CDs from old cassettes

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