Problem in converting audio cassettes to CD's

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech,alt.cd-rom (More info?)

Hello All:

I am trying to convert my cassettes to CDs.

I tried to it with the onboard audio circuitry on my motherboard.

I had terrible results. The converted audio file has a humming
background noise.

I have looked at the archives and various Usenet groups, however, did
not find any person discussing a similar problem.

I am wondering what I need to do, specifically, which equipment to
change in my current setup to get a quality audio file.

Here is a list of the equipment that I am using:

-- AMD ATHLON 2200 computer, 512 K RAM, SY-KT333 DRAGON Ultra (Platinum
Edition) motherboard. (Here is more:
http://www.soyousa.com/products/proddesc.php?id=46 )

-- On board CMI 8738 providing 6-channel audio

-- Sony TC-153SD cassette deck (here is an image I found on the
Internet: http://home.hccnet.nl/piet.blaas/sony.htm )

I am connecting the cassette deck to the Audio In port at the back with
the appropriate cabling.

Any advice is appreciated.

Deguza

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech,alt.cd-rom (More info?)

Thanks for your reply.

I don't have a cable TV signal or broadband connected to the PC.

However, the computer is not directly connected to an outlet. It is
connected to a UPS. I wonder if the UPS is the culprit.

The UPS is then attached to a GFCI type of outlet.

Deguza

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech,alt.cd-rom (More info?)

"Kompu Kid" <deguza@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1124598519.835836.9200@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Hello All:
>
> I am trying to convert my cassettes to CDs.
>
> I tried to it with the onboard audio circuitry on my motherboard.
>
> I had terrible results. The converted audio file has a humming
> background noise.
>
> I have looked at the archives and various Usenet groups,
> however, did not find any person discussing a similar problem.

Hum is a very very common problem.

> I am wondering what I need to do, specifically, which equipment to
> change in my current setup to get a quality audio file.
>
> Here is a list of the equipment that I am using:
>
> -- AMD ATHLON 2200 computer, 512 K RAM, SY-KT333 DRAGON Ultra
> (Platinum
> Edition) motherboard. (Here is more:
> http://www.soyousa.com/products/proddesc.php?id=46 )

Unlikely it has anything to do with the CPU, motherboard,
etc.

> -- On board CMI 8738 providing 6-channel audio

> -- Sony TC-153SD cassette deck (here is an image I found on the
> Internet: http://home.hccnet.nl/piet.blaas/sony.htm )

Exactly which output connector are you using?

> I am connecting the cassette deck to the Audio In port at the back

Is it specifically the "Line Input"?

> with the appropriate cabling.

Describe your "appropriate cabling" along with what types
of connectors (and adaptors if used) at each end.

> Any advice is appreciated.

Do recordings on your computer "hum" with other sources
besides the cassette machine?

Does the output of the cassette machine sound clean (no hum)?

Does moving the cassette machine change the hum?

Where (exactly) do you have the power cords from the
computer and from the cassette machine plugged in?

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech,alt.cd-rom (More info?)

"Kompu Kid" <deguza@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1124598519.835836.9200@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

> I am connecting the cassette deck to the Audio In port at the back with
> the appropriate cabling.
>
> Any advice is appreciated.

Try checking the Volume Control setting in your computer software, and turn
off all unused inputs.

Tim

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech,alt.cd-rom (More info?)

"Kompu Kid" <deguza@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1124598519.835836.9200@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Hello All:
>
> I am trying to convert my cassettes to CDs.
>
> I tried to it with the onboard audio circuitry on my motherboard.
>
> I had terrible results. The converted audio file has a humming
> background noise.
>
> I have looked at the archives and various Usenet groups, however, did
> not find any person discussing a similar problem.
>
> I am wondering what I need to do, specifically, which equipment to
> change in my current setup to get a quality audio file.
>
> Here is a list of the equipment that I am using:
>
> -- AMD ATHLON 2200 computer, 512 K RAM, SY-KT333 DRAGON Ultra (Platinum
> Edition) motherboard. (Here is more:
> http://www.soyousa.com/products/proddesc.php?id=46 )
>
> -- On board CMI 8738 providing 6-channel audio
>
> -- Sony TC-153SD cassette deck (here is an image I found on the
> Internet: http://home.hccnet.nl/piet.blaas/sony.htm )
>
> I am connecting the cassette deck to the Audio In port at the back with
> the appropriate cabling.

Remove the cable from the back of the computer and record. You should get
nothing.

If so, check to be sure the recorder is plugged into the exact same outlet
as the computer. Not one across the room. That should do the trick.
Report back.

Norm Strong

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech,alt.cd-rom (More info?)

>i had similar problems a while back and the way i resolved
> it was to change my onboard sound card for a sound blaster
> live card then downloaded a trial version of Rip Edit Burn
> a software program put out by Singing Electrons, i was very
> satified with the trial version so i purchased the full version
> on line,i am sure there are many other ways of converting
> tapes to cd but this one worked for me ,good luck

It is inconceivable that the recording software could have
anything to do with the presense of hum in the recording.

And very unlikely that the onboard sound card was the
source of the hum, either. More likely in the process of
changing sound cards, the offending input got muted, or
whatever the actual problem was.

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech,alt.cd-rom (More info?)

In alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech and alt.cd-rom, On Sun, 21 Aug
2005 01:23:56 -0700, "Richard Crowley" <rcrowley@xpr7t.net> wrote:

>
>"Kompu Kid" <deguza@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:1124598519.835836.9200@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>> Hello All:
>>
>> I am trying to convert my cassettes to CDs.

>> Any advice is appreciated.

Keep your nose clean, don't drink and drive.

>Do recordings on your computer "hum" with other sources
>besides the cassette machine?
>
>Does the output of the cassette machine sound clean (no hum)?
>
>Does moving the cassette machine change the hum?

Especially, is it anywhere near a CRT monitor? Move it as far away
from other equipment as the cables will allow.

>
>Where (exactly) do you have the power cords from the
>computer and from the cassette machine plugged in?

-----
http://www.mindspring.com/~benbradley

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech,alt.cd-rom (More info?)

"Kompu Kid" <deguza@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1124598519.835836.9200@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com
> Hello All:
>
> I am trying to convert my cassettes to CDs.

> I tried to it with the onboard audio circuitry on my
> motherboard.

> I had terrible results. The converted audio file has a
> humming background noise.
>
> I have looked at the archives and various Usenet groups,
> however, did not find any person discussing a similar
> problem.

It seems like we hear about this problem about once a week,
certainly on some audio group someplace every two weeks or
less.

It's called a ground loop.

Search Google under "ground loop" for more information.

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech,alt.cd-rom (More info?)

"66fourdoor" <trippingtoo8track@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1124710125.932661.315920@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com

> that's odd- I transfer vinyl and analog tapes to CD-R all
> the time, no hum- just using an as-is HP Pavilion with
> Windows ME and the Music Match Jukebox that came with it,
> RCA jacks patch corded into the line in jack, and set
> volume to low/moderate listening level.

Right, there's nothing that's necessarily troublesome in the
basic idea.

Poor guy has a ground loop, but he doesn't seem to know how
to spell "ground loop". Google pulls up some great articles
on the topic almost instantly, but you gotta know how to
spell "ground loop". ;-)

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech,alt.cd-rom (More info?)

well if it turns out that it is not completely the ground loop problem then
more suggestions below.


"Kompu Kid" <deguza@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1124664425.300608.201880@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks for all the suggestions and advice.
>
> Additional information on my setup:
>
> - I am not using the headphone outlet on the Sony cassette deck.
>
> - I am using the "line-out" on the cassette deck. This line-out is
> similar to the ones I have on my TEAC cassette deck and CD player.
>
> - The "audio-in" port at the back of the computer is smaller in
> diameter, probably for a 3.5 mm jack as Laurence Payne said. (I am not
> using the port for the microphone. I have my headset's microphone
> attached to that.)
>

This is where the **muting** of all other inputs would be useful advice
(from other post tim martin ) ....
maybe your microphone input is generating the hum or possibly you have MIC
boost selected or some other option that is introducing the hum.

I did not see any mention of OS used ? EG. if Win2K then you will want to
select "Volume Control ->Options-> advanced controls"
and then under "Volume Controls->Options->Properties->Playback ",
enable/select all the items under "show the following controls" and then you
can check/experiment with muting various input controls maybe look into any
relevant advanced options

you will also want to check out the "Sounds and Multimedia Properties" of
your audio devices

also you could bring up the "Volume Controls->Options->Properties->Recording
" and make sure while you are trying to record that the proper input
recording device shows as selected

You did not mention the recording software you were using to capture the
audio input ??

hth
r

Archived from groups: alt.audio.equipment,rec.audio.tech (More info?)

Kompu Kid wrote:
> Thanks for all the suggestions and advice.
>
> Additional information on my setup:
>
> - I am not using the headphone outlet on the Sony cassette deck.
>
> - I am using the "line-out" on the cassette deck. This line-out is
> similar to the ones I have on my TEAC cassette deck and CD player.
>
> - The "audio-in" port at the back of the computer is smaller in
> diameter, probably for a 3.5 mm jack as Laurence Payne said. (I am not
> using the port for the microphone. I have my headset's microphone
> attached to that.)
>
> - The cable I use is a "Y". The two jacks get attached to the cassette
> decks line-out ports. The smaller one to the sound card.
>
> - When I record Internet broadcasts with the computer, I do not get any
> hum.
>
> - The tape recorder/player is not close to the monitor, but it was
> nect to the UPS. I will try to move it away and see what happens.
> However, when I listen to a cassette directly from the deck, I do not
> hear any noise.
>
> - My UPS is a large TrippLite with two banks of power outlets. I am
> using one back for the computer. The cassette deck is attached to one
> of the outlets on the other bank. My recollection is that these two
> banks are different in the way they deal with the power. I will connect
> everything to the same outlet directly and see what happens.
>
> I will try the other suggestions as well and report on the progress.
>
> Deguza
>
Holy cow! Headset and mic connected to the soundcard? Dis-connect THAT.
Move evrything away from the UPS. I bet the noise is one of those.

CD