How do I record to mp3 from reel-to-reel?

Question

I have some OLD audio tapes of family conversations that I'd like to put on CD or DVD. I need to know which output to use from an Akai X1810D tape deck to a Dell computer. Do I need special software?

Answer 1

If your tape recorder has RCA outputs, you'll probably need what's called a Y-cable - this has two RCA plugs on one end, and a headphone type jack on the other, for plugging into the Line In jack (colored blue) on your computer.

You'll also need some recording software - Audacity is very good, and is free.

Then it's just a case of getting the sound level right. Play the tape, and then adjust the Line In volume so that the red VU gauges in Audacity go as high as possible without ever "clipping" (hitting the zero mark on the right hand side).

You can record the tapes as 16-bit, 44.1KHz WAV files, which you can then burn directly to CD-R in audio CD format for playback on a CD player.

Don't encode them as MP3 unless you intend to use them on a MP3 player, as this reduces the quality.

Answer 2

If you have a newer computer you probably don't need special software unless you want to enhance those old recordings.  All you need to do is hook the Audio output of the tape deck (this can be the speaker connections) to the Line In jack on your PC.  You will need a special connection that you can buy at Radio Shack or a music store like Guitar Center.  After that, just play the tape like you would to listen to it, and start recording it with your computer's audio editing software like Sound Recorder or Media Player, etc.

The one draw back is you cannot hear what you're recording, so you cannot edit your tapes as you go long.  This is why I have not converted any of my Reel to Reel tapes yet.