Digitizing Cassettes: Recording from a Cassette Player to an MP3 File in Ubuntu Linux

Background: This page contains notes on making a simple digital mp3 recording from an analog cassette. The method would be similar to digitizing an LP vinyl record, except the plugs may be different. This method uses the default Sound Recorder that comes with Ubuntu Linux and does NOT include the ability to mix sound levels like with the program Audacity. Although I could not configure Audacity to even detect an incoming sound, it was relatively easy to get the default "gnome-sound-recorder" program to quickly record a 128kbs mp3 file.

1. Connecting the Hardware:

   You will most likely need a cable with two plugs of what I call "mini stereo" plugs, but turns out they have many names. These are the types of plugs that fit computer sound cards and most mp3 players.

   Plug one end into the BLUE ("line in") jack of your computer's sound card and one end to the "line out" of your cassette player. Alternatively, you can use the cassette player's headphone jack as the Line Out, but make sure you do a test on the recording level.

2. Configure Sound Recorder:

   Below is a picture of what the Gnome "Sound Recorder" program looks like when you start it up. You have a couple of options for your recording's final file format. You can record and play back the ogg-vorbis format immediately. If you need the mp3 format, you need to have support for it installed. Usually, adding all the "gstreamer-plugins" packages will do it. You can read more about adding mp3 support at the Ubuntu Wiki.

   

   Note: The default setup did not work for me and my sound card. Even though you plug into a jack called "LINE IN", the choice for the "Record from Input" drop-down needed to be set to AUX in my case. This brings us to step 3.

3. Configuring Volume Mixer:

   I am using the default volume applet that comes with Ubuntu Linux. When you click on it, it usually shows the master volume control only. To see all the options you can add, double-click the applet, or, right-click it and choose "Open Volume Control". Make sure the "AUX" box is selected and when you can see it, also make sure that it is not muted (red "X" icon). I would put the AUX volume control past half way to start. I don't know what the default is, but my Volume Applet has, under Preferences, my sound board sound card name and "(ALSA Mixer)" after it.

   

4. Record and Save the Tracks:

   The steps above are all I needed to do to be able to record. Try to have some silence queued up on the cassette before you start it. Start the cassette player FIRST and then click on the Sound Recorder "Record" button. When the track is over, click the "Stop" button on the Sound Recorder before stopping the cassette. Do it in this order to avoid loud sounds caused by the tape player starting and stopping. Click the "Save" button on the Sound Recorder to save the file where you want it. Test the sound quality before doing another one.

• There is nothing automatic about this method. You need to be around at the start and the end of each track in order to get a nice digital file that doesn't need editing.
• The default bitrate for MP3 is 128kbps. I found out how to bump it up to 256kbps using gconf (Apps -> System Tools -> Configuration Editor). Go to System -> gstreamer -> 0.10 -> audio -> profiles -> mp3 and change the number in "pipeline". Warning: You can really mess up your system playing with gconf.
• Copying mp3 files to a lower bit rate to fit on a portable mp3 player, etc. Install the program "sound converter". You drag and drop your files in the main window and then set the details under Edit -> Preferences. Requires the gstreamer lame plugin for mp3s
• If you want to "digitize a CD", then you might have more luck searching for the phrase "ripping mp3s from CD". In Ubuntu, I think the default program is (it was) Sound Juicer to play CDs or rip mp3s. Apps -> Sound and Video -> Audio CD Extractor.