Good software to transfer cassette tapes to computer

[timswim78]

I'm running OS X 10.4, and I am looking for software to transfer a cassette tape to some lossless format. (My ultimate goal is to burn the audio to CD's.)

I only have a couple of tapes to transfer, so I am not looking for something with a steep learning curve. My ideal software will be:
- easy to use (especially splitting the recording into tracks)
- inexpensive or free
- sound good (maybe be designed to remove tape hiss or whatever)

 

[sushi]

You might want to consider Quicktime Pro.

 

[oliverlubin]

Audio Hijack?

http://www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack/

easy to use and can do more than what you're looking for.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

I've used CD Spin Doctor (comes with Toast Titanium or can be bought as a stand-alone app, so it's not free, unless you already got Toast ), to make aiff files of a couple of vinyl albums (which I then rip into aacs with iTunes). Tried a couple of other (free) applications, but then figured out I had CD Spin Doctor, which proved to be reliable and hassle free...

 

[timswim78]

I've used CD Spin Doctor (comes with Toast Titanium or can be bought as a stand-alone app, so it's not free, unless you already got Toast ), to make aiff files of a couple of vinyl albums (which I then rip into aacs with iTunes). Tried a couple of other (free) applications, but then figured out I had CD Spin Doctor, which proved to be reliable and hassle free...

Looks like we have a winner! Thank you.

 

[annk]

I've used Audacity (free download, just google it) to transfer reel-to-reel tapes to mp3. I plugged the out on the tape player into a Griffen iMac, then into my PB. When it was finished recording, I exported the files to mp3.

 

[zimv20]

it's likely that your tapedeck has unbalanced (-10 dBV) outs, but you'll be feeding that to balanced (+4 dBu) ins. so for proper gainstaging, you'll need to boost the signal some 18 dB.

i.e. for best results, you'll want to pass that signal through a stereo DI, such as found on a stereo preamp. lots and lots of options, but i use this for the task.

if you've got a USB or firewire interface lying around, it'll do the trick, and to boot probably have better a/d conversion than what's built into the mac.