Guide: Digitizing Old Cassette Tapes – Step by Step

For many, the cassette tape is the ultimate archaic symbol. Throughout the 1980s, cassette tapes were the obvious way to listen to music – and both freestyle music and mountain speakers became symbols of freedom.

Technically, the cassette tape is nothing to worry about. The sound quality was so bad that we hardly wanted to save any old pre-recorded music tapes. But of course our old cassette tapes contain more than just commercial music. Self-recording voices was easy for a cassette tape player, so many people recorded themselves, their children, and other relatives. The tape player was also a norm for garage band demo recordings or when a choral concert and end-of-school concert were immortalized.

Of course, these types of recordings are invaluable, regardless of sound quality, and converting them to digital files is easy. It also means that the material is in safe custody – even if the tapes disappear or break.

The rope is enough

If you still have an old tape player – or bought it used – the digitization process is easy. All you need is a cable that holds a few dozen and you can then use a free program like Audacity.

The basic requirement is that the computer has a microphone input. If it is missing, you can purchase an external sound card for a few hundred Swedish krona. The sound card, which you plug into your computer's USB port, has a microphone input where you can plug your cable.

The simplest solution is to purchase a “digital cassette player”. You insert the cassette tape, press play/record, and when everything is ready, the mp3 file is saved to the USB stick. The tape recorder costs around 550 SEK in stores like Kjell & Co, but there are also cheaper versions that you can plug into your computer's USB connector. Then you have to do as in our guide.

1. Connect your tape player

If you have a classic tape player, it's easier to use a 3.5mm cable with two males. They cost a few dozen at tech stores or online. Connect one connector to the headphone output of the tape recorder and the other to the microphone/headphone input of the computer. If a question appears, select that you want to use the input as a microphone.

2. …and check the settings

If something goes wrong, you may need to open your computer Settings And choose system, voice, entrance. Here you can change the unit or other settings.

If sound quality is not important, you can of course also record directly from the recording device's speakers using the microphone on your computer or mobile phone.

3. Install the software

It's now time to install audio editing software, and in our example we'll be using the popular free program Audacity. The easiest way to install the program is to open it Microsoft Store And search for Daring. He chooses Steady And follow the instructions. It is also possible to browse the Internet www.audacityteam.orgClick on download Install the program from here.

4. Select the device

You must now select the device from which the audio should be recorded. You can do this by pressing the button Adjust sound, recorder Select the microphone to which you have connected the recording device. You can also make more advanced settings by selecting Sound setting.

5. Adjust the volume

Play the audio in the tape recorder and press the red record button in Audacity. If necessary, adjust the volume on the recording device and with the slider Recording level At the top of audacity. Test yourself to reach the right levels – then start recording for real.

6. Trim

Your recording is displayed as a wave pattern and by selecting a portion with the mouse you can cut, copy, paste and delete it. This way, you can change the location of different parts – just like in a word processing program.

7. Save the project…

As long as you're dealing with audio, save it in Audacity format aup3 via archives, Save the project, Save project as. The file can only be opened in Audacity, and to play the audio elsewhere you have to export it to mp3 for example.

8. …and mp3 file

Export via archives, Export audio, Export to computer. Click on appearance To specify the file format and Audio options To change sound settings. You can also choose Current selection To save only the sounds you have selected. Confirm with Export.