The techniology of music; this century

[toggleswitch]

1- I need to get some info. please, about how to connect my computer's audio output to my stereo system.My goal is to have web music pumped therough my *real* system. Do I need a *pre-amp* or other intermediary device? Cabling etc.

2- Also to get 8-track tapes and cassette tapes and records INTO the computer to be able to put all that vintage music on CD's what's they way to go. I guess I am asking how do I get audio/stereo's system's output INTO the computer......

3- I-pod into stereo, how? Transmitting antenna and use FM receiver?

4- Any hints on Stelite radio? to use at home too.

I do so need to get into this century.
Thanks all for you invaluable intput.
Please specify hardware and/or software that you like!

 

[washendry]

8 tracks and cassettes

Steve,
I bought a recorder unit late last year that plays records, and cassettes and re-cords them onto cd's. The unit also has audio jacks to connect 8 track player, it works well and isn't too complicated!!!
Kim

 

[kenwashesmonday]

Most computer have line-in and line-out just like a stereo receiver. The difference is that the computer uses 1/8 inch stereo (3 conductor) phone plugs and a stereo uses RCA phono plugs so simple adaptor cables are needed. Use the tape monitor circut of the stereo receiver.

Ken D.

 

[DADoES]

I've recorded a cassette to CD by using the line-in jacks on my computer's sound card. Except I found out later I had used the Mic jack instead of line-in, which explains why the record level had to be set so low. I have another recording needs to be done, but I haven't had the gumption to get the equipment tied together since having moved.

 

[kevinpreston8]

Toggle, been doing the same thing

My CD player plugs right into the "Tape" jacks of my Motorola Stereo Console. Depending on year, they may be RCA as stated previously, or other types of connections. Mine were RCA to RCA.

For cassette material, I have an updated sound card that drives my Creative Labs surround sound speakers. They have a single post, STEREO input jack. This is important if you have the same thing.

Lets say your 8 Track has two stereo output connectors. Left and Right Channel. You would need an adapter cable that would take both channels and connect to one STEREO PLUT (stereo plugs can be indentified by a black seperator on the plug that seperates channels.

If your sound card has a left and right connection then you can go channel to channel.

Various sound programs, even freebies, are available to help you record your "mix". When done, you can burn your songs or audio to a CD, pretty straight forward.

I have an external mixer too, so I can have both cassette/CD and mic input on the same input channel.

The fun I have been having lately is shooting silent 8mm movies, and recording sound seperately. I transfer the movies to digital, then bring my sound in, re-aligning them in my editor.

Old fashioned real movies with digital synch sound!!!

The bottom line is that there are many ways to go whether you want to connect modern equipment directly to your old stereo, or through your computer to your stereo.

KP

 

[ironrite]

XM Radio

If you subscribe to XM radio, you can go to their website, log in, then you can get their whole line up, included a few website only stations.

Recently bought a new Sony computer and it came with Sonic Stage, which I believes allows you to edit and clean up music once you input it into the computer. I haven't had much of a chance to try it out yet. In my "Macintosh" days, I used Toast to clean up my old 78s and LPs and it worked great!

 

[rayjay]

Steve, I think a co-worker of mine does a lot of this. She will not be in until this Tuesday. I wlll check with her and let you know.

 

[parunner58]

Toggle,

I am going to be doing the same thing soon. I have lots of 45's, LP's that we want to put on our Ipod's. I have been reading and I think I am going to get the software called "Spin it again" It looks like you need a preamp to record off your turntable so I am thinking of what I can do there. I may just sit upstairs with the software on my laptop and then tranfer it to my desktop. I will document what I do and let you know.

MikeO

http://www.acoustica.com/products.htm

 

[toggleswitch]

Thanks all.

 

[rayjay]

Steve, from my techie friends:

1- I need to get some info. please, about how to connect my computer's audio output to my stereo system.My goal is to have web music pumped therough my *real* system. Do I need a *pre-amp* or other intermediary device? Cabling etc.
Go to Radio Shack and get a cable with RCA on one side (has 2 connectors, usually red and white) which plugs into the stereo auxilary in the amplifier and a 1/8 connector plug that goes into the computer's audio output port. When putting the stereo on, choose auxiliary.

2- Also to get 8-track tapes and cassette tapes and records INTO the computer to be able to put all that vintage music on CD's what's they way to go. I guess I am asking how do I get audio/stereo's system's output INTO the computer......

Try getting the same cable in reverse (not sure about this one but definitely worth a try since it seems feasible in theory) or looking for some sort of converter device (e.g. there are converter devices that allow you to convert movies on VHS that can then be burned on CD).

3- I-pod into stereo, how? Transmitting antenna and use FM receiver?
There's an FM transmitter available for use with any FM radio as well as the Bose docking system which has a remote control and also serves as a charging station.

4- Any hints on Stelite radio? to use at home too.
XM radio is great. Try Pioneer XM2Go Airware--comes with the car, home kit, and portable kit (to carry like a walkman); best value for the money, $50 rebate, easy to use, and excellent reception. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7140024&type=product&id=1110263949411 Once you get the receiver, you have to sign up for the actually service: XM service is $12/mo, $7 for each additional line plus once you're a member, you get XM Radio Online as a free service via an internet connection. http://www.xmradio.com/

I do so need to get into this century.
Thanks all for you invaluable intput.
Please specify hardware and/or software that you like!

 

[Cybrvanr]

Audacity

1. A Y-cable with an 1/8 inch mini headphone plug on one end, and two RCA connectors on the other will do for this, and to get sound FROM your stereo back into your computer too. Plug the 1/8 inch end of the Y cable into the line in jack on the computer, and then plug the RCA ends into a "Tape out" or "recorder" socket on the stereo. Most decent American stereos and consoles have these. Some of the newer, cheaper japanese "all in ones" from the 70's and 80's may not though. Better Japanese component stereos do though. You will get on the "rec out" jack the same material that you have selected to listen to on the stereo.

2.Once you get the sound into your computer with the proper cabling, you are going to need some software to convert the sound into data. The Windows sound recorder sofware hardly does the trick...don't even try!

This is a great open-source program that takes your computer and basically turns it into a nice virtual tape deck called "Audacity". It's avaliable for windows, mac and Linux/unix platforms. It works basically like an ordinary tape deck with level meters, play, pause, record, etc. It makes a sound wave which is pictured on the screen, You can then cut, paste and edit by dragging and dropping. Turn the sound recordings into WAVE files with a 44.1Khz sampling rate at 16 bit, and then burn them into a CD. Make a file for each song on the old 8-track, so when the CD software burns them to disk, they will make an individual track. Bear in mind, Wave files are un-compressed audio tracks and can be in the 10mB a minute range. Delete the wave files after you've made the CD(s). Audacity will also make MP3 files too, but if you're making CD's, start with "virgin" uncompressed sound data for best results!

3. I-pod into stereo...EASY! Just use a Y-cable that has a 1/8 inch mini headphone plug on one end, and 2 RCA plugs on the other end. Plug the RCA's into a line input on your stereo, like a TAPE, or AUX socket. Plug the 1/8 mini plug into your I-pod, set the stereo to the approperiate input, turn up the volume and play the I-pod!

4: Satellite radio. Most big cities have terrestial (ground based) broadcast repeaters for Sirius and XM. XM has more terristeral repeaters than Sirius, but Sirius has more birds in the air. If you pick up the signal off of a terristeral repeater, you frequently do NOT need a satellite antenna. Terristeral signals can frequently be picked up inside wood-frame homes in ground-level or above ground rooms. If you're out in the country, or if you need to pick up a satellite, you'll probably need to put an external antenna out.

Dad is using the Delphi radio which has all sorts of cables, stands, antennas and kits with it to hook up just about anywhere and anything. He's got it set up with a cradle on his downstairs stereo so that he can just drop the radio into the cradle and it gets a charge, an external antenna, and the sound is routed into the AUX socket. WHen he wants to go driving, he's got a stand in the car that's hard wired to the car's power system, and it transmits the signal to the radio in the car. All he has to do is move the little radio pack, which will also function on it's own like a walkman with a set of headphones!

Lemmie know if you need any help with this subject...I do this type of thing for a living!

 

[drmitch]

I tinker with this stuff a lot, but I finally broke down and bought a Bose system for my computer and love it! I have a 6yr old lifestyle Bose in my den with my TV and casette decks tied to it and the speakers mounted inside three old console radios. The tuner and cassettwe deck are in a philco that had a pull out record changer that I took out and added shelves and lights for the system.