iMac recording from cassette

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 15 Mar 2021 8:09 am

I want to record from a cassette deck to my iMac, but the copmuter doesn't have an audio input. The deck has RCA jack outputs. I use Audacity on the iMac. Can anyone recommend an inexpensive, simple USB solution?

Doug Taylor · Post by **Doug Taylor** » 15 Mar 2021 10:46 am

I use a USB mixer for that and lots of other stuff! I think they start way under 100 bucks for a couple of Inputs. I have 4 channels, 1/4 and xlr, along with rca.

Ian Worley · Post by **Ian Worley** » 15 Mar 2021 1:15 pm

If you don't already have recording interface, a PreSonus Audiobox is a excellent choice for simple and cheap. They're USB powered so no power supply needed, decent quality (and quiet) preamps, $100. Behringer makes some cheaper units in the $60-$80 range.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 15 Mar 2021 2:01 pm

Hmmm... How about this Bluetooth thingie?

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... m-trs-jack

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 15 Mar 2021 2:14 pm

Or would this be better?

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Cont ... 0023BYDHK/

Ian Worley · Post by **Ian Worley** » 15 Mar 2021 2:52 pm

b0b wrote:Or would this be better?

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Cont ... 0023BYDHK/

Bluetooth might be a little sketchy in terms of sound quality, I don't know. It has a USB port but looks like it is for charging only.

The Behringer dealio is basically a cheaper version of the PreSonus type unit without the input level and blend controls. I don't know about its sound quality or noise but it's probably fine for what you need it to do.

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 15 Mar 2021 3:33 pm

https://www.amazon.com/Duttek-Converter ... 050&sr=8-6

Duttek RCA to USB Cable, USB to RCA Cable,USB 2.0 Male to 2 RCA Male Video AV A/V Converter Camcorder Audio Capture Card Splitter Adapter Cable for TV/Mac/PC (5 Ft/1.5m) $8.99 and free shipping!

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 15 Mar 2021 4:40 pm

I don't think that would work, Jim. I might be wrong, but I think I need an A to D converter for the computer to understand the signal.

I ordered this one. I guess it's last year's model because most places are out of stock and it's cheaper. Looks like it will do the trick. Thanks, everyone.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KW2YEI

gary pierce · Post by **gary pierce** » 15 Mar 2021 4:47 pm

If your mac has a TRS head phone jack, you might can record through it.

Steven Schwartz · Post by **Steven Schwartz** » 15 Mar 2021 4:48 pm

I had cassette's that I had to transfer to my iMac. I use this cheap 20.00 thingy that will plug into the headphone jack or rca plugs of a cassette player. The output is usb, works in GarageBand. Should work anywhere.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019T ... UTF8&psc=1

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 17 Mar 2021 7:31 pm

b0b wrote:I ordered this one. I guess it's last year's model because most places are out of stock and it's cheaper. Looks like it will do the trick. Thanks, everyone.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KW2YEI

It arrived today and it works. Here's a recording from a cassette by Herby Wallace, "Recordings From The Past". I recorded direct from the cassette deck output with Audacity, did Noise Reduction and Normalize and exported as MP3.

https://soundhost.net/herby/panhandle.mp3

Sounds pretty darn good, no?

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 18 Mar 2021 2:21 am

This is an afterthought, but Behringer gets hit for their reverse engineered equipment and quality. I have an MOTU4pre recording interface unit that has high quality preamps and extremely low latency. I needed more that 4 analog inputs for a recording session about a year ago. I was able to borrow a Behringer U-phoria UMC1820 8 channel interface unit for the recording session. I could not hear any difference between the audio recorded with the MOTU or Behringer. Plus the Behringer had the same very low latency as the MOTU.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 18 Mar 2021 6:09 am

Gary Pierce wrote: "If your mac has a TRS head phone jack, you might can record through it."

Have you actually done this?
Please explain.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 18 Mar 2021 9:58 am

Here's another recorded from the cassette deck through the Behringer UCA202 into Audacity on an iMac. I too had my doubts about Behringer, but this unit works very well. It doesn't appear to be "reverse engineered" from anything else on the market that I could find.

https://soundhost.net/2021/03/things-aint-right/

My cassette deck:

The interface (stock photo):

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 18 Mar 2021 5:57 pm

b0b wrote:I don't think that would work, Jim. I might be wrong, but I think I need an A to D converter for the computer to understand the signal.

I ordered this one. I guess it's last year's model because most places are out of stock and it's cheaper. Looks like it will do the trick. Thanks, everyone.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KW2YEI

bOb, The A/D convertor is built into the cable. I have two of these.

One is a 1/4" TS (guitar) plug on one end and a USB connector on the other. The 44.1Khz/16 bit signal is seen as a mono USB input by the computer.

The second has two RCA plugs (left is white, right is red) on one end and a USB connector on the other. The 44.1Khz/16 bit signal is seen as a stereo USB input by the computer.

Windows 10 is plug & play as my computer automatically recognized both and installs a universal USB driver when either is first plugged in for the first time into a previously unused USB port.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 18 Mar 2021 6:00 pm

Very cool, Jim.

Jim Fogle · Post by **Jim Fogle** » 18 Mar 2021 6:03 pm

I've read good reviews on the Behringer interface. I looked at it too. I enjoy having imulti purpose tools when they are not too expensive. Like many, the budget is paramount.