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Author Topic:  iMac recording from cassette
b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2021 8:09 am    
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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?
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Doug Taylor


From:
Shelbyville, Kentucky, USA
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2021 10:46 am    
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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.
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Ian Worley


From:
Sacramento, CA
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2021 1:15 pm    
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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.
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2021 2:01 pm    
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Hmmm... How about this Bluetooth thingie?

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/IBT402--hosa-ibt-402-drive-bluetooth-audio-interface-transmitter-receiver-stereo-3.5-mm-trs-jack
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2021 2:14 pm    
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Or would this be better?

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Control-UCA222-Ultra-Low-Interface/dp/B0023BYDHK/
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Ian Worley


From:
Sacramento, CA
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2021 2:52 pm    
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b0b wrote:
Or would this be better?

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-Control-UCA222-Ultra-Low-Interface/dp/B0023BYDHK/

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.
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Jim Fogle


From:
North Carolina, Winston-Salem, USA
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2021 3:33 pm    
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https://www.amazon.com/Duttek-Converter-Camcorder-Capture-Splitter/dp/B07KF6PM7J/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=rca+to+usb&qid=1615851050&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! Very Happy
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2021 4:40 pm    
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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
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gary pierce


From:
Rossville TN
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2021 4:47 pm    
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If your mac has a TRS head phone jack, you might can record through it.
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Steven Schwartz

 

From:
Longview Washington, USA
Post  Posted 15 Mar 2021 4:48 pm    
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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/B019T9KS04/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 17 Mar 2021 7:31 pm    
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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? Mr. Green
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Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2021 2:21 am    
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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.
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ajm

 

From:
Los Angeles
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2021 6:09 am    
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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.
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2021 9:58 am    
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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):

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Jim Fogle


From:
North Carolina, Winston-Salem, USA
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2021 5:57 pm    
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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.
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2024 BiaB UltraPlus PAK
Cakewalk by Bandlab Computer DAW
Zoom MRS-8 8 Track Hardware DAW


Last edited by Jim Fogle on 18 Mar 2021 6:00 pm; edited 1 time in total
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b0b


From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2021 6:00 pm    
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Very cool, Jim.
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Jim Fogle


From:
North Carolina, Winston-Salem, USA
Post  Posted 18 Mar 2021 6:03 pm    
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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.
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Remembering Harold Fogle (1945-1999) Pedal Steel Player
Dell laptop Win 10, i3, 8GB, 480GB
2024 BiaB UltraPlus PAK
Cakewalk by Bandlab Computer DAW
Zoom MRS-8 8 Track Hardware DAW
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website


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