Spoken-Word-Audio-Filter: What is the best way to get audio from tapes to my Powerbook?
October 9, 2006 11:23 AM Subscribe
Spoken-Word-Audio-Filter: What is the best way to get audio from tapes to my Powerbook?
Here's the deal: I'm using a Marantx PMD222 cassette analog recorder to field record interviews (and sometimes sounds) of New Yorker's for a project of mine. I want to use the original tapes as masters, but then convert them to a .wav file in order to create a digital master. I can then downsample it to whatever I need. The intended output is primarily through the web, but with a view toward compiling a CD for distribution.
The PMD222 has a RCA jack out (mono) so I figured I could use the Edirol UA-1EX connected to my PowerBook as the input. I'm not looking for 100% studio sound, nor could I afford it - I would be willing to spend about $200.
Are there any other ways I could convert the analog to digital using my powerbook? Is the Edirol UA-1EX a good product? Are there any other proiducts out there which would be better?
Thanks!
Here's the deal: I'm using a Marantx PMD222 cassette analog recorder to field record interviews (and sometimes sounds) of New Yorker's for a project of mine. I want to use the original tapes as masters, but then convert them to a .wav file in order to create a digital master. I can then downsample it to whatever I need. The intended output is primarily through the web, but with a view toward compiling a CD for distribution.
The PMD222 has a RCA jack out (mono) so I figured I could use the Edirol UA-1EX connected to my PowerBook as the input. I'm not looking for 100% studio sound, nor could I afford it - I would be willing to spend about $200.
Are there any other ways I could convert the analog to digital using my powerbook? Is the Edirol UA-1EX a good product? Are there any other proiducts out there which would be better?
Thanks!
Response by poster: Powerbooks do have a line in, but I don't really trust it. I guess I'm looking for a few steps up than just plugging it into my PB.
posted by plemeljr at 11:44 AM on October 9, 2006
posted by plemeljr at 11:44 AM on October 9, 2006
On the cheap end, the Griffin iMic (US$40) USB audio device should work just fine for this, with better quality than most on-board sound cards. It supports up to 48kHz and 24-bit samples. It only has 1/8" stereo jacks, so you'll need a converter cable to hook it up to your tape player.
posted by mbrubeck at 12:37 PM on October 9, 2006
posted by mbrubeck at 12:37 PM on October 9, 2006
I'm using the iMic right now to digitize a giant stack of vinyl, and I would recommend it for your task. It's a small USB item with a line in and a line out (for monitoring) that lets you record to a laptop without HD sound contaminating your recording. It comes with an RCA-to-1/8 adaptor.
It also comes with Final Vinyl, a decent recording application that allows you to set cue markers and trim out noise and unwanted tracks. You can set cues as you monitor, or just save to a single file, if you want to get the audio on your HD fast and edit later.
This lets you save separate track files (in .aiff format) from a single recording like one side of a tape.
It's well under your budget, even if you need to buy another HD to save the files to.
posted by Sallyfur at 2:00 PM on October 9, 2006
It also comes with Final Vinyl, a decent recording application that allows you to set cue markers and trim out noise and unwanted tracks. You can set cues as you monitor, or just save to a single file, if you want to get the audio on your HD fast and edit later.
This lets you save separate track files (in .aiff format) from a single recording like one side of a tape.
It's well under your budget, even if you need to buy another HD to save the files to.
posted by Sallyfur at 2:00 PM on October 9, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by SirStan at 11:36 AM on October 9, 2006