Audacity is free digital audio recoding software that can be installed on Windows or Mac computer operating systems. With a soundcard on the computer and cable connections to a tape deck, Audacity can be used to convert cassette recordings into digital files for burning to a compact disc. Since analog tape can wear out and become brittle over time, converting old cassettes to CDs can preserve a music collection and save important voice recordings.
Instructions
1. Plug the red and white RCA audio cables into the right and left audio Output or Playback jacks on the back of the tape deck.
2. Connect the other ends of the cables to the jacks in a Y adapter.
3. Insert the mini-plug on the other end of the Y adapter into the Input jack on the computer's sound card.
4. Open the Audacity recording software on the computer by clicking the "Start" button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen, choosing All Programs and selecting Audacity.
5. Load a cassette into the tape deck and press "Play."
6. Click on the "Record" button at the top of the Audacity screen to begin recording the cassette program. The button has a red circle in the center.
7. Shut off the tape deck and click the "Stop" button on the Audacity screen when finished recording. The "Stop" button has a red square in the center.
8. Click "File" on the Audacity screen and choose "Export as .Wav File."
9. Type a name for the new recording and click the "OK" button.
10. Place a blank CD in the computer's media tray and close the tray.
11. Open the media software the computer uses for burning CDs. For example, a computer running a Windows platform probably uses Windows Media Player. Apple computers typically use iTunes or QuickTime.
12. Click the "Burn" tab at the top of the screen, then click the "Library" or "My Music" tab to open a folder containing all the audio recordings on the computer.
13. Select the file name for the cassette recording by clicking and holding it with the mouse, then drag the file to the Burn list and release it.
14. Click "Start Burn" to record the converted cassette audio file to the CD.
Tags: tape deck, Audacity screen, button Audacity, button Audacity screen, software computer
