Comments on: Darn cassettes http://rogerbourland.com/2009/06/27/darn-cassettes/ Roger Bourland writes about music and life Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:19:13 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Roger Bourland http://rogerbourland.com/2009/06/27/darn-cassettes/comment-page-1/#comment-142409 Roger Bourland Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:48:10 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/?p=3309#comment-142409 Brad, what do you say? Sounds like you need a new deck. This Ion has been a dream. Goes right in with any coloration from the preamp. Try your tape on someone else's deck, that is if you know anyone else who has a cassette deck. Brad, what do you say?

Sounds like you need a new deck. This Ion has been a dream. Goes right in with any coloration from the preamp.

Try your tape on someone else’s deck, that is if you know anyone else who has a cassette deck.

]]> By: daviddas http://rogerbourland.com/2009/06/27/darn-cassettes/comment-page-1/#comment-142408 daviddas Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:27:40 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/?p=3309#comment-142408 Well, you inspired me, Roger, so yesterday I pulled out my last remaining cassette deck (not used in at least 7-8 years) and plugged into my interface and gave it a whirl. Shutdown...every cassette I tried to play exhibits noticeable and unlistenable distortion. I'm not sure if a head cleaner or head demagnetizer is going to do the job. It might be worth a try, but I'm not even sure where to find those anymore...Sam Goody and Tower Records are all out of business. :) At some point I will solve this, as I've got a few dozen archival tapes that I will want to transfer. I'm just hoping not to spend $100+ to do it. Well, you inspired me, Roger, so yesterday I pulled out my last remaining cassette deck (not used in at least 7-8 years) and plugged into my interface and gave it a whirl. Shutdown…every cassette I tried to play exhibits noticeable and unlistenable distortion.

I’m not sure if a head cleaner or head demagnetizer is going to do the job. It might be worth a try, but I’m not even sure where to find those anymore…Sam Goody and Tower Records are all out of business. :)

At some point I will solve this, as I’ve got a few dozen archival tapes that I will want to transfer. I’m just hoping not to spend $100+ to do it.

]]> By: Roger Bourland http://rogerbourland.com/2009/06/27/darn-cassettes/comment-page-1/#comment-142081 Roger Bourland Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:04:00 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/?p=3309#comment-142081 Mine arrived yesterday and I love it. So easy to use without any coloring by going through the preamp. It imports into Audacity which is relatively easy to use and can save as AIFFs, WAV, or MP3s. Mine arrived yesterday and I love it. So easy to use without any coloring by going through the preamp. It imports into Audacity which is relatively easy to use and can save as AIFFs, WAV, or MP3s.

]]> By: Mark Carlson http://rogerbourland.com/2009/06/27/darn-cassettes/comment-page-1/#comment-142052 Mark Carlson Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:17:07 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/?p=3309#comment-142052 I just ordered mine! I can't wait to finally have some things on my computer that have been inaccessible for a long time, now. I just ordered mine! I can’t wait to finally have some things on my computer that have been inaccessible for a long time, now.

]]> By: Brad Wood http://rogerbourland.com/2009/06/27/darn-cassettes/comment-page-1/#comment-141802 Brad Wood Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:49:58 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/?p=3309#comment-141802 Your USB deck and associated software might allow the complementary Dolby B processing to be done in the digital domain---similar to some LP transfer code that requires a flat frequency response preamp, and then does the RIAA compensation in the digital domain. Otherwise you will definitely want to use analog-domain Dolby on playback and transfer, or you will have some strange level-dependent high-frequency excesses. To recall, Dolby works by boosting levels at lower levels, then undoing the process on playback (since, properly calibrated, it "knows" how much that boost was). Dolby A did this in multiple bands. B worked on high frequencies, where the preponderance of tape hiss is. C tried to be more aggressive, but often failed because calibration was so critical; and since there is no easy time delay operation that facilitates lookahead in the analog domain, Dolby tends to mutilate transients---but it's a tradeoff that most have come to accept as worth the distortions. BTW Ray Dolby is apparently the first real audio engineer to become a billionaire, I just learned. Of course he is a hell of a businessman too =] Your USB deck and associated software might allow the complementary Dolby B processing to be done in the digital domain—similar to some LP transfer code that requires a flat frequency response preamp, and then does the RIAA compensation in the digital domain.

Otherwise you will definitely want to use analog-domain Dolby on playback and transfer, or you will have some strange level-dependent high-frequency excesses. To recall, Dolby works by boosting levels at lower levels, then undoing the process on playback (since, properly calibrated, it “knows” how much that boost was).

Dolby A did this in multiple bands. B worked on high frequencies, where the preponderance of tape hiss is. C tried to be more aggressive, but often failed because calibration was so critical; and since there is no easy time delay operation that facilitates lookahead in the analog domain, Dolby tends to mutilate transients—but it’s a tradeoff that most have come to accept as worth the distortions.

BTW Ray Dolby is apparently the first real audio engineer to become a billionaire, I just learned. Of course he is a hell of a businessman too =]

]]> By: Roger Bourland http://rogerbourland.com/2009/06/27/darn-cassettes/comment-page-1/#comment-141796 Roger Bourland Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:06:57 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/?p=3309#comment-141796 The USB cassette deck arrives tomorrow. I'll let you know how it works. I also found a used Sony Walkman Pro cassette player that is newer than mine on Ebay that I got for $130. Over the years, I've used that technique which has served me well. One thing that is a mystery to me is the Dolby. Should I digitize the files with it engaged or not? I assume if it is recorded using Dolby, one plays it back with it engaged. The USB cassette deck arrives tomorrow. I’ll let you know how it works. I also found a used Sony Walkman Pro cassette player that is newer than mine on Ebay that I got for $130. Over the years, I’ve used that technique which has served me well.

One thing that is a mystery to me is the Dolby. Should I digitize the files with it engaged or not? I assume if it is recorded using Dolby, one plays it back with it engaged.

]]> By: daviddas http://rogerbourland.com/2009/06/27/darn-cassettes/comment-page-1/#comment-141794 daviddas Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:58:38 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/?p=3309#comment-141794 I wonder if your USB one is any better quality than a standard professional deck from 10 years ago. I still have one cassette player -- hasn't been hooked up in several years. I keep thinking I'll hook it up to my good A/D converters and start playing those tapes in. The quality isn't going to be fantastic -- it's cassette after all -- but for archival copies of important historical memories, it has to be done. I wonder if your USB one is any better quality than a standard professional deck from 10 years ago. I still have one cassette player — hasn’t been hooked up in several years. I keep thinking I’ll hook it up to my good A/D converters and start playing those tapes in. The quality isn’t going to be fantastic — it’s cassette after all — but for archival copies of important historical memories, it has to be done.

]]> By: Roger Bourland http://rogerbourland.com/2009/06/27/darn-cassettes/comment-page-1/#comment-141692 Roger Bourland Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:07:32 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/?p=3309#comment-141692 Hi David. It was around $118. Actually, Amazon is having a sale, so if you buy it before June 30, you get a discount! Hi David. It was around $118. Actually, Amazon is having a sale, so if you buy it before June 30, you get a discount!

]]> By: daviddas http://rogerbourland.com/2009/06/27/darn-cassettes/comment-page-1/#comment-141674 daviddas Sun, 28 Jun 2009 04:24:18 +0000 http://rogerbourland.com/blog/?p=3309#comment-141674 I'm right there with you, Roger. I've got a stack of a few dozen cassettes that need digitizing...just waiting for me to have some free time to digitize and archive somewhere permanent. Some things from decades ago too precious to lose. I need to do this sooner rather than later. Thanks for the reminder. :) How much was the Ion? I’m right there with you, Roger. I’ve got a stack of a few dozen cassettes that need digitizing…just waiting for me to have some free time to digitize and archive somewhere permanent. Some things from decades ago too precious to lose. I need to do this sooner rather than later. Thanks for the reminder. :)

How much was the Ion?

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