New Member - Not The First Time This Has Been Asked?

[isector100]

Stuart

Thanks. The external drive might be the better bet in the end. Probably best to get started first and then worry space once I've got something worth keeping.

I've a few tapes from 1991 but I really started taping in 1992 and then carried on through to 2004. The number of individual tapes for any one year can vary quite a lot.

I really don't know how many full shows in total. I've just been listening to some tapes from the start of 1993 and I've got complete shows for the 14th, 15th, 28th and 29th of May, but only partial shows for the 7th, 22nd for example. All the tapes include John's links etc.

I suspect that there's a lot of shows where I've just got 90 minutes worth and a number with just 45.

Completing Ken Garner's recent survey made me realize that I should probably start to think about transferring these tapes onto something more permanent. Although it's not going to be a trivial job!

Paul

 


--- In peel@yahoogroups.com, "Stuart" <stuartb@...> wrote:
>
> Paul
> 
>  
> 
> Well the Audacity files would take up over 1GB but a 192kpbs Joint Stereo
> mp3 would be nearer 130Mb for a C90. You could just delete the Audacity
> files once you've mp3'ed each tape. So even with 700 tapes that would easily
> fit onto a laptop (around 100 Gb). 
> 
>  
> 
> A 1Tb external HDD isn't that expensive and could accommodate the lot.
> 
>  
> 
> Out of interest, are these tapes complete shows? And what years do they
> cover? 
> 
>  
> 
> Stuart
> 
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: peel@yahoogroups.com [mailto:peel@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> isector100
> Sent: 06 July 2010 22:19
> To: peel@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [peel] Re: New Member - Not The First Time This Has Been Asked?
> 
>  
> 
>   
> 
> 
> 
> Hi Stuart,
> 
> Thanks, doesn't sound as complicated as I thought!
> 
> I'm using a laptop rather than a PC, will this affect the quality of the
> sound card? The laptop is less than 12 months old.
> 
> (Sorry if this is a stupid question), but what sort of size of file will a
> c90 tape produce? I've got quite a lot of tapes (over 700 I think) and I
> wondered how much space might be needed.
> 
> Paul
> 
> --- In peel@yahoogroups.com <mailto:peel%40yahoogroups.com> , "Stuart"
> <stuartb@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Paul
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Welcome to the group!
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Starting with the source end of the conversion chain..
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I assume you still have a decent Cassette Recorder! If not, then there are
> > plenty available on eBay, I got a great condition Nakamichi which has
> pitch
> > control and easily adjustable azimuth.
> > 
> > If you are still using your original machine which you used to record your
> > tapes then there is every likelihood that they will play back OK without
> > fiddling with anything. 
> > 
> > If playing back on a different machine then there are certain things you
> > need to do to ensure good sound quality.
> > 
> > By far the most important is to make sure the playback azimuth is spot on,
> > or the sound will be shushy and mufffly. For this you will need to be able
> > to access the azimuth control. Some decks have an azimuth knob but for
> most
> > it involves removing the cassette door and using a small screwdriver to
> > adjust the head angle until the treble content sounds clearest. Do a
> Google
> > search for further info and pictures.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I also tend to keep Dolby off on playback, there is nothing worse than a
> > mistracking Dolby. This is very important as it is exceptionally difficult
> > to compensate for digitally.
> > 
> > Pitch control is useful on a deck though rare, though at least this can
> also
> > be altered in software afterwards. There are quite a few shared tapes out
> > there where JP's voice is audibly fast or slow!
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Now that the most important bit is sorted, you will then need a twin phono
> > to 3.5mm stereo jack to connect the cassette recorder to your sound card
> on
> > a PC or Mac. Best results will be gained if you have a proper sound card,
> > though for cassette recordings then most onboard motherboard sound will
> also
> > be fine.
> > 
> > I use Audacity software (the latest beta) to record with. This allows you
> to
> > choose which audio channels on your PC will be recorded, you want Line In
> if
> > available, or What You Hear making sure that any microphones and other
> > Windows sound schemes are disabled. A test recording should be made making
> > sure that the sound level meters on Audacity don't rise into the clipping
> > zone (0dB on the bar meters or +/-1 on the trace).
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Then just press play on the tape player and record on the Audacity
> software.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Audacity will record in its own lossless format and these recordings can
> be
> > edited, cut and pasted etc. You can also export to mp3 (you will need to
> > download the mp3 dll separately to enable this) and I suggest a minimum of
> > 192kbps recording quality. It will also encode into flac which is another
> > lossless format, though iPods will not be able to play these files back.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Then, should you wish to share the results then you can upload the files
> to
> > a site such as Mediafire, let us know through the Mailing List and update
> > the pages on the Wiki if you can date the show.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I know I've not gone into any great detail in any of the above steps but
> > just do a Google Search for anything you're stuck on or get back to the
> > group!
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Stuart 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > _____ 
> > 
> > From: peel@yahoogroups.com <mailto:peel%40yahoogroups.com>
> [mailto:peel@yahoogroups.com <mailto:peel%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of
> > isector100
> > Sent: 06 July 2010 19:44
> > To: peel@yahoogroups.com <mailto:peel%40yahoogroups.com> 
> > Subject: [peel] New Member - Not The First Time This Has Been Asked?
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Hi All,
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Just joined the group. I've started to listen again to my J P Show
> cassette
> > tapes and found you via the John Peel Wiki. 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > I'm sure this is not the first time this has been asked, but can someone
> > point me in the direction of help / guidance on making digital copies of
> my
> > tapes. I'm aware that cassette tape recordings don't last forever and I
> > would like to be able to help preserve what I've got if possible. 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Paul
> >
>