[Studiotalk] Cassette Deck for Digitizing Cassettes

[Stacey Hathaway-Bell]

Hi Dan-

I'm responding to this as a self-recording musician rather than a TBP librarian. I personally would go with the Tascam. It's a workhorse brand and well known for recording. I don't think an old deck is likely to hold up. Audacity has a hiss reduction function built in. I would try that before purchasing a plug in. Most USB devices made for recording (I use a FocusRite Scarlett, but have used Behringer and Presonus models in the past) have sufficient power and don't need an outboard amp, but I'm not familiar with the Tascam or Teac components directly, so I can't really speak to the amp question. I'm cc'ing our Studio head for his input. Hope this helps!


Stacey S. Hathaway-Bell, Manager, Reader Services | Talking Book Program
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
512-463-7081| shbell at tsl.texas.gov<mailto:shbell at tsl.texas.gov> |www.TexasTalkingBooks.org
[cid:image001.png at 01D8B922.B4FDACE0]





From: LBPH <lbph-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of Malosh, Dan (MDE) via LBPH
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2022 3:42 PM
To: TBBS Recording Studio Info <studiotalk at islemail.org>; LBPH (LBPH at omls.oregon.gov) <LBPH at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: [NLS Network] Cassette Deck for Digitizing Cassettes

Hi all,

(I apologize for this email being duplicated over two listservs.)

In Minnesota, we are making our final push to move away from our lingering cassette recordings.  A few are NLS RDs that we internally copied to cassettes many decades ago, but most are recordings from our partner agency up in St. Paul, Minnesota: MN9A.  They didn't retain masters on reels so we're left to work with cassette derivative "masters."

With that being said, here are my questions...

Has anyone recently purchased a cassette deck for digitizing analog talking books on a PC?  If so, which model did you use?  Personally, I want to purchase a new model with a USB connection, like the TEAC W-1200<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fteac-usa.com%2Fcassete-deck-cd-players%2Fw-1200-dual-cassette-deck&data=05%7C01%7C%7C185b5113d59c4abcf3cf08da86de011d%7Ca4597bff9f384145a0334a2168399a5e%7C0%7C0%7C637970585902389728%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=UE7WRHCwx2bLhQ1%2Bepl8eiZlKFts8j1%2Bv%2FT%2BtQGMe4o%3D&reserved=0> or (the nearly identical) Tascam 202MKVII<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2Fc%2Fproduct%2F1413241-REG%2Ftascam_202mkvii_professional_rack_mount_dual_cassette.html&data=05%7C01%7C%7C185b5113d59c4abcf3cf08da86de011d%7Ca4597bff9f384145a0334a2168399a5e%7C0%7C0%7C637970585902389728%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TXzuC53WIuqXznV2a7O0DX6vasfmbaA889KSLyibDeQ%3D&reserved=0>.  I worry that buying some high-end deck from decades ago would be impossible to fix or maintain.

Also, did your library purchase an amp to enhance the recordings?  Do you have any recommendations?

Which software did you use?  (We have Sound Forge, HABC and Audacity.)  And, did you purchase a hiss removal plug-in?

I look forward to any suggestions or feedback.

Sincerely,
-Dan in Minnesota

Dan Malosh
Systems and Digital Services Librarian
507-384-6869  |  dan.malosh at state.mn.us<mailto:dan.malosh at state.mn.us>

Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library
388 SE 6th Ave, Faribault, MN 55021-6340
https://education.mn.gov/btbl<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feducation.mn.gov%2Fbtbl&data=05%7C01%7C%7C185b5113d59c4abcf3cf08da86de011d%7Ca4597bff9f384145a0334a2168399a5e%7C0%7C0%7C637970585902389728%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=IsBcPfAMBw30tNgjsqeDAsXk5KrtXV9jT730REJhnDs%3D&reserved=0> | Library Catalog<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwebopac.klas.com%2Fmn1aopac%2F&data=05%7C01%7C%7C185b5113d59c4abcf3cf08da86de011d%7Ca4597bff9f384145a0334a2168399a5e%7C0%7C0%7C637970585902389728%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZiI29Trx%2FQjSFw4YdHKcC2DwsC785JroSRgbhwAn0uw%3D&reserved=0> | MN BARD<https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnlsbard.loc.gov%2Flogin%2FMN1A&data=05%7C01%7C%7C185b5113d59c4abcf3cf08da86de011d%7Ca4597bff9f384145a0334a2168399a5e%7C0%7C0%7C637970585902389728%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=iCNuxT2LMTGRU6%2FGKa%2FBhV3bIt67l62xmTcR5cqU7ys%3D&reserved=0>

[Braille and Talking Book Library]

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