[SOLVED] Has anyone had success with transferring cassette content using Windows 11 Media Player ?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Wolkie 72

Wolkie 72

Commendable
Aug 7, 2022
166
6
1,585
I have downloaded Audacity, and have the basic instructions from them, but W11 is not recognizing the tape unit I plugged in directly via both ports. Is there a way to work around this? Thanks
 
Solution
D
Wolkie 72 said:
I am learning a lot (more than I thought!) about audacity. Such as minimizing it and going to my e-mail. Does it stop recording? Apparently not because when I maximize it again, there it is, still faithfully recording my music.

I read up on that, and the audacity forum tells me that if the sound settings are low enough then it might "forget" and stop recording. That hasn't happened.

Also, does it do me any good to do a pre-export before recording and naming the music? I still get mixed up when I get told it's an audacity "project" until I change it to export.

Also, once I get a cassette recorded, I can never remember how to find it again. It doesn't show under media player, but does under the audacity file.
Click to expand...
If you click on...
Sort by date Sort by votes
COLGeek said:
What is the make/model of the cassette player? Are you attaching it to some sort of analog capture device? If so, what device?
Click to expand...
The make of this cassette player (made to transfer cassettes to Mp3) is Super USB Cassette Capture AGPTEK. Auto-reverse, stereo. And no it is going straight to comuter via cable. No to an analog device except that tape player.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You could try the windows trouble shooter for sound. You'll find it by searching (Windows Key+S) "Find and Fix Problems with Recording Sound". Try to see if anything pops up. Reading a bit on Google it does seems like there are some issues for USB sound codec drivers. Several topics are mentioning stopping the Microsoft Services "Waves Audio Services" and "Waves Audio Universal Services" as a possible solution for conflict driver issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wolkie 72
Upvote 0 Downvote
Wolkie 72 said:
I have downloaded Audacity, and have the basic instructions from them, but W11 is not recognizing the tape unit I plugged in directly via both ports. Is there a way to work around this? Thanks
Click to expand...
With a device like this you would normally connect a 3.5mm stereo cable plug from the green jack on the device to the Line In port on your computer. Refer to your computer's manual to identify the Line In port. You may have to use the Windows Control Panel's Sound app to set the computer's input to Line In. Note that the usb cable for the unit only provides power to the unit and has nothing to do with transferring the audio signal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wolkie 72
Upvote 0 Downvote
Something to mention here, that really good unsolicited advice.

Even if you get the proper cabling the conversion is going to be a very very poor representation of the audio. Bitrate and so forth will basically be non-existent. Unless this is treasured archive audio there is very little point in not trying to find a remixed/modernized version if such is possible of the source.

Also keep in mind that cassette tapes had a thing about getting sticky when they got old, building up on the head while physically destroying the tape. If this is particularly important to you, and with that possibility in mind, you might want to consider a professional service and/or limiting the number of times you run this tape without capture.

Good luck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wolkie 72 and Mahisse
Upvote 0 Downvote
dwd999 said:
Note that the usb cable for the unit only provides power to the unit and has nothing to do with transferring the audio signal.
Click to expand...
I had to just really check that statement because I would think that to be 100% falls advertising if the device was not recording through the USB. It does indeed. There are some reviews on YouTube
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whn0r6cHFDg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wolkie 72
Upvote 0 Downvote
I wonder if just using a standard 3.5mm audio cable going into the PC’s audio inputs is a much better solution than using the player’s USB. It’s likely the USB DAC in the device is really basic and crummy. Ignoring the fact that cassette tapes have bad audio reproduction to begin with, I think letting the PC do the digital conversion from the player’s analog output would give a superior result.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wolkie 72 and Mahisse
Upvote 0 Downvote
punkncat said:
Unless this is treasured archive audio
Click to expand...
I'm going to assume it's a band's recording because of the avatar (drum player). And probably only 1 copy.

COLGeek said:
I suppose you could go from the output of the player (where attaching the headphones) and plug into the mic on your front/rear panel port (not USB) and capture the playback then.
Click to expand...
This is exactly what I did about 10 years ago (copying my metal band cassettes from the early 90's to PC). I did 3 tapes. If I remember right, I used a 1/8th to 1/8th cable from the "boom box" headphones to the microphone input on the PC. Played the tapes on the boom box while recording in Audacity.

Be sure Audacity has the Recording Device set to how you want it. If you're using the latest version of Audacity, click on "Audio Setup" on the toolbar and go to "Recording Device" and be sure the correct one is selected. If you don't know which one it is, set the tape to play and try them all until you figure it out.

You may have to adjust the recording level and try several times. Keep trying and you'll eventually get what you want.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wolkie 72 and stonecarver
Upvote 0 Downvote
I don't think this is about Audacity or WMP. The issue is in the Windows mixer.

If you go to System-Sound-Volume Mixer, and select input devices, does your USB player show up as a source?

I have used a USB casette player with Audacity and it worked like you expect. There were no audio jacks though, the USB cable did everything.

Device is Nedis ACGRU100GY
Cheap thing that i bought the second i saw it because i have some tapes i wanted to record.

Edit - Also, i loved using Goldwave - https://www.goldwave.com/
Not too keen on their latest version. I keep an old version around because i got so used to the UI (yeah, yeah, i know...)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wolkie 72
Upvote 0 Downvote
NedSmelly said:
I wonder if just using a standard 3.5mm audio cable going into the PC’s audio inputs is a much better solution than using the player’s USB. It’s likely the USB DAC in the device is really basic and crummy. Ignoring the fact that cassette tapes have bad audio reproduction to begin with, I think letting the PC do the digital conversion from the player’s analog output would give a superior result.
Click to expand...
Since USB ports do not normally show up as Playback outputs or Recording inputs in the Control Panel Sound app they make you totally dependent on the quality of the audio driver software the device manufacturer provides with the device. If the software is of high quality fine; if not it would be better off letting the PC do the digital conversion where you have better control of the bitrate and sampling. Its not clear from the OP's initial message if he installed such software and can see the device as an Audacity input device. Also Audacity can be somewhat tricky to set up with input devices as you sometimes have to cycle through the Host settings to see which on works best with your system's software and whether the Recording device should be Stereo Mix or loopback of the Playback device.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dos_box and Wolkie 72
Upvote 0 Downvote
Wow! Thanks so much to ALL of you for the assistance and you are right, these are some old cassettes recorded in 1985 off some old (1965) reel-to reel tapes we found in our singer's attic. It was my hope to "clean up" the sound as best I could (not holding breath) and send a copy to each of the guys .

There are some other cassettes with normal music also, however, and they have been kept dustfree, and sound fine with headphones. I want to try with those first.

So now that I have done all this reading, it's time for me to put it to use.

Thank you all once again for your time and expertise!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Wolkie 72 said:
Wow! Thanks so much to ALL of you for the assistance and you are right, these are some old cassettes recorded in 1985 off some old (1965) reel-to reel tapes we found in our singer's attic. It was my hope to "clean up" the sound as best I could (not holding breath) and send a copy to each of the guys .

There are some other cassettes with normal music also, however, and they have been kept dustfree, and sound fine with headphones. I want to try with those first.

So now that I have done all this reading, it's time for me to put it to use.

Thank you all once again for your time and expertise!
Click to expand...
Unless you're an audiophile purist or the tapes have been damaged, you will find the sound quality acceptable or even good.
I have digitized vinyl and casettes. Cleaning up audio is doable but not easy. experiment with filters and expect to have to do a lot of the work "by hand". Getting rid of a constant hiss or hum is a lot more difficult than old vinyl clicks and pops.

Unfortunately a cheap USB recorder such as the one i have can introduce artifacts of hissing. I don't need perfection though, just wanted some tapes from 80s and 90s digitized. Mostly i've been lucky and the sound is surprisingly good with no artifacts or it's barely noticeable.

dwd999 said:
Since USB ports do not normally show up as Playback outputs or Recording inputs in the Control Panel Sound app they make you totally dependent on the quality of the audio driver software the device manufacturer provides with the device. If the software is of high quality fine; if not it would be better off letting the PC do the digital conversion where you have better control of the bitrate and sampling. Its not clear from the OP's initial message if he installed such software and can see the device as an Audacity input device. Also Audacity can be somewhat tricky to set up with input devices as you sometimes have to cycle through the Host settings to see which on works best with your system's software and whether the Recording device should be Stereo Mix or loopback of the Playback device.
Click to expand...
Windows 7 had an option to use output as recording input, so you could record any sound you play. I haven't see that in Win 11, but honestly i have not been looking for it yet either.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Wolkie 72
Upvote 0 Downvote
That is why I was so puzzled as to why W11 didn't recognize the tape unit. When I made Mp3 song lists for my mp3 player years ago - no problem - it saw the player just fine. A second cable also was no help and neither was the little cd they sent.

I also left Audacity for Goldwave - it just looks easier for this 74-year-old coot to deal with. I deal with cognitive memory loss daily, so I write a lot down and Goldwave looks like it makes that easy. My thanks once again for the support and the answers you took the time for. It is MUCH appreciated!

Bill
 
  • Like
Reactions: 35below0
Upvote 0 Downvote
35below0 said:
I don't think this is about Audacity or WMP. The issue is in the Windows mixer.

If you go to System-Sound-Volume Mixer, and select input devices, does your USB player show up as a source?

I have used a USB casette player with Audacity and it worked like you expect. There were no audio jacks though, the USB cable did everything.

Device is Nedis ACGRU100GY
Cheap thing that i bought the second i saw it because i have some tapes i wanted to record.

Edit - Also, i loved using Goldwave - https://www.goldwave.com/
Not too keen on their latest version. I keep an old version around because i got so used to the UI (yeah, yeah, i know...)
Click to expand...
Sorry - I missed this and no the player doesn't show up on my USB list.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom