How to Convert Cassette Tapes to MP3s

Do you have old cassette tape recordings that you would love to convert to MP3's? You're in luck. Cassette tapes have long been a thing of the past ever since they were replaced by CD's and MP3s. Unfortunately, many people have old cassette tapes they never listen to anymore because no one uses cassette players anymore. On the bright side, there is a way to convert a cassette tape to MP3.

There are a few things you will need to do this:

Cassette player with a headphone or line out jack

Computer that has a microphone or a line in jack

3.5mm stereo audio cable

iTunes

Audacity digital audio editor, which you can download at: audacity.sourceforge.net/

Step 1. Download Audacity and iTunes.

Download and install the Audacity digital audio editor on your computer. Then go to apple.com and download the latest version of iTunes and install it.

Step 2. Connect the cassette player to your computer.

Connect the cassette player to the computer by plugging one end of the audio cable into your cassette deck's headphone or line out jack. Then plug the other end into your computer's microphone or line in input.

Step 3. Run the Audacity software.

Launch the Audacity digital audio editor that you downloaded. Navigate to the "Edit" menu and select "Preferences." Then navigate to "Device" and select your computer's soundcard from the menu. Lastly, go to the "Channels" field and select "Stereo Recording."

Step 4. Queue the cassette tape.

Insert the cassette tape into the player and make sure it is rewound to the begin.

Step 5. Begin recording.

Do a quick level check to ensure the levels from the cassette player and Audacity are good. Press the red record button in Audacity, wait a couple seconds and then press the play button on the cassette player. Audacity will begin to record the audio being played through the cassette deck.

Step 6. Save your recording.

Once the tape has finished playing, save the file to your computer. Go to the "File" menu and select "Export as WAV."

Step 7. Import to iTunes and convert to MP3.

Drag the WAV file you just saved into iTunes. After you have added the audio to your iTunes library you can convert it to MP3 by right clicking on the file and selecting "Create MP3."

By following all of these steps you can convert all your all your favorite cassette tapes into MP3. Once you have converted all your cassettes to MP3s, you can back them up on hard drives and CD to archive them virtually forever.