Digitizing cassette tapes

[mcfordice]

Hello, I hope you all can help me.

I am a student working on a project where we are developing a digitization plan for a museum. The museum wishes to digitize their collection of cassette tapes. I am recommending Pro Tools 10 as a software option. I am a novice and I have a few questions I was hoping this board could answer:

Does Pro Tools 10 create BWF (Broadcast Wave Format) files?

What are the benefits of using Pro Tools to digitize old cassette tapes, do you think?

The computer we are using is a Mac OSX 10.8.2 and has 2 GB of RAM, so it won't work with Pro Tools 11, correct?

Thank you!

[Craig F]

Yes Pro Tools can do BWF files

Depends on what else needs to happen to the files after they have been digitized:
edited for flow
noise and pop clean-up (might want to get RX3 Advanced if this is called for)
output to something else for people to access

2GB of RAMis going to be tight for 10 as well as 11 but 2 track edit work shouldn't be very demanding
A new purchase will give you both 10 and 11 so you can see if 11 will run on it

[albee1952]

You might also try some demo noise reduction plugins(Waves and Izotope have several good plugins for "improving" the old cassette recordings). Mostly its about dealing with tape hiss

[mcfordice]

Thank you so much for your replies!

2 more questions:

What is the sample rate and bit depth of Pro Tools 10? 11?

Would you recommend Final Vinyl as another free, open-source software option (besides Audacity)?

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by mcfordice

Hello, I hope you all can help me.

I am a student working on a project where we are developing a digitization plan for a museum. The museum wishes to digitize their collection of cassette tapes. I am recommending Pro Tools 10 as a software option. I am a novice and I have a few questions I was hoping this board could answer:

Does Pro Tools 10 create BWF (Broadcast Wave Format) files?

What are the benefits of using Pro Tools to digitize old cassette tapes, do you think?

The computer we are using is a Mac OSX 10.8.2 and has 2 GB of RAM, so it won't work with Pro Tools 11, correct?

Thank you!

Originally Posted by mcfordice

Thank you so much for your replies!

2 more questions:

What is the sample rate and bit depth of Pro Tools 10? 11?

Would you recommend Final Vinyl as another free, open-source software option (besides Audacity)?

Yes PT can create BWF files.
Sample rate and bit depth are dependent on what audio interface you are using. Being you're looking at old cassette tapes you don't need 24 bit 96 KHz capability. Of more importance is interfacing the cassette machine you're using and your computer. Do not use a headphone output from the deck to an interface without some kind of direct box - maybe Radial has something that will help there. If the tape deck has a line out then that to whatever interface you're using should work.

If you haven't purchase PT yet I'd take a look at Steinberg Wavelab as it's purpose-built for the kinds of stuff you're looking at (as well as all kinds of other neat things). PT may be overkill. As much as I like Sony Soundforge on a Windows machine and use it till this day I cannot recommend the Mac version. Too buggy and missing major features and functions that are in the Win version.

[mcfordice]

Thanks so much for all the replies and info.

I'll take a look at Wavelab.

Any other free software that you guys would recommend (besides Audacity)? How do you feel about Garage Band on the Mac for digitizing cassette tapes?

[Craig F]

The interface with the A to D converter is were the quality is, the software is about ease of use, control after it's digitized, and export/file conversion

[albee1952]

Wavelab offers a "lite" version for under $100 and its way better for audio "seasoning" and mastering than Garage Band(or PT for that matter). Its also a solid CD authoring program.

[tj7]

Not related to the digital side, but make sure you know how to adjust the azimuth / tape head alignment for optimal output quality. If you don't know what any of that means, use google... use of a screw driver to align the azimuth for *each side of each tape* can make a *huge* difference to sound quality...

eg

http://www.avpreserve.com/uncategori...io-recordings/

[WinTaper]

Originally Posted by tj7

Not related to the digital side, but make sure you know how to adjust the azimuth / tape head alignment for optimal output quality. If you don't know what any of that means, use google... use of a screw driver to align the azimuth for *each side of each tape* can make a *huge* difference to sound quality...

Very true - or if possible, play back on a Nakamachi Dragon which does this for you

The importance of properly aligned head azimuth for playback cannot be over-stated.

-Dan