The A/V Thread

Madmoiselle_Silk

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So I finally got one of those...cassette to mp3 things and downloaded the software last night (audiocity) the thing is that it only makes the mp3's in 124kb and I want 320, isn't possible? Also does anyone know if you can pull the volume up in the recording? One tape had really low volume and in general bad quality, to get a normal volume I had my computer on 90% when I listened to the mp3 file, I hope it's possible to make the recording higher even if the tape has bad quality (?)
 

sanctum

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So I finally got one of those...cassette to mp3 things and downloaded the software last night (audiocity) the thing is that it only makes the mp3's in 124kb and I want 320, isn't possible? Also does anyone know if you can pull the volume up in the recording? One tape had really low volume and in general bad quality, to get a normal volume I had my computer on 90% when I listened to the mp3 file, I hope it's possible to make the recording higher even if the tape has bad quality (?)

Can you pull in any other format than Mp3? You should be able to grab a .wav and then use LAME to encode it to whatever your heart desires.
 

JasonALMS2010

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So I finally got one of those...cassette to mp3 things and downloaded the software last night (audiocity) the thing is that it only makes the mp3's in 124kb and I want 320, isn't possible? Also does anyone know if you can pull the volume up in the recording? One tape had really low volume and in general bad quality, to get a normal volume I had my computer on 90% when I listened to the mp3 file, I hope it's possible to make the recording higher even if the tape has bad quality (?)
Audiocity or Audacity? If its audacity then yes you can change the export quality to 320kbps and higher if i recall correctly, after clicking file->export click on options then bitrate quality
 

flowersofnight

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Can you pull in any other format than Mp3? You should be able to grab a .wav and then use LAME to encode it to whatever your heart desires.
I endorse this. Rip it uncompressed in case you ever want to edit it or compress to a different format, then save a compressed copy afterward.
 

Madmoiselle_Silk

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Thanks, I'll see what I can do. also, it was Audacity, I just made the other thing up XD
 

heutre

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If I understand correctly, you got one of these ?

If you want high quality rips you have to play your tape while your computer is configured to record data from the L/R in port. (So only use the device as a cassette player, not as a cassette to mp3 device)
main-qimg-2a1e7690770a9254c418bb6a3a8d85bf.webp

The L/R in port is the blue one.

If you use the red one, you'll only record data in mono (sound is only recorded from either Left side or Right side of the audio and then spread out to both Left and Right)

It's better for you to record your tape while the volume isn't too loud, since you can lose quality of the audio if the volume peaks (your drums will sound distorted and of low quality)

It's easier to adjust the volume and make the sounds louder instead of quieter.


Afterwards in audacity you can configure the quality of the recording that you're making.

upload_2018-4-18_3-58-27.png

You then have to select the correct audio source.
upload_2018-5-6_19-52-33.png
Entrée ligne = Line in

Afterwards, you only have to press the record button and start playing your tape.


Edit : Oh ! And when you export your file when you're finished with the recording, take these export options :

upload_2018-4-18_4-2-23.png

Also can someone else from the forum validate or invalidate the informations I'm giving, I'm not certain about if the files that will come from the settings I provided will be ridiculously big.
 

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flowersofnight

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384000 Hz? :lol: Are you trying to record bat sonar or something? ::meev::
Really, just pick the highest (reasonable) settings that your capture hardware can support. For me that's 48000 Hz 16-bit stereo, your mileage may vary. Anything above your hardware's capabilities is just throwing space away on nothing.

EDIT: also
If you use the red one, you'll only record data in mono (sound is only recorded from either Left side or Right side of the audio and then spread out to both Left and Right)
The line-in and mic-in ports also operate at a different voltage. To really get it right you should make sure everything is on the same voltage - only use the mic port for things specifically designed to be plugged into it.
But if you have a laptop, you may ONLY have a mic port, in which case you'll need to round up an external sound card to get line-in.
 
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flowersofnight

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The external sound card doesn't need to be expensive, I bought this item in 2012 and it worked well :
https://m.ebay.com/itm/260763963428?ViewItem=&item=260763963428
If you're able to find something similar (with a line in port) you should be ok
There's technically no rule against posting Chinese bootleg hardware here, so I guess I can let this slide ::meev::

Seriously though, good mid-range sound cards of any stripe seem to be pretty thin on the ground these days, because most computers have something halfway decent built onto the motherboard. Seems like most everything is either really cheap or pro equipment. Or "gamer" equipment with blue LEDs all over it ::batsu::

I use this:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102174
Which you obviously can't get anymore XD
 

heutre

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I need some advice about ripping cassettes ::bleh:: Does someone have a particular recommendation as to what models of cassette players give out a better sound than others ? I don't even know if it makes a difference or not.. I had to throw away the old one I was using a couple of years ago so I'm pretty curious.. What do ya'll use ?
 

flowersofnight

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What do ya'll use ?
Nakamichis are the best but it's not like you can just go pick one up because they stopped making them decades ago ::ash:: They're around on Ebay though... for a price.
I use the Nakamichi DR-2 because all the higher models than that just add features that are irrelevant today, like better recording or being able to play multiple tapes back-to-back.

My biggest recommendation would be just to get something from a reputable brand, that doesn't run on batteries.
 

heutre

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Nakamichis are the best but it's not like you can just go pick one up because they stopped making them decades ago ::ash:: They're around on Ebay though... for a price.
I use the Nakamichi DR-2 because all the higher models than that just add features that are irrelevant today, like better recording or being able to play multiple tapes back-to-back.

My biggest recommendation would be just to get something from a reputable brand, that doesn't run on batteries.

Wow I just searched about Nakamichis and I had no idea there was a niche of quality cassette players.. That's really interesting. I'll try finding the best quality I can get under 40 $. Thanks for your answer !

Edit : Just found a listing for a high quality cassette deck (kenwood kx-1060) for 100$, from what I've read it seems pretty good. I'll try lowering the price to 70.
 
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heutre

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LOL are you talking about this?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/253569531385
That is old schooooool ::ash::

Lol, yeah. I'll try playing some of my tapes before I buy it though.. If it doesn't sound good enough I probably won't pick it up... It's pretty expensive.

(Actually 4 days ago I went to buy a Sony cassette deck and insisted on testing it, and it broke while we were testing it.... there's a small plastic part of my Madame Tarantula tape that was broken by it... I'm lowkey pissed hahah)
 

heutre

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For the love of God, bring an expendable tape next time ::erm::
ahhaha I think it's fine.. if it broke I wouldn't be too pissed since I already have quality rips and I don't plan on selling it. I wanted to test a tape that I know how it's supposed to sound but eeh that backfired.

I was able to convince the seller to let me test it out for 75$, but just before I'll have a quick peek at what my nearby thrift stores are offering. Do you remember how much you paid for your Nakamichi ?
 

flowersofnight

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Pulling out some stuff from the random thread to make a new one - post discussion of recording, ripping, audio equipment, and so on here ::ash::

Do you remember how much you paid for your Nakamichi ?
I dunno, it was a million years ago. Nothing close to the prices on Ebay right now though, I can tell you that XD
 

heutre

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Urgh ! I'm so unlucky ! I bought the deck, I tested it out there, it sounded amazing. We had a little bit of troubleshooting to do because the deck had some sort of mecanism to detect when the tape starts, but afterwards when we fixed that (looked like it anyway) it was super swell.

However I take it home and I start playing a VE tape.. Sounded good ! Then it started slowing down.. and fluctuating pitches lmao, and now it just won't start and it has a humming problem -_- (I think the rubber bands inside wore out, or someone sort of technicality that I can't fix without an engineer lmao) dammit !
I tested it out with a Samantha Fox tape beforehand.. so I wasn't being adventurous ::coffee::


Pulling out some stuff from the random thread to make a new one - post discussion of recording, ripping, audio equipment, and so on here ::ash::
Good idea !

I dunno, it was a million years ago. Nothing close to the prices on Ebay right now though, I can tell you that XD

::ash::
 

flowersofnight

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Moving some A/V talk over here:
I will go out to see if there is a region free bluray dvd player for sale, I need a region free bluray dvd player because I will have a lot of different region codes bluray disc
Personally I found that blu-ray regioning isn't as bad as DVDs, because this time around the US and Japan are in the same region. I still needed a modchip to play European discs, but probably a lot of people could get by with a standard unmodified player.
That said, you're probably not going to find any region-free players from a "reputable" dealer, you'll have to go to a place that sells them modded aftermarket, or mod it yourself.
I bought a retail player and then got a mod chip at http://www.bluraychip.dk but they only seem to carry Oppo chips. Not sure how it works for other brands.

Hmm. Can you get a region free bluray player on your PC? It might be easier to overcome the region locking with that as well, maybe.
I've never come across one. Seems like all the region-free hacks for blu-ray are hardware mods that involve fooling with the motherboard of full-size players. Probably no one's doing surgery on computer drives, especially when it would be cheaper just to buy a second drive and switch the region on it. Like, that mod chip I linked above is $100 and you can probably get a plain old BD-R drive for $50 tops.
 
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