Audio settings to convert cassette to mp3

[alicity]

ENGLISH SPANISH

Hello! I have an old cassette tape that I wish I could convert to mp3 but I can't get the audio set up right. Do you know what I'm doing wrong?

- I have a latest model MSI laptop, with Windows 11 and Realtek card. The internal microphone is activated by the computer's webcam. (Fn+F6)
- I have a radio cassette with headphone sound input and RCA sound input + possibility to choose "Line in".
- I have a minijack-minijack cable
- I have an RCA-mini jack cable.

I have tried to connect the RCA cable in L and R of the cassette and the minijack in the laptop- It does not work

I have tried to connect the minijack of the radio cassette in the minijack of the laptop- It does not work

In both cases the same thing happens to me: I configure Audacity:
Realtek MME-Microphone and Realtek speakers.

In both cases, it does not pick up the sound of the tape and if I speak, it picks up my voice.
How can I solve that?
(I feel the dust on the radio cassette, it was abandoned in a corner haha)

Thank you!!

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ENGLISH/SPANISH

Hola! Tengo una vieja cinta de casette que me gustaría poder convertir a mp3 pero no consigo configurar bien el audio ¿Sabéis qué estoy haciendo mal?

- Tengo un laptop último modelo de MSI, con Windows 11 y tarjeta Realtek. El micrófono interno se activa con la webcam del ordenador. (Fn+F6)
- Tengo un radiocasette con entrada de sonido de auriculares y entrada de sonido RCA + posibilidad de elegir "Line in".
- Tengo un cable mini jack-minijack
- Tengo un cable RCA-mini jack.

He probado a conectar el cable RCA en L y R del casette y el minijack en el portatil- No funciona

He probado a conectar el minijack del radiocasette en el minijack del portatil- No funciona

En los dos casos me pasa lo mismo: Configuro Audacity:
MME-Microphone Realtek y altavoces Realtek.

En ambos casos, no capta el sonido de la cinta y si yo hablo capta mi voz.
¿Cómo puedo solucionarlo?

(Siento el polvo que tiene el radiocasette, estaba abandonado en un rincón jaja)

Gracias!!

[DVDdoug]

The microphone input on a laptop is not correct. It can "work" but it's usually mono and an audio line-level of headphone-level signal is about 100 times stronger than a microphone signal.

If you have another desktop computer with a regular soundcard the blue connection is the line-input.

In both cases, it does not pick up the sound of the tape and if I speak, it picks up my voice

Make sure to select the external microphone as your Recording Device.

Also, If your laptop has a single combination jack for the microphone and headphone, you'll need an adapter with an extra connection for the microphone

Assuming your laptop doesn't have a line-input (most don't) the proper solution is a USB audio interface with line inputs. The Behringer UCA202 is popular and inexpensive. Or, there are lots of higher-end audio interfaces with switchable mic/line inputs. Do not buy a regular "USB soundcard" because they are like laptops with only mic-in and headphone-out.

[Paul2]

DVDdoug wrote:

The microphone input on a laptop is not correct. It can "work" but it's usually mono and an audio line-level of headphone-level signal is about 100 times stronger than a microphone signal.

Also, the mic input on laptops and computers, have a small DC offset of around 3V to act as bias for the internal amp used on so many
cheap and nasty mics.
This DC offset, although quite high impedance, can wreak havoc on audio recordings.

microphone_schematic.png (3.21 KiB) Viewed 109 times

[alicity]

Oh thanks.
Too bad, I've been doing this for 2 days. And I see Youtube videos of people who can convert it. I thought I needed to add some sound driver. It was for a family surprise that I have to deliver tomorrow, so I'll have to deliver it "recorded with the mobile while the cassette sounds" XD

[Paul2]

And I see Youtube videos of people who can convert it.

You can easily convert cassette to mp3, if you use the correct inputs.
It's actually a 2 step process as Audacity will record in 32 bit samples, then you export as mp3 in whatever bitrate you want.
Audacity will not record directly to mp3.

Use an external USB interface (with Line input, not mic) or your computer's Line inputs.
If you use the mic input, you will just be wasting time and will not be satisfied with the results.

Below, two types of USB audio interfaces (in both cases, I have obscured their names as I'm not in the advertising business).
The first is no good:

1.PNG (74.74 KiB) Viewed 74 times

The one below, is one of several that will work for your purpose:

2.PNG (114.89 KiB) Viewed 74 times