converting audio tapes for iPod use

[djohnson123]

I have a lot of audio tapes that I want to convert to .wav files for use on my PC. My PC does not have a sound card with RCA connections so I will need to covert the audio out of the tape deck to USB on the PC.
Does anyone have any advice ? I'm having a hard time finding an RCA / USB audio converter ?

thanks,
Don

[HansV]

Perhaps something like Ion Audio REC2PC Stereo RCA-to-USB Cable?

RCA2USB.jpg

[stuck]

Why can't you use an RCA to 3.5mm stereo jack cable and feed the audio out of the tape deck to the line-in on the sound card?

Ken

[June Bug]

If your PC is a desktop with 1/8 inch jacks on the sound card use a converter as suggested by Stuck. It will work with no problems.

If you have a laptop with only USB connections use the converter suggested by HansV or DJ-Tech RCA-2-USB - Dual RCA to USB Cable

RCA 2 USB.png

JB

[djohnson123]

There are no external RCA connections available so I'll need an adaptor / converter. Also, I'd like to record it in .wav format but some of these converters only use .mp3 format.

[HansV]

You could use a program such as Audacity (free) to convert MP3 to WAV.

[djohnson123]

I'm trying to keep the audio in a lossless format and mp3 is lossy.
I did find a product, Behringer UFO202 Audio Interface, which can be used with Audacity and once it's in there I can save it in wav format and then convert to flac in another program.
Thanks to all for the ideas; I'll let you know how it turns out.

Don

added later :

I guess I should clarify what I wanted to do :
1 convert the audio from the audio tale to .wav format
2 convert the wav file to .flac format and share it as a torrent
3 convert the .wav file to .mp3 format for my iPod.
So, Hans, you were correct in thinking that I could go straight to .mp3

[stuck]

There are no external RCA connections available

so why mention you couldn't find an RCA to USB device?

What exactly do you have by way of output on the tape deck? Just a headphone socket?
What exactly do you have on your computer? Just USB?
If you have desktop PC, are you sure there is no line-in socket on the back?

Ken

[HansV]

I think Don meant that there are no RCA sockets on his PC (presumably a laptop). There must be on the tape deck.

[djohnson123]

The PC has no external RCA jacks so I need to use the USB port there. The tape deck does has RCA jacks.
When I first posted, I had had no luck finding an RCA / USB converter but after I looked at the links that Hans and June Bug provided I was able to find one that was easily available.
And yes I'm sure about the connections. My laptop has only USB; my desktop had a mike input but I was told that it wouldn't work properly by someone who has experience.
Anyway, I've ordered the equipment and hopefully it will work.
Thanks for everyone's help
Sorry about the confusion,

Don

[djohnson123]

Got a Behringer UF0202 - works like a charm !

[BobH]

Thanks for posting the results, Don!

I've got the same task in my to-do list.