Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
December, 30, 2002 6:25 PM |
earlyd416 |
Similar to my request for info on video tapes to VCD/SVCD/DVD, I want to know how you are using your Olde World Macs to get your old records and cassettes onto CDs. I have an 8600 with a G4/450 card, FW and the old legacy analog audio/video built-in ports (7600/8600). It's time to make this baby pay for itself. What s/w and/or h/w are you using? Got any good web sites to share? --Dwight |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 11, 2003 4:51 PM |
joevt |
. |
I think Audio Hijack can do that in software but I haven't tried it myself. It would remove degradation caused by the D->A and A->D conversions and wire transmissions. |
. |
Sampling live internet stream |
January, 11, 2003 4:28 AM |
macman |
. |
Simple, really: I have my audio going out through the built-in jack, going to a little Behringer mixer (think Mackie 1202). This is my mixer for bringing audio in from cassette, LP, windows box, mac box, etc. Audio from this mixer goes to a set of speakers so that I only have one speaker set for two computers and a pile of gear. Additionally, the audio from the mix out is sent to the inputs on the Maudio card. So, I can play audio from iTunes, it goes out to the mixer, comes back into the Maudio card, then I can hit record. It's a loopback device essentially. I guess a patch cord could have done the same thing. Stephen |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 10, 2003 9:31 AM |
rjbailey |
. |
Macman: How did you use Audio Recorder to sample a live internet stream? |
. |
I'm doing it in X |
January, 10, 2003 3:40 AM |
macman |
. |
After a long time (since Sept 27!) I finally got my mac back and alive and I have some thoughts on this thread. I purchased the Maudio Audiophile 2496 PCI card just for the purpose of converting my collection to MP3/CD. I decided on a PCI card because I'd read about the CPU hit that USB solutions posed. When in use, the CPU hit is minimal - 5% for the drivers when recording. I also chose this card because it had RCA analog in/out jacks, SPDIF in/out, and midi. The bundled software was almost all for Classic or Windows, so I didn't get any use out of them. :-/ What is really great about this card is that there is a mixer built into its software, so if you want to do final level tweaks, along with mixing in sound from other inputs. The card isn't cheap, I think that I paid $150 for it. As far as software layer, I used Sound Studio 2.0 back when my mac worked. It had some great features, including the ability to take a file and split it at markers (that can be given names while in the app), simple eq filters, and mixable cut and paste. Note that these filters are not done realtime, but must be performed on a selection that is already recorded. This wasn't a limitation for me. I had some hard crashes when using this version, but they seem to be fixed with the last version 2.07, released in November. Sound Studio has about a 35-40% CPU hit when recording, it spikes to 80% when you have finished recording and it's saving the audio in its clipboard. This software is about $40. I tried Peak LE, but I didn't need a virtual 8 track for this project. Tonight I just tried a little freeware app named Audio Recorder. It runs only under X, but it offers the ability to dump whatever it's fed directly to mp3, at sample rates up to 256. I just captured 46 minutes of stream from somafm.com and got a 69MB file (sampled at 192). Nary a hiccup, unless you count some strange 'clicks' that I think come from resampling at a higher rate than the original source. This app worked well, taking about 35-40% of the CPU. My machine specs are: 8600, 10.2.3, Sonnet G4/800, 1 GB EDO RAM, Slot 1: Sonnet Tempo Trio Rev B, Slot 2: Audiophile 2496, Slot 3: Radeon 7000. 80GB Seagate Barracuda IV drives. I've burned with iTunes, but mostly I'm interested in getting my collection into mp3 format since it's so much easier to access. Stephen |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 08, 2003 2:18 PM |
mjoecups358 |
. |
Well I got my Onkyo U33 USB to RCA stereo pair adapter... It barely works under 10.2.3 and is certainly not useable. However, on my 9600/350 under 10.1.5 I was able to record a full 20 minutes of a cassette using the Sound Studio demo and it recorded... I have yet to critically listen to the result, as I had no headphones and I was sharing the room with someone watching TV... Anyhow, for $40 bucks it is also a 3 port USB hub so I guess I am not too peaved about it not working under 10.2.3... Disappointed though, that is for sure. Anyone have other suggestions for freeware/shareware recording softwares to try under OSX? |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 08, 2003 4:26 AM |
john.england |
. |
Opps...a 9500. I was thinking of the 8500 motherboard. I need more coffee! |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 06, 2003 12:33 PM |
swoup1213 |
. |
I'm been using a Umax S900 and currently a Mac 9500 to do my records, reel-to-reel, casettes, 8-tracks, anything that you can connect your amplifier tape outputs to the mac. I don't have built-in RCA jacks on my computer, but I'm using just the microphone input that is there. It's Stereo, 16-bit and I found no difficulty obtaining the cable, a miniplug stereo jack on one end, male RCA jacks on the other. This cable enables me to do what I want. Keith |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 06, 2003 11:33 AM |
earlyd416 |
. |
John, I've added a USB/FW card to the 8600 just after 9.1 came out. Unfortunately, X doesn't address those ports (least wise, I couldn't figure out how to make any X s/w see those ports). So, thus, the Griffin iMic. Currently, I have to boot into OS 9 to use those ports, and I'd like to get away from using 9 now that X is firmly established. We'll have to see what I can do with my olde model 1997 8600. After all, that's have the fun of owning a Mac! --Dwight |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 06, 2003 8:17 AM |
john.england |
. |
iMic? Curious since you did not say anything about having USB ports on your old world machine and USB has a known latency problem. Your 8600 already has the RCA in and out plugs and also a mic input if that's what you needed, although keeping the process digital is preferred. Have fun. |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 05, 2003 2:04 PM |
earlyd416 |
. |
Thanks for info. I ordered an iMic. I'll try it next weekend. --Dwight |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 02, 2003 9:22 AM |
brfransen |
. |
I have done this in X using a Griffin iMic to capture audio from an old cassette and then burned it to CD with Toast. I used Roxio's CD Spin Doctor and also tried Griffin's beta app called Final Vinyl. Final Vinyl looks promising in beta form for just a free app. Spin Doctor is quite buggy but it got the job done an came with Toast. For my limited use I am not will to pay the $50 for Sound Studio so I have not even tried it. Britney |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 02, 2003 7:03 AM |
john.england |
. |
Professional nightclub DJ for 27 years and I have been using my Powermac 7500 exactly for this purpose. As others have said, yes you do have to use a pre-amp. Source -> Preamp -> Computer. Also do not forget to set your EQ levels flat...no bass or treble. Watch those levels and use a fresh needle in your cartridge if you can. For software, I started with Jasmine and lately switched over to Sound Studio (for OS 9 AND OS X). I honestly hate CD's (mastering issues but that's another thread) but love the handiness of the CD format. Converting analog vinyl to digital keeps some of the warmth in the track. Good Luck! |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 01, 2003 9:21 PM |
earlyd416 |
. |
Thanks. I've downloaded Coaster and try it over the next couple of days. |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 01, 2003 9:13 PM |
mjoecups358 |
. |
OK, So no one is doing it with OSX? I have ordered the Onkyo USB sound input/output thing, and will report back next week, as to whether this works with OSX..... |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 01, 2003 7:48 PM |
swoup1213 |
. |
I've been converting vinyl, reel-to-reel, cassette, video concert recordings and FM to CD for a few years now. Literally anything that can go through an amplifier can be captured on a hard drive in AIFF format. I haven't tried it with OSX but with OS9 you can download a freeware program called "Coaster". It works flawlessly, it's simple and easy to use. I really like the features, ones that I've always been familiar with such as decibel meters that look a lot like VU meters. You can set how strong the signal is to avoid clipping and can seamlessly separate tracks, I can't say enough about this piece of software, try it. Keith |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
January, 01, 2003 4:36 PM |
mitch707 |
. |
I use 'Simple Sound' from Apple. It's small, free and will record ANY audio you can pump through those RCA jacks and in AIFF format. I've used it to record FM radio programs for later listening. BTW, nobody wrote any drivers for those AV ports to run in any OS > 9.x. Nobody is going too either. I burn w/ toast lite. - Mitch |
. |
RE: Converting Records & Cassettes to CDs |
December, 30, 2002 7:26 PM |
naturist |
. |
Well, I've not tried it under OS X, but under OS 9.1, I use Sound Sculptor. I run the output from the magnetic cartridge through a pre-amp built for the purpose (and dating from the days when vinyl was King) to the microphone port on my 7500. Record and massage to clean up with Sound Sculptor and save as an AIFF file, then burn to a CD with Toast 5.x Works like a charm. |