Off Topic: Cassette to Digital in High Speed?

Hello All,

I have hundreds of cassette recordings that I want to transfer to digital. My present setup copies them to the computer in real time, which means countless hours of transcribing them would be required.

Is there a machine that will transfer the cassette recording to the computer in a high-speed format, much as one of the high-speed cassette duplicating machines can do? If so, where can they be purchased, and what is the cost?

Lastly, I'm aware that CD's are going away faster than cassettes did - what's the best way to archive them once we've translated them to digital? A portable mega hard drive, perhaps?

Thanks for your input.

The only company is OTARI. View this site it has both reel to reel and casette high speed to digital.


Otari, Inc.: Product Information: DAS - Digital Archive System

Cautionary note: the copying machine must be able to reproduce the highest frequency, on the subject tape, multiplied by the dubbing speed. Thus to copy 20Hz-15kHz at 2x speed the dubbing machine must have 40Hz to 30kHz capability. This is beyond the performance of even high-end consumer decks. However, if you only wish to copy speech any deck that does 2x transfer will probably suffice.

e.g. Pyle Pro PT-659DU Dual Stereo Cassette Deck w/Tape USB PT659DU This one does the digital conversion. Alesis has one for twice the price.

Cheers, Marshall.

[QUOTE=Todd W. White
Lastly, I'm aware that CD's are going away faster than cassettes did - what's the best way to archive them once we've translated them to digital? A portable mega hard drive, perhaps?

Thanks for your input.[/QUOTE]

The hard drive will work well.

The best solution I have found is to find an older Power Mac G5 computer and use it as a music server. You can pick one up very reasonably ($100- $300) and they sound great. I personally find it pretty impressive.

It will also have optical in/out as well as analog.

The factory software included Apples Garage Band that is great for editing/mixing. Itunes has all the playback options one could ask for.

It has room for two hard drives inside so backing up your data (highly recommended) is a breeze. If you get a chance, its worth an audition... You might really like it.

I run my music off a reconditioned Dell with XP pro. Works like a charm and is very quiet. Think I paid $90 for it.
The cassette problem is interesting. In theory, you could run the stuff at 6X and still get all the cassette bandwidth with a 192Khz sample rate. But finding a playback device that has that kind of bandwidth is not going to be easy. 4X maybe. 60Khz?

I store and play my music on a mac mini which makes no noise at all. Pricey comparatively but my life in messing with computers is just over...thank God. iTunes is an awesome librarian and there are a growing number of applications which work with it that extend its functionality. Honestly...it's had a profound and compelling impact on my audio and musical pursuits.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Steve Mac

Honestly...it's had a profound and compelling impact on my audio and musical pursuits.

---

Same here. You wont have to look hard to find a Mac in some studios, I dont know about the Mini but to me the G5 has excellent sound capabilities. I never verified it but I have read (on the internet) the G5 uses the same TI chips that McIntosh used in some of their high end stuff. Many times I have had others make the comment "I never heard that in that song before" and I find myself still thinking that. It is really worth an audition and you can decide.