Problem with sound cards

Lee Chadeayne · 03-18-2007, 12:34 PM

Hello,
I am one very frustrated senior citizen trying to copy my old cassettes onto CDs.

As a former musician, I'm interested in getting good hi-fi quality from these tapes that are actually still is amazingly good shape. I purchased a 24-bit sound card, but it didn't work. But was it even necessary? Isn't 16 bit the CD standard?

Then, I'd like to play them back on some portable medium, something like a Walkman, but so far the sound I'm getting from mp3 is very disappointing. Any suggestions?

Thank you very much!

Lee Chadeayne

**Terrister** · 03-18-2007, 12:55 PM

Having the right software to do this makes all the difference.
Here is one you can try for free.
http://www.acoustica.com/spinitagain/

Lee Chadeayne · 03-18-2007, 01:14 PM

Dear Terrister

Thanks for your reply.

I have something called DAK and have spent a couple of weeks trying to figure it all out. They say it's very simple, yet the documentation goes on and on for hundreds of pages.

Then I also have something from Polderbits, a Dutch company. It looks like it could be simpler.

I'll of course read all that material you sent, but basically my question boils down to just two things

Do I need something more than a 16 bit sound card? I bought a 24 bit, but it didn't work with my machine.

Then, question 2, is there some way I can get true fidelity out of the process? I am a retired musician and the quality I can get from mp3 is disappointing. Maybe there are different types of mp3?

Thank you very much. If you are available for consulting just send me your phone number and I'll call you up.

Thank you very much.

Lee Chadeayne

**koala** · 03-18-2007, 01:28 PM

Hi Lee, I remember your earlier thread about this problem.

Either a 16 or 24 bit card will work just as well for recording MP3s. It sounds like your encoding settings are too low. Are you using 320k/s? If you are then it will encode your cassettes at the highest possible sound quality. You can try using WAV to see if the quality is any better, but it shouldn't make any difference.

Are you attaching your cassette player through the sound card's Line-in or Mic port?

What make is your new sound card and have you installed the latest drivers for it?

03-18-2007, 12:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Lee Chadeayne Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 12 OS: Win XP	Problem with sound cards Hello, I am one very frustrated senior citizen trying to copy my old cassettes onto CDs. As a former musician, I'm interested in getting good hi-fi quality from these tapes that are actually still is amazingly good shape. I purchased a 24-bit sound card, but it didn't work. But was it even necessary? Isn't 16 bit the CD standard? Then, I'd like to play them back on some portable medium, something like a Walkman, but so far the sound I'm getting from mp3 is very disappointing. Any suggestions? Thank you very much! Lee Chadeayne

03-18-2007, 12:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Re: Problem with sound cards Having the right software to do this makes all the difference. Here is one you can try for free. http://www.acoustica.com/spinitagain/ __________________

03-18-2007, 01:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lee Chadeayne Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 12 OS: Win XP	Re: Problem with sound cards Dear Terrister Thanks for your reply. I have something called DAK and have spent a couple of weeks trying to figure it all out. They say it's very simple, yet the documentation goes on and on for hundreds of pages. Then I also have something from Polderbits, a Dutch company. It looks like it could be simpler. I'll of course read all that material you sent, but basically my question boils down to just two things Do I need something more than a 16 bit sound card? I bought a 24 bit, but it didn't work with my machine. Then, question 2, is there some way I can get true fidelity out of the process? I am a retired musician and the quality I can get from mp3 is disappointing. Maybe there are different types of mp3? Thank you very much. If you are available for consulting just send me your phone number and I'll call you up. Thank you very much. Lee Chadeayne

03-18-2007, 01:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,355 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: Problem with sound cards Hi Lee, I remember your earlier thread about this problem. Either a 16 or 24 bit card will work just as well for recording MP3s. It sounds like your encoding settings are too low. Are you using 320k/s? If you are then it will encode your cassettes at the highest possible sound quality. You can try using WAV to see if the quality is any better, but it shouldn't make any difference. Are you attaching your cassette player through the sound card's Line-in or Mic port? What make is your new sound card and have you installed the latest drivers for it? __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here