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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi all. We’ve previously been using old Tascam 424 PortaStudio which has the advantage of easily outputting 4-channels simultaneously so that you can digitize a traditional NLS cassette submaster in one pass; reversing the 2 backwards sides.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, those older PortaStudio units can develop issues like any well used machine and we’ve recently purchased the Tascam 202MKVII deck and are happy with it so far.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So I’m in agreement with everything my coworker, Stacey, suggested.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We mostly digitize from reel masters using Otari MX505B series reel to reel units but we regularly have to digitize from cassette submasters as you describe. In both cases we are running the audio outputs from those playback units into
Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 interfaces and then into Sound Forge to record the audio.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Dan, if you (or anyone on these lists) wants to inquire directly for more details, you have my email addy.
<span style="font-family:"Segoe UI Emoji",sans-serif">😊</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">- SMiles Lewis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Audio Production Administrator / Studio Director
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Ground-floor G030.11 / 512-463-5546<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="https://www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/vrs.html"><span style="color:blue">Volunteer Recording Studio</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Texas State Library & Archives Commission
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Talking Book Program <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://www.texastalkingbooks.org/"><span style="color:blue">www.TexasTalkingBooks.org</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="http://www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/"><span style="color:blue">www.Tsl.Texas.gov/tbp/</span></a>
<span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> Stacey Hathaway-Bell <shbell@tsl.texas.gov>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, August 26, 2022 8:06 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Malosh, Dan (MDE) <dan.malosh@state.mn.us>; TBBS Recording Studio Info <studiotalk@islemail.org>; LBPH (LBPH@omls.oregon.gov) <LBPH@omls.oregon.gov><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Stephen Lewis <slewis@tsl.texas.gov><br>
<b>Subject:</b> RE: Cassette Deck for Digitizing Cassettes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Hi Dan—<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Stacey S. Hathaway-Bell, Manager, Reader Services</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#C00000">|</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#7F7F7F"> Talking Book Program<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Texas State Library and Archives Commission</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:#244061">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">512-463-7081|<span style="color:#244061">
<a href="mailto:shbell@tsl.texas.gov">shbell@tsl.texas.gov</a></span> <span style="color:#C00000">
|</span>www.TexasTalkingBooks.org</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" width="60" height="72" style="width:.625in;height:.75in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01D8B924.F79BBE50"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-GB">From:</span></b><span lang="EN-GB"> LBPH <<a href="mailto:lbph-bounces@omls.oregon.gov">lbph-bounces@omls.oregon.gov</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Malosh, Dan (MDE) via LBPH<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 25, 2022 3:42 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> TBBS Recording Studio Info <<a href="mailto:studiotalk@islemail.org">studiotalk@islemail.org</a>>; LBPH (<a href="mailto:LBPH@omls.oregon.gov">LBPH@omls.oregon.gov</a>) <<a href="mailto:LBPH@omls.oregon.gov">LBPH@omls.oregon.gov</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [NLS Network] Cassette Deck for Digitizing Cassettes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Hi all,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">(I apologize for this email being duplicated over two listservs.)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">With that being said, here are my questions…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">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
<a href="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%7C220fc3a559c440d4d8e608da8763c2ca%7Ca4597bff9f384145a0334a2168399a5e%7C0%7C0%7C637971159797807613%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3uOmDkB4eV4sEKDqKpDob9psdEYo8BprJ8OujCVXFIw%3D&reserved=0">
TEAC W-1200</a> or (the nearly identical) <a href="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%7C220fc3a559c440d4d8e608da8763c2ca%7Ca4597bff9f384145a0334a2168399a5e%7C0%7C0%7C637971159797807613%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=BFDt6YheDAZlbgAfn1fN%2Fbqncv8Px6iG8yLoCi%2FXqb0%3D&reserved=0">
Tascam 202MKVII</a>. I worry that buying some high-end deck from decades ago would be impossible to fix or maintain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Also, did your library purchase an amp to enhance the recordings? Do you have any recommendations?
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Which software did you use? (We have Sound Forge, HABC and Audacity.) And, did you purchase a hiss removal plug-in?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I look forward to any suggestions or feedback.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">-Dan in Minnesota<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Dan Malosh<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Systems and Digital Services Librarian<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">507-384-6869 |<span style="color:#003865">
<a href="mailto:dan.malosh@state.mn.us"><span style="color:blue">dan.malosh@state.mn.us</span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;color:#003865"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">388 SE 6th Ave, Faribault, MN 55021-6340<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Feducation.mn.gov%2Fbtbl&data=05%7C01%7C%7C220fc3a559c440d4d8e608da8763c2ca%7Ca4597bff9f384145a0334a2168399a5e%7C0%7C0%7C637971159797807613%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=UvpYCU%2BDQfmZG9DrtKlerq46ww54F5o9n42t%2Fuo3ip4%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color:blue">https://education.mn.gov/btbl</span></a>
<span style="color:#003865">| </span><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwebopac.klas.com%2Fmn1aopac%2F&data=05%7C01%7C%7C220fc3a559c440d4d8e608da8763c2ca%7Ca4597bff9f384145a0334a2168399a5e%7C0%7C0%7C637971159797807613%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=1DC5%2Bw%2F0sVlvUDIkDke37eBF0Dpw2fPO%2F%2FPFa7Dlgxc%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color:blue">Library
Catalog</span></a><span style="color:#003865"> | </span><a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnlsbard.loc.gov%2Flogin%2FMN1A&data=05%7C01%7C%7C220fc3a559c440d4d8e608da8763c2ca%7Ca4597bff9f384145a0334a2168399a5e%7C0%7C0%7C637971159797807613%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=giAJiX5HJwtmSbr0r9JwnrLfsxe2OgyTvwlrqeNx42w%3D&reserved=0"><span style="color:blue">MN
BARD</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><img border="0" width="320" height="74" style="width:3.3333in;height:.7708in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.png@01D8B924.F79BBE50" alt="Braille and Talking Book Library"></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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