I'm looking to create audio files from old tapes using Windows 7.

 

I tried Windows' Sound Recorder and Audacity using the laptop's mic input. That works but the sound is poor. I also tried Roxio's Easy VHS to DVD 3 Plus. That works pretty good.

 

Does anyone have experience doing this?

I have only ever used an external microphone and Windows Sound Recorder.

The output has been great.

Have you tried using an external mic?

I'm sure the mic would work well. That's the proper device to use in the mic input port. Problem is I need to make a quality recording from tapes. That machine has a line-level output with is much higher than a mic. If I used a desktop, the line input would probably work nicely, but I'm using a laptop for this.

 

Actually, I'm trying to work things out for a friend who has only a laptop.

That machine has a line-level output with is much higher than a mic. If I used a desktop, the line input would probably work nicely, but I'm using a laptop for this.

That is most likely your problem. Mic level inputs are much lower than line-level. And impedances are mismatched too. Line level inputs keep noise levels suppressed much better. Matching impedance does not allow for as much new noise to be introduced too, and dynamic ranges are much better reproduced.

 

You should look into a line level output to mic level input adapter.

 

Do note that mic input are typically mono. If the tapes have stereo, this device will merge the left and right.

I did this extensively recording all my cassette tapes to the computer using Audacity. Then I donated my tapes to be sold at my Church's flea market. (I think I used Windows 2K to do this; if not that, then XP. I have 2 towers on top of each other so I don't remember which tower I plugged the cord into.)

 

I used a male to male 3.5mm cord. One end went into the cassette player and the other into the headset jack.

I started record in Audacity then I turned on the cassette player. When the song or radio show was over, I stopped the player and Audacity.

Later I cleaned up to remove dead air at the beginning and end of the recordings.

HI - I know it was 9 months ago you asked about this, so probably a bit late to the party, but I did this extensively with my old tape collection using a Sound Blaster box similar to (now discontinued) this one and the bundled software that came with it. Great results.

Thanks