# Can I convert audio tapes to CD? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667 "2002-12-10T01:39:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/1 "2002-12-10T01:39:38Z")
Maybe this is old-hat to some of the SDope wizards out there. But, is it possible to play audio tape out of a tape recorder (boom box, etc) and into my PC to create audio files which can then be burned onto a CD-R disk? If possible, this would help me preserve some audio files [not audiophiles 😉] for posterity. Is this a simple task? How could it be accomplished? - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![bensonGemini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@bensonGemini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bensonGemini)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/2 "2002-12-10T01:45:21Z")
Simple. Audio out of tape recorder (which if modern is probably L and R stereo RCA jacks) to sound in on your soundcard (which is probably a single 1/8th jack so you’ll need an RCA to 1/8th audio adapter). Then it’s a simple matter of using any recording software, even Windows Sound Recorder. Save as wave file… burn with favorite burning software. Be sure to set up your soundcard routing properly with the audio mixer in windows. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/3 "2002-12-10T02:40:22Z")
I wouldn’t recommend using Windows Sound Recorder. It will lock up on large files. Also, you’ll need to do a few ‘test’ recordings first to get your record levels right (you set this with Windows Mixer, the same thing you set your record input with). ---
**Author:** ![bensonGemini](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb9ed0/32.png) [@bensonGemini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bensonGemini)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/4 "2002-12-10T02:48:10Z")
I recommend Cool Edit. > **[Audio recording and editing software | Adobe Audition](https://www.adobe.com/products/audition.html)** > > Mix, edit, and create audio content in Adobe Audition audio recording software with a comprehensive toolset that includes multitrack, waveform, and spectral display. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/5 "2002-12-13T05:12:22Z")
Thanks, all…I’ll have to experiment! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/6 "2002-12-13T05:25:31Z")
Most CD burning software should have an option so that when you burn your wav files to it, it will save them in a format that plays like a regular music CD. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/7 "2002-12-13T07:15:28Z")
But, why bother? The dynamic range and signal to noise ratio of 1/4" tape is horrid compared to CD. Every imperfection will be recorded in stunning detail. If you think it doesn’t matter that much, go through your CD collection and pick out an AAD recording and an ADD or DDD recording. Preferably of similar stuff. Play them and listen to the diffs. AAD, which is what your CD-R will be (if done in AIFF), sounds not quite so good. Sometimes, bad. But, try it. You never really know til it’s all done, right? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/8 "2002-12-13T07:18:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GuanoLad \* > \*\*Most CD burning software should have an option so that when you burn your wav files to it, it will save them in a format that plays like a regular music CD. \*\* TOAST it has an AIFF converter ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/9 "2002-12-13T17:02:40Z")
Wow, I was thinking about asking the same question here a couple of days ago. But I’m on a Mac. . . I suppose I can just tinker around until it works. ---
**Author:** ![SavageNarce](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@SavageNarce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SavageNarce)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/10 "2002-12-13T17:49:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*But, why bother? The dynamic range and signal to noise ratio of 1/4" tape is horrid compared to CD. Every imperfection will be recorded in stunning detail. \*\* But, if the tape is all there is, copying it to CD will, if nothing else, prevent further degradation. I have done this with tapes of my (now deceased) relatives singing folksongs and just chatting about their stories. It saves me having to haul around a 25-lb reel-to-reel tape recorder, and it saves me having to worry about the tape getting mangled because of some problem with the highly-mechanical world of analog sound reproduction. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/11 "2002-12-13T20:38:52Z")
Good point, **Savage**. Much music is precious, esp the kind you spoke of. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2002, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-convert-audio-tapes-to-cd/141667/12 "2002-12-13T20:44:52Z")
If you want to go one further, you could record it onto minidisc. You’ll never have to worry about scratches, or audio degradation.