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From: Gav on 17 Jan 2010 16:15
AIUI there are two main methds to convert an audio cassette to a PC:

(1) line out on cassette player ---->
(perhaps isolating transformer) --->
line in on PC

(2) line out on cassette player --->
analog to digital convertor --->
USB port on PC

Does the USB way in method (2) inherently produce a higher (or lower)
quality result?

Are there any basic convertors for method (2) you would recommend? Price
is important.
From: Grinder on 17 Jan 2010 16:23
On 1/17/2010 3:15 PM, Gav wrote:
> AIUI there are two main methds to convert an audio cassette to a PC:
>
> (1) line out on cassette player ---->
> (perhaps isolating transformer) --->
> line in on PC
>
> (2) line out on cassette player --->
> analog to digital convertor --->
> USB port on PC
>
> Does the USB way in method (2) inherently produce a higher (or lower)
> quality result?
>
> Are there any basic convertors for method (2) you would recommend? Price
> is important.

There is also this beast:
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=plusdeck2c

It seems unreasonable to me that one method would /inherently/ be better
than the other. It all should depend on the quality of the A2D
converter -- either in a sound card or standalone.


From: Steve Walker on 17 Jan 2010 16:39
Gav wrote:
> AIUI there are two main methds to convert an audio cassette to a PC:
>
> (1) line out on cassette player ---->
> (perhaps isolating transformer) --->
> line in on PC
>
> (2) line out on cassette player --->
> analog to digital convertor --->
> USB port on PC
>
> Does the USB way in method (2) inherently produce a higher (or lower)
> quality result?
>
> Are there any basic convertors for method (2) you would recommend? Price
> is important.

If price is important, use method 1 - a 3.5mm to 3.5mm mini-phono cable will
cost about a quid, and the quality won't be any worse given that the source
is a cassette.


From: davesurrey on 17 Jan 2010 18:23

"Gav" <invalid(a)nomail.com> wrote in message news:Xns9D03D7010327A5D4AM2@...
> AIUI there are two main methds to convert an audio cassette to a PC:
>
> (1) line out on cassette player ---->
> (perhaps isolating transformer) --->
> line in on PC
>
> (2) line out on cassette player --->
> analog to digital convertor --->
> USB port on PC
>
> Does the USB way in method (2) inherently produce a higher (or lower)
> quality result?
>
> Are there any basic convertors for method (2) you would recommend? Price
> is important.
Over the past few years I've transferred all my Philips cassettes, R-Dat
tapes, and Mini-Discs to audio files for storage on my music server using
method (1).
It's been completely satisfactory for me.

As others have said it's unlikely that the source material is going to be so
high as to notice any significant degradation.
In fact you might want to clean up the sound using one of the many audio
editing apps that include this.

I have tended to use pro-quality battery operated portable players to
connect to the PC eg a Sony pro-Walkman.
I destroyed a sound card by connection it to the line out of a mains
cassette deck once.
Despite what most folk imagine consumer electronic devices can have
significant voltage differences between them.

HTH
Dave


From: Sjouke Burry on 17 Jan 2010 18:26
Gav wrote:
> AIUI there are two main methds to convert an audio cassette to a PC:
>
> (1) line out on cassette player ---->
> (perhaps isolating transformer) --->
> line in on PC
>
> (2) line out on cassette player --->
> analog to digital convertor --->
> USB port on PC
>
> Does the USB way in method (2) inherently produce a higher (or lower)
> quality result?
>
> Are there any basic convertors for method (2) you would recommend? Price
> is important.
Personally I would not use the USB method, I would expect
timing problems.
Your soundcard should behave better.
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