Hi there. This guide is for you if you have a box of old cassettes and want to convert them to digital audio files.
Recording audio from cassette tapes to mp3s can seem daunting, but with the right equipment and patience, you can easily preserve old recordings in digital form. Even if you don’t have any technical experience, it’s easier than you might think. All you need is an audio cassette player, a suitable computer or laptop, and the appropriate software to transfer your recorded cassettes into digital format.
With these tools, you’ll be on your way to archiving your favorite music and stories before they are lost forever.
How to convert Cassette to MP3 on Computer
While streaming services provide near-limitless access to music, they can’t replace the nostalgia and character of a classic cassette collection. Many people who grew up listening to cassettes still keep their players and tapes around, along with warm memories associated with them.
Fortunately, there are several ways to convert these audio recordings into digital files. From time-consuming DIY projects to quick and easy online options, there’s something for every level of tech-savviness when it comes to cassette tape conversion.
Connect your Tape Player to Computer
Transferring cassette tapes to digital format doesn’t have to be a complicated process. You can choose from multiple options based on your needs, budget, and technical abilities. The most straightforward solution is to purchase an inexpensive USB cassette converter.
However, connecting a cassette deck to your computer with the help of Audacity might be a more cost-effective option. For those who lack the time or necessary equipment, professional digitizing services exist as a quick and easy alternative. With any of these approaches, you can ensure your favorite cassettes will live forever.
USB Cassette Converters
Compare user ratings online before you invest it. Transferring cassette tapes to digital format has never been easier. With a USB flash drive and a cassette player interface, you can quickly convert music to MP3 files without needing a computer. Just insert the flash drive into the interface and let it do all the work – a simple operation that will save you valuable time!
Cassette Tape Deck
To get started, get a cassette tape deck with RCA output jacks or a tape player and
3.5mm mini-plug. Additionally, pick up a stereo RCA cable with a mini-jack connector or mini-male to stereo mini-male cable.
If the RCA cable has red and white RCA connectors on both ends, you’ll need an extra adapter – though keep in mind there may be a slight decrease in audio quality when using this adaptor.
Step 1: Connect Tape Deck to Computer
You need an RCA cable. The male side of the cable should be connected to the female RCA connectors on the tape deck, making sure that the jack says either “Line Out” or “Audio Out”. On the other end of the cable, connect it to your computer’s line-In jack (which is usually blue).
Step 2: Record Audio from Cassette Tape with Cinch Audio Recorder
After the cassette tape deck is connected to your computer, use Cinch Audio Recorder to capture the audio.
Step 1: Download and install the virtual audio cable. If the download link doesn’t work, please go to the official site of VB-CABLE to get the latest download file.
Unzip the file you just downloaded. Right-click “VBCABLE_Setup_x64.exe” and run as administrator (If you have 32-bit Windows, run the regular (VBCABLE_Setup.exe), I believe).
Step 2: Open the Cinch audio recorder, Spotify desktop app, or other music players like Amazon and Chrome (if you are playing music online). Ensure that the Cinch is recording and your music player is playing music.
Step 3: Go to Windows audio settings.
Set Spotify (or other music players) to the desired endpoint using the Input and Output select list. Press the Windows key and type Sound mixer options. It would be best to land on the App volume and device preferences setting page.
Select the “CABLE OUTPUT” option from the “input” and the “CABLE INPUT” option from the “output” for the Cinch audio recorder.
Make sure your audio settings for Spotify (or music player) and Cinch audio looked the below screenshot.
If you can’t find the Windows 10 setting, try the Windows 10 Settings 🡂 System 🡂 Sound section and scroll down to the Advanced sound options 🡂 App volume and device preferences setting.
Step 4: Restart Spotify (or music player) and Cinch audio recorder, and try recording music again.
Note: You won’t hear any sound from Spotify playing, but Cinch will. You could see the waving graph on the Cinch while it’s recording.
If you want to listen to Spotify music while recording, please go to Windows settings, type “Hardware and Sounds,” click search, then hit “Sound.”
Once in Sound, go to “Recording,” look for CABLE Output, and hit “Properties.” Make sure your usual mic is your Default Device.
When you’re there, click the “Listen” tab, then tick the “Listen to this device” box. After that, set the “Playback through this device” option to whatever headphones or speakers you use. Make sure to “Apply” and “OK“!
Step 5: Download and install the Cinch audio recorder from the below.
Step 6: Launch the software and press the yellow “Record” button in the upper-left corner.
You are now playing your Cassette Tape. The Cinch Audio Recorder will start recording music automatically.
You could save Spotify to WAV format if you want to get music as a lossless audio file.
Step 3: After the recording is finished, right-click on a recorded song and select the “Open folder” you will see all recorded songs in MP3 format.
You could change the output folder and MP3 bitrate from “settings.”
That’s it. You have converted Cassette Tape to MP3 on your computer with only three steps. Now you can transfer recorded mp3 files to your iPod or other MP3
Cinch Audio Recorder Features
Cinch offers a great feature for recording Spotify music to mp3 with original sound quality. It provides high-quality audio from streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal, and it is easier to use than other downloaders. The advanced algorithms in the software ensure that users get the best sound quality possible without degradation. This is an ideal solution for reliable and high-quality music downloads.
- Converting Spotify music to MP3 files and maintaining the output music as the same as the original quality (lossless .wav files)
- Automatically get the song’s tags, such as artist, album, and title (accuracy rate is near 100%)
- Recording Spotify while you mute the sound volume on the computer so that you can record music under any circumstances
- Filter out ads (between every two songs) while recording, automatically
- Support all music streaming services
- Edit the recorded music and save it as a ringtone for your phone
- Fix ID3 tags of your local music in batch
- 100% working for all streaming music sites(Apple Music, Google Music, Amazon Prime Music, etc. )
- It does not require a Spotify premium account.
Conclusion
With a USB flash drive and a cassette player interface, you can quickly and easily convert your music into MP3 files without needing a computer.
Using the Cinch Audio Recorder, you can record and convert old cassette tapes into digital MP3s. With a little effort and patience, you can now give your classic music collection new life through modern technology. So let the music from decades past fill your home, and enjoy it on your favorite device easily.
