Computer: Audio: MP3
Cassette tape to MP3 service   (+3)  [vote for, against]
convert irreplaceable songs to mp3, forever

I've ripped most of my CD collection to mp3, but would really like to be able to get a copy of a couple of audio cassettes which have music I can't get on CD (and or file sharing locations). Now.. I know I could record them (badly) myself, but what I'd like is a service which lets you post them your cassette, which they digitise for me, and put the tracks on a secure area of their website for me to download. They then post it back to me, and all for $7.

I could do it myself, but I think the quality/hassle factor will still make me want to use this service.
-- neilp, Dec 08 2003

For [neilp], my new friend for life. http://www.fraggler...com/media/audio.asp
[Worldgineer, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Dephcon http://www.dephcon.com/index.shtml
They'll convert tape to MP3 and let you download it from their website. [kropotkin, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Cassettes2cds http://www.cassettes2cds.com/
Will convert cassette tapes to MP3s and mail on CDs, but don't let you download it (is that important? will it take longer to mail it or download it?) [kropotkin, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

Music Preservation and Transfer http://dmoz.org/Sho...and_Transfer/Audio/
Most of these companies just do vinyl or cassette to CD, but some do MP3 as well. Browse. [kropotkin, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

PC cassette deck http://plusdeck.com/english/
[waugsqueke, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

exactly [Mr Burns] - problem solved, you can keep that cherished cut forever, and the crackle.
-- neilp, Dec 08 2003


<aside>if anyone's got fraggles on mp3 I'll be your friend for life (if you let me have a copy)</aside>
-- neilp, Dec 08 2003


I've thought about this before. I have a bunch of tapes that I wouldn't mind having on mp3, but I don't want to invest in high-end tape equipment. [+] for you!
-- sycorob24, Dec 08 2003


Unfortunately, copyright laws make such a service untenable. Pity, because there's a lot of good music (and other audiovisual material for that matter) which exist only on fragile formats but for which copyright clearances are unobtainable (original publisher defunct, etc.)
-- supercat, Dec 08 2003


You don't need any high-end equipment. Get a stereo 1/8" inch phono male-to-male and connect your Walkman to your sound card. Play the tape and record it on your computer using sound recorder or some freeware app. Save as a .wav file and convert it to mp3.

How hard is that? The quality will be just as good as anything a commercial service could offer. If you really want to pay somebody to do this, I'll take $20 per tape, plus shipping. I'll include the burned CD.
-- waugsqueke, Dec 08 2003


[supercat] can you elaborate ? some of this stuff might be out of copyright, and otherwise, I'd happily indemnify them by signing a contract.
-- neilp, Dec 08 2003


[neilp] genuflects in the direction of his new best friend, [Worldgineer] and reminds himself not for the first time why he loves the halfbakery and halfbakers.
-- neilp, Dec 08 2003


This appears to be baked. A number of companies will copy cassette tapes to MP3 files and send you the CD, but Dephcon also seems to offer to let you download from their website.
-- kropotkin, Dec 08 2003


[kropotkin] great site, although it looks like I'll have to ask [waugs] as I'm sure customer service would be snappier and he offered for $20 too.
-- neilp, Dec 08 2003


[neilp] 'twas nothing. Just googled for fraggle MP3.

Looks like [krop]'s found you a solution for $1 less than you were willing to pay, with a 2 day turnaround. (well, $1.10 more if you include shipping)
-- Worldgineer, Dec 08 2003


thank you both, top searching, it's just a question of knowing what you're searching for I suppose (another hb'd idea occurs to [neilp]).
-- neilp, Dec 08 2003


I've done this a few times already so if you're really that desperate, send your tapes to me. I'm going to charge a bit more than $7 for a quality job, though.
-- phoenix, Dec 08 2003



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