MP3 & DVD

From UK, 17 posts

Twinkleyes



Here we go again.



I think you are confusing the two issues you raised here.



Lets try to separate them.

I was not suggesting you use your home stereo to record cassettes on to the computer, so forget about thoughts of moving it, or not, as the case may be.



You wanted to listen to your mp3 player without headphones - well thats how you do it.

I have said this before a couple of times.

You need a simple lead, with a 3.5mm stereo jack on one end and two RCA Phono on the other. Plug the phono's in the back, press AUX, play your mp3 player through your stereo speakers - done.



Now, to record to your computer.

If the cassette line out socket is similar, i.e. a 3.5mm then you need a cable with a 3.5mm stereo jack at both ends. I have made this deduction assuming the Vaio line-in is 3.5mmm stereo and not some stupid thing fitted by Sony, but lets say it looks very much like it.



After that it is simply a matter of using the software to edit it (which could include removing extraneous sounds) and then save it as mp3 files.



You certainly don't need this silly box of tricks from PC Woe, in fact, I'm not even sure it would be compatible.

From East Sussex, 19 posts

I am confusing the two issues, but what I think is the problem is that you think I want to listen to my MP3 player without headphones, I don’t – I know I can do that (although I had forgotten), as I have seen that information with my Ipod, it actually has it’s own cable specially for that purpose although I haven’t tried it on my stereo system. The reason I don’t need to do this is because my stereo system is in the same room as my computer, if I want to listen to anything on MP3 I can do so through my computer – I can also play it in the car with a transmitter and through speakers that I bought by docking it.



But I listen mostly to audio books whilst I am in my bedroom/bathroom, on a cd/cassette player, which is fine, but I have more or less stopped buying them on cassette and would like to be able to listen to the ones I have bought on MP3, I know I can burn them on to Cd, but that takes an awful lot of Cd’s, so I would like to burn them onto one Cd in MP3 format, which I now know I can do, (thanks to you) but then comes the problem of playing them, which is why I was asking in my very first question about dvd players, but then I don’t really want a dvd player in my bedroom just to play audio books on, but at the time I thought that was the only option, I would much prefer to get perhaps a radio/cd/mp3 player, but I am not sure one exists that will allow me to do that, hence my first question. I have looked at quite a few and all they say is MP3 compatible, I can try and ask in any electrical retail outlet, but finding an assistant is more difficult than finding gold in my back garden, finding one that has the knowledge to answer my question as well is even rarer.



Then secondly, I also want to be able to transfer my audio cassettes to my computer and transfer them into MP3. I have already done this with music cd’s i.e. transferred all my Cd’s to my computer and they are now on my Ipod, and as you said previously audio cd’s are the same.

Now I understand that I need to get a different type of connection cable – one that has a type of earphone jack each end – which is why my cd/cassette player has that type of fitting which says line out, I was confused by the cables – I thought they had to have the red/white fittings one end and the stereo jack the other. I am now clearer on that and the fitting on my computer is the same as on my cd/cassette player (line out) but has a circle with an arrow going into it, again here I was confused as my computer also has the red/white fittings as on the end of the cable previously mentioned, hence the reason for all my “same simple cable” questions (quote).



All in all – I now think I understand – I need to return the gadget thingy and the cable with red/white fittings on and buy a cable with stereo jacks both ends, that way I can record my cassettes onto my computer and with the correct software change them into MP3’s by plugging one end of the cable into said cd/cassette player and other end into said computer.



Just need to find something to play them on (for my bedroom) after I have done so.

No doubt you realise, that had we had this conversation face to face, it would have taken minutes rather than weeks, despite the fact that I’m blonde.



Now tell me I’ve got it all completely wrong and you’re totally fed-up with explaining it to me, and wish you had never got involved in this in the first place, and you’re off on holiday to the moon etc.etc.etc

From UK, 17 posts

Twinkleyes



Yup, I think you have got it.



And if a CD Player says "mp3 compatible", it means it will play mp3-CDs. Well, what else could it mean?



Actually, Aldi and Lidl have been selling some surprisingly good mp3-CD playing units recently which included USB ports and slots to put in SD Cards, so you don't even have to have your mp3's on CD for them to play.



I must admit, the rear end of your computer is a little confusing but now I've read up on it a bit more I understand. Though I have to say it wouldn't have been my choice.



So, please remember, when you get this cable to link your cassette player to the computer (3.5mm stereo jack both ends) it won't work magically .



You still have a little work to do. i.e. convert it from an analogue input to digital data in mp3 format. Thats where the computer software programme comes in.



You can use your Creative software or load Audacity if you fancy giving it a try.

From East Sussex, 19 posts

Thanks for all your help, now what on earth are you going to do with all the spare time you are gonna have now you don't have to sort out dizzy or should that be dozy blondes?

1 post

Come back if you get stuck or have any further issues to deal with.



I mean, I need something to fill this vacant space in my life, don't I?

From East Sussex, 19 posts

Hi, thought you might be missing me dreadfully, so I have thought up another problem for you. I am unable to find how to use Audacity, thought that if I plugged both leads in, one to computer and one to cd player/line in, something might just happen, but voila big nothing. Opened up Audacity and haven't a clue where to start, went into help and it tells you to go online, but I cannot get to the link it tells me to go to, as I have never worked with anything like this before, I now know I know absolutely nothing, nil, zilch, about it or how to start off using it, now you have a choice to make here, you can either ignore this completely and just hope I will go away, but if as I suspect you are feeling terribly bored, not having heard from me for 48 hours you can give me a hint or two as to how I go about this, and have me forever in your debt.

From UK, 17 posts

Hi Twinkleyes

I feel a certain comfort factor in being here again - now, how predictable was this?



Quote: thought that if I plugged both leads in, one to computer and one to cd player/line in, something might just happen

Erm, what is it you are trying to do here?

Computer to CD line in???

You are trying to output from the computer to your CD player?



But I thought you wanted to input to your computer from an external cassette player



Assuming that is still the case, and you now have the leads in place, i.e. Cassette player line-out to Computer line-in, you now need to check your hardware is set up to input in this way.



Go to your Sounds and Multimedia settings, open your recording device settings, and make sure the "line in" box is ticked/unticked according to what it needs, i.e. to allow input, not muted. Slide the fader up to about 1/3 way up.



One further point, you may need to download the lame encoder to allow audacity to save it to mp3 format.



Get lame-3.96.1 from here, create a folder called Lame and unzip it to that folder. (You may want to use Lame for other programs later, like EAC, for example).



Now, when you later get to the point of using the "Export as MP3" command in Audacity, it will ask you where lame_enc.dll is saved. Point it to the folder where you unzipped it. You only ever need to do this once.



So your input should now be set, its time to go to audacity.

Now, I have to be honest here, I've never used audacity personally. I actually have something more advanced, so have no need for it.



However, no matter, it comes well recommended by many audio experts and if its from soundforge, you can be sure its excellent.



Now to audacity.

On the Audacity mixer toolbar, you will see a pull-down menu next to the microphone fader. Set this to line in.

Now you are ready to record. Start your cassette player and click on the record button (red) on Audacity's player. You should see a waveform appear on your screen as it records. You can use this waveform for editing later, as you wish, for example, removal of "scratch" sounds from a vinyl, or any other bits you want to take out.



I'm afraid you are going to have to play around with audacity to find out how it all works, I can't write a complete manual here.

One tip, before editing a recording, always make a copy. Then if all goes wrong, you can always scrap it and go back to the original to take another copy.



Hope this moves the project along further.

Next question?

From East Sussex, 19 posts

Originally posted by analyst100 on 5 Feb 2006 11:29 PM
[ Quote: I feel a certain comfort factor in being here again - now, how predictable was this?

Hi Analyst100,

Have you missed me? Sorry to have been out of your life for so long, you would not believe how incredibly busy I have been, and I have a confession to make, I have not had a single chance to try your last suggestion (not the rude one, I go there frequently ).

Just thought I would let you know I am still very much alive and well, and I am hoping this finds you the same. I promise to try and get around to trying the things that you suggest this coming week, the problem is I bought my audio/mp3 player and it took me a whole day to find the time to unpack it, and another to put it where I wanted it and try it out, it plays mp3's at least, then I am so overworked it's untrue (well it is actually) but that is my excuse. So I just wanted to let you know, I haven't abandoned or forgotten you (how could I) you are a bright star in my dull life. I will come back to you, I promise (don't leave the country). xx