Record tapes using my soundcard and a tape recorder?

[newbie~wan]

Can I make music tapes simply by disconnecting my speakers from the line out of my soundcard, and instead, hooking up a tape recorder? I don't have a tape recorder anymore, but I could pick one up for really cheap I imagine. Is a tape recorder a tape recorder? Like, does it matter if I get a super cheapo one or not?

Is it that simple or is there something else I need to do?

[calebmandrake]

No, you will need to plug in you cassette player with an 8mm cord into the Line IN, make sure this is not muted in your audio properties and work from there... This is the easiest way to make a CD from an old cassette - Paula Abdul/Milli Vanilli days

[newbie~wan]

I don't understand, why would I hook up the cassette player to line IN? Wouldn't the soundcard be sending the signal OUT and then then the cassette player receiving it? It's Monday morning, I could be having a brain fart, but it just doesn't make any sense at the moment......

What I'm trying to do is put a recording on the tape, not extract the music from it. It will be a blank tape and I'd like to put some of the songs that I have on mp3 on it. I only have a tape player in my current car.

[thekemp]

the cassette player must be connected into the line-in of your soundcard with what ever connection you have, then you must use a recording program to record from the line-in .
if you have a creative soundcard use creative recorder.
i recently did a load of tapes for my mom, i recorded all the tapes as one track into wav format with creative reorder, then i used NERO to cut them into tracks and clean them up (skipping etc) and then burnt them to a cd simple! if you need more detail info pm me.

[Whir]

You guys are missing the point here...

Newbie - All you need is a stereo 1/8" to RCA left/right Y adapter, an RCA cable, and a tape deck. Just plug the adapter into the LINE OUT of your sound card. Or, if you've got an AWE64 Gold or something, just attach the RCA connectors to the tape deck. If you use the line out, make sure the line out on the audio mixer is unmuted. Set the volume at about 90%, then dial it in on the tape deck (if it's got that option - record level). Hit record on the blank casette, wait three seconds, click play on your playlist and let it run. That's all there is to it.

-Whir

[Tygur]

People, newbie~wan wants to record sound from his computer to a tape.

Yeah, if you've got a tape recorder that has some sort of a line in or auxiliary jack, you can hook that right up to the line out on the sound card.


EDIT: Looks like Whir beat me to it. I guess that's what I get for thinking it through before posting.

[Whir]

Buahahaha!! We're all in this together man.

-Whir

[amdkt7]

The speaker output jack would also work, most sound cards don't care about the output impeadance, as most speakers are powered (ie the speakers are the same type load as the tape recorder).

[newbie~wan]

Yes, quite correct whir and tygur, thank you.

amdkt7, may I ask a general question? How would you describe "output impedance" and "input impedance". Could you make a small example of each, perhaps in the context of this situation. I would be much obliged.

[Brainchild]

Quote:

Can I make music tapes simply by disconnecting my speakers from the line out of my soundcard, and instead, hooking up a tape recorder

Uhh, lets see..................................YUP! It works

Had to test mine out