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Digitizing: Difference between revisions

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Cassette players can still be commonly found in thrift stores or on eBay. Try to find a cassette player that looks new or is still in the original box. Avoid buying cheap players that were made in the modern day, as they usually lack the quality of older players. The best players were manufactured in the late 90's or early 2000's. Do NOT use any player that has a '''USB output''', or claims to do '''automatic digitization'''. Most of them are cheap and output low quality MP3 files.
Cassette players can still be commonly found in thrift stores or on eBay. Try to find a cassette player that looks new or is still in the original box. Avoid buying cheap players that were made in the modern day, as they usually lack the quality of older players. The best players were manufactured in the late 90's or early 2000's. Do NOT use any player that has a '''USB output''', or claims to do '''automatic digitization'''. Most of them are cheap and output low quality MP3 files.


The audio cable you need will depend on how your player's outputs. Since your pc will likely take a 3.5mm cable for the mic input, you will need to convert either Quarter-Inch or RCA connectors to that 3.5mm connector, so it can go in your computer. If your computer or laptop does not have a separate microphone input, then you'll need to purchase a USB Soundcard, or use an audio interface (if you're more advanced). 3.5mm combo jacks (ones that carry headphone and mic over one jack) should not be used for digitization.
The audio cable you need will depend on what connectors your player has. Cassette players Usually output audio using one or more different connectors. These connectors are: RCA, Quarter inch, and bare wire terminals. You'll need to adapt one of those connectors to the 3.5mm audio jack found on your computer. On a laptop, there should be separate microphone and headphone jacks, while desktops usually have pink "Line-in" jacks at the back. Line-in jacks are preferred for digitizing. If your computer or laptop does not have a separate microphone input, then you'll need to purchase a USB Soundcard, or use an audio interface (if you're more advanced). 3.5mm combo jacks (ones that carry headphone and mic over one connector) should not be used for digitization, because they cannot record in stereo.


Audacity can be downloaded on Linux and Mac, but this article will focus on digitization with a computer running windows.
Audacity can be downloaded on Linux and Mac, but this article will focus on digitization with a computer running windows.


== Hardware setup ==
== Hardware setup ==
Examine your equipment and pick one of the following setups, according to what's easiest for you.
=== RCA setup ===
=== Quarter inch (phones) setup ===


== Software setup ==
== Software setup ==