowledge of both the music and computers. I showed him quicly how
Easy Media Creator works and he was sold. The quality of sound on the Messengers CD is much better than what I was able to get on the first CD (the one I sent you.) Most of it came from cassettes, and some of the CD recordings were even harder because they were recorded so far from the stage and at such a low volume. The CD is very consistent in sound, despite the variety of sources.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 06 - 04:10 PM

Part two is underway--I ordered CDs through Staples and they should arrive at Art's place on Tuesday. In the price-comparison department they came up with the best price when combined with free delivery and being a reputable name-brand establishment.

The software should have arrived by now.

I'll work on the sleeves and markers this weekend.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: bobad
Date: 04 Mar 06 - 04:28 PM

SRS

You mentioned that you are using Nero, I too am trying to do wave editing with Nero but I can't quite get the noise subtraction feature perfected. I am primarily trying to get rid of a low frequency hum that is not due to a ground loop problem and wonder if you might have some tips or advice from your experience.

I am using Nero 6 and the version of Nero Wave Editor is 2.0.0.51

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 06 - 11:00 PM

That is exactly the same problem I was having. I started my copying/editing using Wave Editor in an older version of Nero. Last year in February we had a burglary and that computer and my files went out the door. Nothing has been recovered, but I replaced the computer and put in Nero again. I haven't gotten back to working with the cassettes, but I did resolve to make it easier on myself by running cable from the good receiver with the equalizer in the other room to the computer. Eliminating as much hum and buzz at that source as possible should help. The cassette player I used at first was part of a compact multiple system unit but it had few settings to deal with the noise.

I'm planning to get back into some of that work soon, so I'll report back with my results.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 05 Mar 06 - 02:18 AM

Stilly-R-S, Jerry, MMario, Rapaire and others involved,

You are too much! The software arrived in fine shape and I talked to Jerry and SRS tonight (Saturday) although it's Sunday now. It looks like this will be amazing to work with. Chris, our son, will get it up and running when he can get out here---and I'll be off to the races...

Again, thanks so much!!

No need to send harpies---er, I mean Sharpies. And please don't   send herpes either. Between Carol and I, we have plenty maladies already.-----(Just one more o' my sick jokes. ;-)

Love to you all.
I'll slowly get into it and we will see what we will see.

Art

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: JohnB
Date: 05 Mar 06 - 09:58 PM

I got rid of some low end hum with a bit of eq tweaking.
Not sure about the programmes you are using. You can do some eq'ing with Audacity which is available as a free download. Try dropping the area around 20 -40 Hz in -3dB steps untill you like or don't like what is left.
God Luck, JohnB.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 05 Mar 06 - 10:50 PM

I got me a lesson on inexpensive CDs yesterday. A year ago, we had a professional recording done on CD of one of our concerts. I wanted to take some tracks from it for a CD I'm doing and had misplaced the original CD. I had a copy of it on an inexpensive CD, just a year old. Even though the track that I wanted to use played back fine, when I tried to import it into my software to add to the CD I'm working on, the single kept skipping and wouldn't record the whole track. That sent me looking more thoroughly for the original CD, which I found. I copied the same track off the original, with no problem.

No more cheap blank CDs for me.

What if I made one and sent it to someone I like? :-0

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 11 Mar 06 - 11:07 PM

By now hopefully the CDs have arrived at Art's abode, to join with the software. Our friends Joybell and Hildebrand from Down Under are sending along some CD sleeves, and I'll also be mailing some next week. I would have called Art this weekend to ask if the disks arrived, but alas, I have caught a bug and lost my voice completely. He'd answer the phone and hear heavy breathing and a croak or two and would hang up for sure! (I had to have my daughter make two phone calls for me this morning!)

This portion of the "Nudge Assist Art into with Copying his Cassettes onto CD" project is nearly complete. Depending on how his work goes, we may want to revisit stocking disks every so often, but with everything that Art has to keep him busy, it'll take him a little while to go through the first 200 we sent so far.

Thanks to Jerry Rasmussen, MMario, Ron Davies, Katlaughing, Rapaire, and Joy and Hildebrand for helping with this worthy project. Art, if you need help or advice, don't hesitate to ask. All of the work is ahead, and I hope I speak for all of us in saying that we don't want to pile you down with work without offering our continued support and expertise, such as it is. :)

Maggie (Stilly River Sage)

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 09:13 AM

Thanks for all you've done, Maggie (and all the rest.) Yes, there is always plenty of help here in the pond.

I bought an Epson printer last week (part of the discussion on another thread I started) and am anxious to get it up and running. I have three CDs ready to put out ... two done with the software discussed here, and I'm anxious to get to work.

These last three days, we've torn our house apart, clearing out our dining room, Master bedroom and a long haulway and have sanded, striped down and stained the floors. Tomorrow we put the sealer on and then start applying the polyurethane. Four layers later and two or three days to let the floor "cure" and we can put things back where they were. I figure that a week from this Monday, we'll be normal human beings again, and I can get back to my music projects..

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Mar 06 - 11:42 AM

A week to finish your floors? I've been in this house for four years and still haven't finished finishing the floors! (I have cut tiles in various areas to stick down, and in the front hall I have to scrape up old adhesive from parquet to put down thinset and tile). Then there is the sunroom. . .

At least you'll be able to plug in a CD player somewhere and have nice music to listen to while you work! The first year in this house I didn't have cable and didn't miss it--I was so busy and listening to the radio or my own tapes or CDs just fit the tasks so much better.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 12:38 AM

Ms. Dwyer,

YES the blanks got here!! I had thought I rendered my appreciation to you in a thread---maybe this very one. But possibly another one on this same topic. (My recent memory is atrocious now. ) But I'm pretty sure (I hope) that a small package is wending it's way in your direction right now.

Art

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 07:02 AM

You firin' blanks now Art? :-)

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Mar 06 - 09:50 AM

He's not firing them, he's burning them, and they'll be hot stuff when they're finished!

I'm glad to know the disks got there.

Let us know if you need help installing the software, Art, if your son can't get there soon. It really is pretty straightforward with any of these programs these days. I have a friend who has offered to drive over and help (and I think he'd like to chew the fat about the Chicago folk scene, also. . .)

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Greg F.
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 09:05 AM

For those of you thinking of "archiving" music on home-"burned" CD's, keep in mind that "long life" and "CD" are incompatible terms.

On the whole, CD's will only go 2-5 years without beginning to self-destruct & lose data, as a lot of museums, archives and libraries- who rushed to "digitize" collections- are discovering to their sorrow.

Good luck-

Greg

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 09:34 AM

On the other hand, I have home-burned CDs that have been around here for much longer than that and not a single one of them has died that horrible death. I think it's time to do a little research.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Greg F.
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 12:12 PM

The research has been done- a number of times. "Google" it - but stay away from manufacturer's sites, for obvious reasons. Number of good blurbs from archive & library sites.

Will some home-made (not commercially made- different process) CD's last longer than the 2-5 years without significant degredation? Yes- depending on the specifics of the disc/data layer composition & manufacture, on optimal storage conditions, blind luck, etc...

Most won't.

Your Mileage May Vary.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 12:28 PM

So what are you doing? Storing stuff on vinyl? :)

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 01:04 PM

I have a home-made CD from 2001 that still works fine. I don't doubt what you're saying, Greg. There must be a fair amount of variation in the life-span of home-made CDs. I've stopped buying inexpensive blank CDs, and for the ones I'm producing, I'm buying the best quality I can find. I'm wondering... Discmakers seems to be a reputable producer of CDs, and you can buy blank CDs from them at a reasonable price. If they are the same blanks that they use, then either they are of good enough quality to last longer, or their own products have a short shelf life. Or are companies like Discmaker "commercial" manufacturers who use a different process, so you're alright.

Maybe it's a good idea to burn a new "master" CD every couple of years. I've done that with cassettes. I don't see saving cassettes indefinitely. I KNOW that they deteriorate seriously, from experience.

Besides most music goes completely out of fashion in 5 years, anyway .. :-)

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 01:44 PM

Much thanks though Greg, for filing the disclaimer about the life span of home made CDs. I may re-think doing Handful of Songs and have it done commercially. Some of the other projects I'm working on may not have a longer life span than five or seven years, anyway. Do you have any idea whether multiple copy machines that are used by small companies have any greater life span than ones done on a computer?

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: JudyB
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 01:49 PM

Large external hard drives are becoming quite affordable, and you can transfer a lot of data to them quite rapidly (at least compared to the old days!). The master copies of everything I've recorded (and some cassettes I've converted to CD for friends) are on the hard drive of my computer, with copies on one or more of the external drives we have at home - and on the set of external drives we keep at Charley's mom's house just in case some disaster strikes our house.

I doubt if the life expectancy of an individual hard drive is all that great (at least when compared with the 78s I inherited from my parents and the 45s of my youth) - but with the redundancy factor we built in, I'm comfortable with that as a strategy.

Probably a bit of thread drift, but if you do have irreplaceable stuff on your computer, I think that having fairly current backup copies stored out of range of any probable disasters that could befall your computer is a really good idea.

JudyB

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 01:53 PM

Jerry,

The friend I spoke to from the printing press at work (referred to earlier in this thread) who buys CDs in bulk uses those multiple copy machines that burns the CD then prints the label on the white side. The press buys disks that are good, but not the best, he said. They're not used for masters, they're used for copies. So that may be your answer, in a nutshell. It depends on what they burn to.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Greg F.
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 06:46 PM

Jerry-

I don't have the technical knowledge to answer your question about the multiple-copy machines. Sorry.

I think I made some notes from some articles on this subject of CD longevity not all that long ago- question is can I find 'em in this midden.

I DO recall from one of 'em that "Mitsui Gold" blank CD's were recommended as about the best for longevity in the home-burned class- but don't know if that info is still current.

I'll dig around, but if I don't post something in 24-48 hrs the search was unsuccessful.

This is a hot issue in the digital photo archiving area as well, as you might expect, and as I recall - again, my memory ain't what it used to be and probably never was - there were recommendations of using a high-end hard drive 7200RPM or better- for long-term starage.

Best,

Greg

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Mar 06 - 11:04 PM

In the end the world is going to be saved by those of us Luddites who still use books, paper, pens, vinyl, and cameras with film.

;-D

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 15 Mar 06 - 05:49 PM

..or chisels and stone...

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 11:58 AM

By the By:

I'm burning CDs of the Gospel Messengers album I did with Easy Media. I read with great interest all the recommendations for blank printable CDs, and started out with 30 Maxell blanks. People have said that they've had great success with them, and I believe it. Out of those 30 CDs, 3 didn't read correctly and had to be discarded.
Maybe that was just a fluke.

Since then, I bought blank, printable CDs in volume from Discmakers, and so far have had no problems. I've printed over 30 at this point, with no missfires.

This is not to refute the reliability of Maxell.. just to comment on the good results I'm getting with the discs from discmakers.

Jerry

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 10:11 PM

I still have to mail one box to Art--the cold & sinus crud has kept me close to home and out of public places like stores and schools for the last ocuple of weeks. Then, once he stops staring at the galactic goop in his lava lamp, he will have some sleeves to slip his newly burned disks into. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: JudyB
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 09:10 AM

Jerry -

I'm sorry but not surprised to learn that Maxell discs didn't work for you - I do think there's some mystical compatibility factor with various burners - and/or software packages (I use Nero to burn the discs). The Memorex discs that were such a problem for me have worked all right for other folks. I guess the lesson here is to buy a modest amount and do a lot of checking before investing in hundreds of any particular type.

Thanks for letting us know of your experience with Maxell discs - I'll include it as another perspective when I recommend them in the future.

JudyB

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 03:03 PM

And thanks to you all once again for doing this. You have provided me with all kinds of incentive to have fun transferring some things. I've not installed the software yet. Right now we are too all consumed dealing with life stuff to even start yet. Chris WILL get here and do what needs to be done, if not sooner, then later will be fine too. Right now the energy isn't there to do much but "take it slow and easy"---as the old song says.

On an existential note, it is strange but all the talk of degrading CDs doesn't bother me anywhere near how it would've hit me 20 or 30 years ago. When 45 rpm records went out, I saw the value of LPs but mourned the passing of the old technology. Then my favorite LPs would get gouged, and I knew it was the end of the world. (It wasn't, of course. It was only the end of the world as I knew it.) Eventually, all the music I loved got stuck onto reel-to-reel tapes. They didn't last, so I saved what I could to cassettes.

Being on the road for a living, I tended to give away (potlatch) all the old items of the various media. It seemed in keeping with showing others what I had found. Rich Remsberg got ALL the reel-to-reel tapes. The LPs went everywhere.

Now CDs are showing their true fallible faces to us. ------ And I can't get bent out of shape too much.

The humor comes shining through, though! (Or should that read "though through"?) What a difference an "r" makes---for whatever that's worth.

The more things change, the more they get different!! (But only sometimes.) With all the music I have hear now, I am certain I'd never get to play half of it before it was time for me to click off this "motel soil"---to paraphrase Shakespeare. Life, sometimes, does seem like an overnight stay in a most fascinating wilderness campsite...

Art (with thanks for you all)

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 09:43 PM

If you get a hankering to start burning CDs, just pop the program CD in and the software will pretty much install itself. Then have Jerry give you a call and talk you through the first one. You'll be amazed and wonder why it took you so long to get to it.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Mar 06 - 03:01 PM

Art,

I see from your other thread that you have music ready to share right now!

I meant to write last week--the sinus fog was heaviest and I didn't write much--thank you so much for the copy of your CD. I love it!

Maggie (SRS)

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Mar 06 - 06:45 PM

Okay, I got past the sinus stuff (I'm on a second batch of antibiotics) so I was able to make my way to the post office this afternoon. I put two packages in the mail, Art. One has envelopes, and the other has envelopes. Actually, one has the CD sleeves we discussed (they can hold two CDs, or can hold a CD and a page with info about the CD so you don't scratch your CD) and the other contains about 10 cardboard mailers for CDs. I thought they might come in handy.

By the way, the box with the sleeves is a Certified Mudcat Recycled Parcel™, having come first from MMario with a shawl I purchased through the Mudcat auction.

(If all of the appearances of "CD" in this post seems a bit much, consider the following: I work with two women at the library, one who goes by CD, the other goes by Diane. CD's email is "[e-mail]" and Diane's email is "[e-mail]" . I have a heckuva time remembering who I'm talking to when I look at the address list at work.)

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 12:09 PM

I put a printout of the entire thread in the mail to Art this morning.

Our little enterprise has been successfully concluded, at least from the Fort Worth contingent. Not sure how long it will take the materials from Oz to wend their way north and eastward.


Thanks, everyone!

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 01:55 AM

To all of the participants in sending the software and materials to Art, here's a nice update from the artist himself. You hear about micro-funding of projects in the third world, but sometimes it is just what is called for here at home, and it looks like it is having the desired effect--he's enjoying himself and he's saving those cassettes to CD at the same time. I find I'm positively beside myself with pleasure at the idea of all of the treasures he is going to discover as he does this work.

As one who can't resist a good pun, this one is being repeated. The Mudcat Endowment of the Art was brought to a folkie near you by:

SRS with great assistance from
Jerry Rasmussen
MMario
Katlaughing
Rapaire
Joybell & Hildebrand
Ron Davies

and I hope I didn't miss anyone.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST,Art Thieme
Date: 03 Oct 06 - 05:49 PM

Folks, I just came up for air!! My last post here was as in August. I've been converting my cassettes to CD nonstop ever since.

This software is unbelievable. You can use it for an amazing number of different things.

Again, all of you, THANKS so very much.

Now back to my tasks...

Art

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Pauline L
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 12:38 AM

I need some help with transferring music from cassette tapes to CDs. I have Roxio (the free version) and a couple of other free software packages for burning CDs. My question is: How do I input the data (music) from my cassettes into my computer, store it, and convert it to the appropriate format? What kind of software and hardware do I need? To all those generous folks who sent money to Art to fund his project, I have this to say: Would someone consider sending me some money for this? I've been unemployed for five f*g years and I can't do much of anything without money!

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 02:53 AM

Bill D usually has a good selection of free programs in use on his computer that he will happily recommend. If he doesn't turn up here soon you might want to PM him.

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 02:25 PM

I've just opened this thread and noticed Jerry Rasmussen's comments about Cakewalk and totally agree. I've got a copy and it's very cheap and very nasty (the price isn't though) and in Britain the back up support is non-existent.

I scrapped it recently and moved on to Cool Edit which is much less fiddly to use and has features which the makers of my edition of Cakewalk obviously never heard of.

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 15 Jan 07 - 03:28 PM

I can strongly recommend Polderbits

Free download and 28 day trial and only a few quid to licence. Dead easy to use and it splits tracks automatically. I also gives you full control of fade in outs etc.
Try it,

Andy

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 Jan 07 - 02:41 PM

Art--your package arrived yesterday in the mail! I'd send a PM if you could open them, but instead I'll offer an open "thank-you!" I am familiar with a couple of those artists, and I have at least one McClintock recording (was my Dad's). I'll enjoy this sampling of the work you're doing!

How are you fixed for CDs? Ready for a few more spindles yet?

Maggie (SRS)

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 15 Jan 11 - 05:09 PM

Richard Bridge, I think this is the thread you want.

See post at 28 Feb 06 - 06:27 AM

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 01:14 AM

This is a nice blast from the past - and this is just the software thread. There's another thread around here somewhere that had to do with a computer. :)

SRS

Subject: RE: CDs from old cassettes
From: wysiwyg
Date: 16 Jan 11 - 11:15 AM

Dunno why my testimonial does not appear for wilbyhillbilly but he did a GREAT job for us and I really had to conclude that doing it myself could not produce a result anywhere near as good.

With used CDs available at Amazon I no longer worry about copying tapes to CD. Anything else I need done (need not want), will go to wilbyhillbilly.

~Susan