USB Cassette Recorder TAPE2PC |
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By
Ion
Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Electronics
Brand: ION Audio
EAN: 0855960000252
Label: Ion
Manufacturer: Ion
Model: ION TAPE2PC
Publisher: Ion
Studio: Ion |
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- Quickly transfer music on your tapes to MP3 format on your computer!
- Dual dubbing cassette deck
- Plug & Play USB audio interface no drivers needed!
- Metal and CrO2 tape selector
- EZ Tape Converter 2 software (PC) and EZ Audio Converter (Mac) for hassle-free recording
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Product Description
There used to be something magical about old cassettes. It wasn't just that they were handily compact or could store up to a whole two hours of music in reasonable (if hissy) fidelity. It was the fact that they put control of music recording into the hands of teenagers for the very first time. And listening to the Top 40 or John Peel, finger poised over the 'pause' button, became a national institution. Or so we're told. Enter MP3, goodbye tape. Just like that. But the rise and rise of iPod, creation of the Clever Mr Jobs, has created a problem. What to do with all those old cassettes in one's bottom drawer/glovebox/recycling bin? And well may you ask. Now at last true salvation is at hand for all those long-forgotten mixtapes and compilation albums (of which Now 10 is surely a classic). Think of this marvel from Ion as a Tape-to-Tape-to-PC and you're there - a dual-dubbing cassette deck that provides a uniquely nifty way of converting one's old cassette recordings direct to PC, and direct to iTunes, should you wish. Incredibly, once you're done with your archiving task, one can utilise the Ion's standard RCA output to enable hassle-free playback direct from cassette via your Music Centre or Midi Deck at one's 80s themed hi-fidelity parties. All that's missing is the leg-warmers, the Kids from Fame and a foaming can of Tizer.
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Only if you don't already have a cassette player, 2008-08-10
Audio ION Audio Tape to PC Casettendeck USB
I picked this information up from Amazon.com (thank you), but it is equally applicable to the UK.
If you already have a tape deck you probably don't need this bit of kit.
You need:
Your existing tape deck
Hardware: A connecting lead from the tape deck to your PC. This can be from the audio output on the tape deck or from the headphone output. If you have a jack to jack lead to play your iPod in your car you may already have one of these. If not the nice people at Maplins or similar can help.
Software: Audacity is available for free on the web.
Total cost £0.00 to <£10.00.
I have been using my very old Pioneer tape deck, a jack to jack lead I already had, and the free Audacity software to update old tapes to MP3s. Fine results.
Good kit, does what it claims to do, 2008-09-23
I've been using this Audio ION Audio Tape to PC Casettendeck USB for a couple of weeks, and think it is a good product.
It is true that you don't have to buy this if you already have a good cassette deck, the cables required, the software and the technical know how etc.
However, if you don't and you want a well priced and easy to use solution for downloading cassettes to your PC, this product gives you what you need.
There IS automatic track sensing (one reviewer says there isn't), so you don't have to sit by your PC when downloading tapes. It even uses Gracenote to find track titles for you (although this does not work for all albums).
Just make sure you download the latest software and reset windows default Audio devices before using. Full instructions for doing both are highlighted in the supplied instructions.
The product uses ITunes, but so what. You can still play the downloads using Windows Media Player and download/burn to other devices - just point WMP to the ITunes library containing the downloaded tracks.
Does what it says, but not how I expected!, 2008-03-24
I needed a machine to convert my 100+ cassette recordings to MP3. This machine will do it, but if you want to catalogue all your albums/tracks/artists properly, you need to have a lot of time on your hands. You literally have to play each cassette the whole way through and stay with your PC to add the track breaks etc.
You would have thought someone could have come up with a high speed method for doing this that recognises pauses between songs etc.There is a piece of additional software, but no instructions supplied so it's anyone's guess whether it could make the job any easier.
Essentially this is a double cassette deck that just happens to have a USB port so it plays into your computer. It is no more.
You also have to use iTunes as the software for capturing the music, even if you don't want to use iTunes and then have the cumbersome process of locating the songs in the files and moving them so you can play them in windows media player or upload to other MP3 players.
All in all a bit disappointing therefore and with 6 tapes done and nearly 100 to go, if I'm wrong in my assessment of how this works, please tell me quickly!!
Disappointing after 3mths, 2008-03-17
We have had two of these decks and in both cases the same problem arose. We have more than the average amount of cassettes than the average customer would have. The deck itself is easy to use (without the software) and was better than one we had fitted into the tower when we started to use it we realised it was impossible to clean the heads pinch wheel efficiently and this rendered the drive useless for the purpose as tapes do build up on the heads/pinch.
The ION is good as we have full access to the heads which is important when trying to copy numerous tapes, the heads need cleaned regularly with the correct fluid - the ION seemed to fulfil this criteria for us.
The first deck we used after 3mths a spring came loose making one side of the deck broken as the fine spring was vital and could not be replaced without returning the deck. We were given a replacement and now find the replacement has the same issue - 3mths approx 3-4 C90 or C60 each day - spring came out again on the side we were using.
We then started to use the second side of the deck - 3mths same amount of tapes on average - same problem - spring again this time back to the shop and now have to wait to see if we will be sent a new one or the same one fixed. This seems to be a design weakness as it has happened over and over again, even the shop realise the deck was cared for and was 'as new' when returned but could no longer be used due to the spring each time.
Possibly if someone was only using this deck for a 100 or so tapes and not in use every day as it is with us they may not have this issue until the deck was out of warranty. Although we may have to revert to another solution with a normal cassette deck which this doesn't happen to as we have several of these to use as tape to tape recording and have never had a problem.
I know with the LP decks it is important to have quality needles etc and think ION improved on their Vinyl one (have never used one) the Tape one seemed ideal for us to be able to digitise a complete library but if we needed a new one every 3mths it would be a waste of time and money. Hopefully ION will note the design weakness and produce a better quality deck.
I know if we had only needed to copy an average amount every so often the deck would have been fine but if you are looking for a serious copy to PC deck then this one has a weakness, may only be a tiny spring but it renders the deck useless.
Works well, converted all my tapes easily, 2008-08-31
Comes with Audacity software, which helps convert your casette tapes to mp3 files (or AIFF, or Ogg Vorbis, if you prefer). You can record a whole side of a tape in one go, and then easily chop it up in its separate tracks if you like. I am not a techie and found it all quite easy to work. Sometimes I had a strong buzz coming in over an otherwise clean tape; stop the machine, switch it all off and on again, and it is fine again. Not quite sure which caused this, not dirty heads (I cleaned these a few times with proper cleaning solution) not a bad lead connection. Anyway, I converted all my tapes to my satisfaction; just as I did earlier with all my records, using an ION record deck. A useful machine!
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