How to Convert Cassettes to MP3

Chris Pirillo — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:02:25 +0000

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One of the first pieces of hardware I ever remember lusting after was a cassette player. I was pretty young back then, and a cassette player was innovative! As I got a little older, making “mix tapes” for girls you liked was all the rage. I enjoyed being able to record things, and play them back. These days, we take audio and video recording for granted. Back then… it was really high tech stuff!

I still have several of my old cassettes. I want to start archiving those memories into MP3 format, so that I can save them. There’s a few different ways that you can accomplish this, using various pieces of hardware. The folks at ThinkGeeksent me something that will help me do this easily… the ION USB Cassette Deck. It works with either Windows or Mac OS X, and comes with its own software. I have to warn you, though. Even though the hardware is an excellent device, I don’t recommend using the software. It’s not so great.

It’s a dual cassette deck of sorts. You can dub from one deck to another. Or, I can use a USB connection and play it back on my computer… and record it from there if I wish. I recommend downloading the free version of Audacity in order to record and edit your audio files.

Pop open the cassette deck and throw your tape in. I still have the first cassette I ever purchased – Twisted Sister. Tell me you remember the song “We’re Not Gonna Take It”. It’s a classic that’s still played often today! Hey… I loved them back in the day. What’s wrong with liking the song now?!

The ION features LED Audio Level Indicators to let you know when it detects music on one side or the other. The “A” deck is for cassette playback only. The “B” deck can be used to play and record. Copy your music from one cassette to another at regular OR high-speed. There are several nifty little add-ons for all of you cassette junkies!

I do like this gadget, and will be using it quite a bit. I am having a great time going down memory lane and putting faces, names and memories with each song on the tapes.

What’s the first piece of hardware you remember lusting after?

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How to Convert Cassettes to MP3

What was Your First CD?

Chris Pirillo — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 07:11:09 +0000

What was Your First CD?

For those of us who used to own vinyl, buying our first CD was a huge deal. I’d be willing to wager that we also remember what our first CD was, and even when we bought it. The first one I ever bought was The Traveling Willburys. For Kat, it was Ride the Lightning, by Metallica. I had to ask others if they remembered what their first ever CD was.

Sgt. Peppers June 2, 1987 – Matthew Davidson via twhirl

I think it was a Sade album… probably in 88 or 89 – Tad – the fresh maker

Ugh, Aerosmith’s "Get a Grip" which was given to me. Next I think was Counting Crows "August and Everything After" – Haggis (Sean)

REM’s Reckoning I think. – Abby Martin

Genesis Invisible Touch – George Lee via twhirl

first cd single: bush – swallowed, first cd album: songs in the key of X, first cassette: simpons sing the blues, first (and only) vinyl: los lobos – la bamba… *shakes head* – alphaxion

uh.. I think maybe it was music from Miami Vice. – Nine – Like the number

This is too hard for my old zombie brain – Michael W. May

+1 MWM… I have no idea! – Cheryl Jones

Mine: The Traveling Willburys. :) – l0ckergn0me

Nirvana – Nevermind – Matt Musgrave

The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me in ’87, I think. – Akiva Moskovitz

Bruce Dickinson – Tattooed Millionaire & Slaughter – Stick It To Ya! What? I was 14 and an idiot at the time. – Mark Wilson

Massive Attack – Blue Lines – Chris Nixon

Tangerine Dream, Optical Race – steplow is Steve

(My first 8-track, btw, was George Carlin, Class Clown) – steplow is Steve

umm, when I was four or five, we got the new Meet the Beatles on vinyl. – Laura Norvig

Anita Baker, "Giving You The Best That I Got", 1987 – Steven Perez

Might have been Speak and Spell by Depeche Mode…Can’t remember exactly. That was 20 years ago. – AlexScoble(Robert’sBro)

Ina Kamoze – Here comes the hotstepper – Mark

Legend – Bob Marley – Peter Simard

Ride the Lightning – Metallica (because I couldn’t afford anything over $10 and it was $10 used) – Justin KoЯn

U2 – The Unforgettable Fire. Really poor audio quality. The first track had so much hissing noise I wondered what was so good about CD’s. – Mark Krynsky

License to ILL – Ryan

Wow, I can’t believe I still remember this… I bought the "Day By Day" jazz album by Najee in 1989… I was still in high school… – Glenn Batuyong via twhirl

P.O.D. – Satellite? I know, I know. You don’t have to tell me. :) – Reuben Thum via twhirl

Journey’s Greatest Hits – Stagekid

LOL. I believe it was Chuck Mangione, Feels So Good. – Brian Norwood

Slayer – Seasons In The Abyss :) – Jérôme

bruce springsteen – born to run – revrev via twhirl

Hmm, I’m wondering how many brain cells back that was! I believe it may have been Talking Heads. +1 for The Cure Akiva! – Jody C

my brother gave me my first portable CD player – along with it he gave me Estefan’s Into the Light and Willson Phillips CD which I can now not recall the name. I was always surprised he picked so well (for my tastes at the time) and that he wasn’t embarrassed to be seen buying them. – pea gives ♥ a bad name

What was your first CD? And, if you remember it, what about your first album on vinyl… or your first 8Track?

What was Your First CD?

Chris Pirillo » cassette

How to Convert Cassettes to MP3

What was Your First CD?