Topic: Analouge Tape Transfer

[Depechemode1993]

Hello,
   I have a question about transfering my master analouge tapes to cd-r. I already know how to do it but on all my tapes they all have digital noise in the background and I want to get rid of it. I have a cassette deck that is from I think 1986 so its pretty old. its a Kenwood KX-328. should I get a new one to get rid of the digital noise in the background? or maybe is it the cable becasue I also have a hum in the background noise too. I reall do not know so please help me! thanks

Ryan

[Ed.]

if you didn't mind doing it post production there are hiss removers in most programs like soundforge and cool edit.

depeche mode rules!

[Depechemode1993]

thanks for the reply. No I use goldwave and I use the hiss reducer but then when I do it afterwards the sound is worsened and the digital noise is worse and more noticeable. yes depeche mode is a good band.

[Brian Skalinder]

Hello,
   I have a question about transfering my master analouge tapes to cd-r. I already know how to do it but on all my tapes they all have digital noise in the background and I want to get rid of it. I have a cassette deck that is from I think 1986 so its pretty old. its a Kenwood KX-328. should I get a new one to get rid of the digital noise in the background? or maybe is it the cable becasue I also have a hum in the background noise too. I reall do not know so please help me! thanks

Ryan

A new tape deck likely won't get rid of the digital noise in the background.  How do you know it's digital noise?  Your best bet is to prevent the noise from occurring in the first place, not remove it after the fact.  So, if it were me, I would follow these steps:

[1] identify the noise and its origin
[2] take reasonable means to prevent the noise, and
[3] consider noise reduction in the digital domain

[Craig T]

what are you using on the digital side for your transfers (a/d converter, soundcard, etc)?

[Depechemode1993]

I am 100% positive its digital noise. cause when I play the cassette on my recorder its fine. I think it could be the chord. I do not even know what brand it is. it might be a speaker connector! I have no idea maybe I should buy one. and sometimes the transfer gets pops and cracks and I know its not in the recording.

[Brian Skalinder]

Just because the noise doesn't show up on your original recording but does appear on your final digital audio file doesn't necessarily mean the noise is a result of a digital artifact.  For example, you could pick up a ground hum in the analog realm which would ultimately reveal itself in the digital audio file, but it isn't a digital artifact.

At any rate, what is your full set of gear and how it's connected and configured?  Things like:

Analog recordings on what media
Recorded using what machine
Playback machine
What cables connecting playback to...
What soundcard / ADC
Recording with what software

The more details you can provide the easier it will be for us to attempt to help.

[Depechemode1993]

sorry for not going into depth with my transfering. what I got is my cassette tapes are on:
Maxell 120 IEC Type 1 Normal Bias
Sony Hi Fi 90 Type 1 Normal Bias.

I recorded with a Sony TCM-20DV. not very good but I used it when my MD was broken. the playback machine was that and my Sony Boombox.

for transfering the show into my harddrive I used my Kenwood Stereo Cassette Deck KX-328. with soft touch operation. Then I used an 1/8 male plug to go into the soudcard (Line In) and a 1/4 female connector to go into the Cassette deck and placed the male 1/8 plug into the 1/4. my soundcard is a Realtek AC97 Audio. I record with Goldwave's Newest version software. I hope this is more help to the people who are trying to help me. thanks everyone!

Ryan

[nic]

are you sure your not plugging into the "mic in" on the soundcard?

why not use the RCA outs of the Kenwood deck?

[Depechemode1993]

are you sure your not plugging into the "mic in" on the soundcard?

why not use the RCA outs of the Kenwood deck?

do they have cables like that? where they have and rca out then on the other side a 1/8 male cable? I have never though of that?

[Craig T]

I think you need a new soundcard.  that on-motherboard Realtek ac97 is the likely culprit.  are you using a laptop or desktop?

[Depechemode1993]

I think you need a new soundcard.  that on-motherboard Realtek ac97 is the likely culprit.  are you using a laptop or desktop?

desktop. I just use whatever I can forge man... if I need a new soundcard then I might think of getting one.

[Craig T]

I think you need a new soundcard.  that on-motherboard Realtek ac97 is the likely culprit.  are you using a laptop or desktop?

desktop. I just use whatever I can forge man... if I need a new soundcard then I might think of getting one.

I hear ya.  Try everything else first - get whatever driver/codec updates are out there for the soundcard, try some different software (CDWave is cheap and is what I use for DAT>CD transfers, others include WaveLab, Sound Forge, Cool Edit, nTrack), try different cable from your tape>soundcard.  If nothing solves the digital noise, its probably the soundcard.