Record from a tape player

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I have a number of audio tapes that I would like to import into XP. I bought
a copy of Microsoft Plus! Media Edition that lets me do it but it requires a
preamp and I then goes into the "Line" (I think) input. I need special
cables, etc. It seems like the headset output of the tape player should plug
directly into the microphone jack and work without all the specail hardware.
Does anyone know how to accomplish this without buying additional hardware?

Thanx in advance
 
Well, why don't you try putting the headset output into the microphone jack
first and see what happens?
 
I am doing exactly what you want to do but with Microsoft Plus! Digital
Media Edition.
I use a portable radio cassette player with a RCA cable into the line in
input.
I need no additional software or hardware or a preamp.
I don't know if there is a difference between my version and your version.
HTH
John

"Don McKee" <Atlanta.hot,mail.com> wrote in message
I have a number of audio tapes that I would like to import into XP. I bought
a copy of Microsoft Plus! Media Edition that lets me do it but it requires a
preamp and I then goes into the "Line" (I think) input. I need special
cables, etc. It seems like the headset output of the tape player should plug
directly into the microphone jack and work without all the specail hardware.
Does anyone know how to accomplish this without buying additional hardware?

Thanx in advance
 
What type of tape player is used ? on a portable, the mini-plug
(Headset) output jack can be used on the "Line In" of most PC
sound cards. Usually, only turntables require a Preamp to restore
the RIAA Equalization curve and bring signal levels up to usable
mV ranges.
 
Usually, only turntables require a Preamp to restore
the RIAA Equalization curve and bring signal levels up to usable
mV ranges.
Click to expand...

(Trying to think back to the days of records....)

IIRC, for turntables, the pre-amp was needed if you had a certain kind of
cartridge. The 2 different types escape me now.
 
I had to brush up on it, but the differences were between a
Moving Coil and Moving Magnet. The Preamp is needed
because the bass notes are de-emphasized when mastered.
This is why if you play a vinyl recording without an RIAA
Equalization, the tonal response lacks bass. Best I remember,
if mastered "Flat" the bass notes would limit the amount of
playback time per disk. Guess it was sort of a "Lossy" type
format even back then and we didn't realize it.
Here's a brief description/history of RIAA Equalization:
http://stereos.about.com/od/gtgtturntables/a/riaa_eq.htm
 
R. McCarty said:
I had to brush up on it, but the differences were between a
Moving Coil and Moving Magnet. The Preamp is needed
because the bass notes are de-emphasized when mastered.
This is why if you play a vinyl recording without an RIAA
Equalization, the tonal response lacks bass. Best I remember,
if mastered "Flat" the bass notes would limit the amount of
playback time per disk. Guess it was sort of a "Lossy" type
format even back then and we didn't realize it.
Here's a brief description/history of RIAA Equalization:
http://stereos.about.com/od/gtgtturntables/a/riaa_eq.htm
Click to expand...
Ceramic cartridges work into a phono input with no pre-amp.
Moving magnet cartridges require an RIAA equalisation pre-amp.
Moving coil cartridges require RIAA equalisation pre-amp but with much more
gain than for a moving magnet cartridge.
Some older amplifiers have built-in inputs for moving magnet and moving coil
cartridges (such as my old Technics SUV7).
Regards Mike.
 
Don said:
I have a number of audio tapes that I would like to import into XP. I bought
a copy of Microsoft Plus! Media Edition that lets me do it but it requires a
preamp and I then goes into the "Line" (I think) input. I need special
cables, etc. It seems like the headset output of the tape player should plug
directly into the microphone jack and work without all the specail hardware.
Does anyone know how to accomplish this without buying additional hardware?

Thanx in advance
Click to expand...


It might be that you can connect the tape player's headset output to
the sound card's input, provided that the tape player provides
sufficient gain. Try it and let us know. You have to at least have the
cabling to connect the tape player to your sound cards input jack.
Whether or not you'll also need a pre-amplifier depends upon whether or
not your tape player has one built-in.

Regardless of the software you use, or the source of the original
audio, these hardware connection instructions are a useful guide:

http://www.nch.com.au/golden/setup.html

Further useful instructions here:

http://www.dak.com/reviews/Tutorial_LP.cfm

http://www.pcabusers.net/vinyllp/vinyllp.htm

If you do discover that you need a pre-amplifier, this is the one I use
to boost the audio signal from my turntable:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103385&cp

You may also want to be able to clean up the noise (hiss and rumble, in
particular) from the audio signal, as well as break the single, large
resulting *.WAV file into separate tracks. If WinXP MCE lacks the tools
to do this, you might try either Groove Mechanic or Golden Records, both
of which have free, downloadable, time-bombed evaluation licenses:

Groove Mechanic
http://www.coyotes.bc.ca/GrooveMechanic.html

Golden Records
http://www.nch.com.au/golden/index.html


--

Bruce Chambers

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I am not sure what the problems were originally. I then read the instructions
and that was a misteak. I tried to connect to the line input and I didn't
have sufficient gain to record anything. I again tried the microphone input
and it recorded fine. I have a number of concerns like the balance seems way
off and if I ask it to break things into tracks it records for 30 seconds and
gives me 4 tracks that are 1 or 2 seconds long. If I record without breaks it
gives me 30 seconds of recording. I think these will go away when I start
using Digital Medium a little more. Thanks all for your help. I think this
newsgroup site is fantastic where I have access to so many experts.
 
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