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Converting tape to digital - jl

Posted: Nov 02, 2011

Anyone know of a machine that will convert cassette dictation tapes to digital format?

I do work for a doc who uses tapes (he doesn't want to convert to digital). It's a good job, but I'd much prefer to transcribe using Express Scribe instead of the cassette machine.

I've seen some ads on the Internet, but would prefer to go to a reputable store.

Thanks for any help!

Don't need anything fancy. - Just a regular tape player.

[ In Reply To ..]
You can use Audacity (free download) with a regular tape player and a dubbing cable from the headset plug on the recorder to the line in on your computer. If you search Google, you can find lots of instructions and YouTube videos on dubbing tape to mp3. No need to waste money on an expensive machine.

Converting tape to digital - jl

[ In Reply To ..]
I've tried it using Audacity, but the sound quality was really bad. I'm willing to pay for a machine if it produced a better quality sound.

Express Scribe Can Actually Do This! - mtanon

[ In Reply To ..]
You can do this in Express Scribe using the "DOCK" feature on the toolbar, selecting the "Audio Cable Method." There's a good description of the process in the DOCK window help page.

The secret to making recordings into a digital file is you have to plug in your
dubbing cable (Radio Shack if you need to get one) into your PC (usually the blue plug) as "Line In" versus your standard PC outgoing audio plug. Then the the other end would go into the output(ear plug)button on your tape player.

With the recording program open,(e.g., Express Scribe)and Dock window open, and the cable connected to the PC and the tape player, you begin by pressing Play on your tape player. Express Scribe will start the recording automatically and will stop when you stop the play button on your tape player.

You can save the file with any name you like. I am truly not sure I remember the recording format that is created. It might just be the default one to play in Express Scribe (don't think you can choose mp3 or wma etc). You have to kind of play with the settings until you see that you are making a recording, but it's really not hard to do once you get the hang of it.

Good recordings depend on a good PC sound card, a good dubbing cable, and a decent recording program. But that's really all there is to the process.

There is actually a utility in Windows ("Sound Recorder" in the Accessories folder) that you can try using as well.

Good luck to you.

----------------------
This below is pasted from Express Scribe DOCK help page to get you started:

Dock - Audio Cable Method:
This method must be used if you are using an analog microcassette recorder or the digital handheld you have uses a non-standard proprietary format.

The process is simply playing back the recording into the computer.
--------------------

Converting tape to Digital - jl

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm going to start working on this now! Thanks to your very helpful & detailed instructions, I think there's a very good chance of success.

Thank you so much for the great information.

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