Have you ever wished to be able to play your favorite cassette tape or LP on your computer? Have you ever wanted to include a piece from a cassette tape or a LP in a presentation for your class? This is absolutely possible and it is also very easy. This blog entry will explain how to rip music to a hard drive, using the equipment in the Multimedia Technology Services office, located in Library, room 135.

You need to use the audio processing system that is located closest to the door of the MTS office. 

Recording Cassette Tapes to a Hard Drive:
Step 1: Insert the cassette tape in the JVC cassette player. You may use any of the trays.
Step 2: On the side of the computer, there is an "Analog Audio Source" controller. Press on the "Cassette" button.
Step 3: Start the Audacity application on the Mac computer, located below the JVC cassette player.
Step 4: Press the "Record" button in the Audacity application.
Step 5: Press the "Play" button on the JVC cassette player that corresponds to the tray in which you have inserted the cassette tape.
Whenever you are done with the recording, press the "Stop" button in Audacity, and then the "Stop" button on the JVC cassette player.
You may listen to your digitized recording by pressing the "Play" button in Audacity.
To save your project, click on the "File" button, located in the  top line of the screen. You may also export the project to WAV or MP3, by clicking on the "Export as WAV" or "Export as MP3" options.

Recording Vinyl LP's to a Hard Drive.
Step 1: Insert the vinyl LP in the turntable.
Step 2: On the side of the computer, there is an "Analog Audio Source" controller. Press on the "Turntable" button.
Step 3: Start the Audacity application on the Mac computer, located below the turntable.
Step 4: Press the "Record" button in the Audacity application.
Step 5: Press the "Start" button on the turntable.
Whenever you are done with the recording, press the "Stop" button in Audacity, and then the "Stop" button on the turntable.
You may listen to your digitized recording by pressing the "Play" button in Audacity.
To save your project, click on the "File" button, located in the  top line of the screen. You may also export the project to WAV or MP3, by clicking on the "Export as WAV" or "Export as MP3" options.

While digitizing either a cassette tape or a LP, your screen should look similar to the one below. It should show blue bars, representing the input of content.

Editing your recording:

If you would like to remove a particular part of your recording, you may highlight the exact part of the recording and click on the "Cut" button (scissors) at the top part of the screen. *To highlight a part, drag the mouse over the recording from the start point to the end point of the material that needs to be cut.
If the recording is not clear, or there are hissing sounds or echo, you may do the following in order to remove the undesired effects. Highlight the whole recording (or just parts of the recording that you want to improve) and go to the "Effect" tab at the very top part of the screen. Then, select "Noise Removal" and adjust to the extent that the noise needs to be removed.

After you have edited your recording, you have to save it (again) in order to keep the changes.