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!!!!