OK, I'm starting my monumental project of converting audio tapes (reel-to-reel and cassette) to digital. These are studio and live tapes of the many groups I've performed in along with tapes of some of my Radio DJ days.

I've got the tape decks connected to my computer. I'm using Audacity to record the tapes to digital on the computer. But, what format do I save them in so I can burn them to CDs which will be playable in home DVD and CD players?

Here are the choices offered by Audacity.

The one you have selected is right. Also make sure they are 44.1 kHz.

There's a little window in the bottom left corner of Audacity which looks like this.



I hope the 44100 setting is what you are talking about. Can you tell I'm a novice

Yep, that's it.

Yes, Jack. A 16 bit .WAV file samples at 44.1KHz (44,100) is correct.

Make sure that you do, indeed, burn them as audio CDs (don't just burn the file to CD as a data disc).

This sounds like a fun project. I recently did the same with some long lost cassette tapes.

When you're ready to create your CDs, I can't recommend a free and easy to use little program called CDBurnerXP strongly enough. It's just a great utility.

Thanks everybody. Mark, in addition to CD-R or CD-RW, can I burn to DVD-R and/or DVD+RW?

Kruncher, I'll check into that program. Thanks.

Jack, you should use CD-R discs only. If you're going to be giving any out, you want to make sure that the discs you create will play on a standard CD player.

Again, make sure that the discs are burned as Audio CDs...not data...so they are finalized correctly.

If you put all these files on a drive and sent it to me, I could output Redbook CDs and duplicate and print copies for you to distribute!

Well, I've only just begun to record to digital. I really wasn't planning on "giving any out." I can't imagine anyone would want such ancient, primitive music. However, when it comes time for burning, you'll be hearing from me.

Just don't let him put Boobies all over those CDs. Hmm, on second thought...

Jack, this sounds like an exiting project.
I for one would love if you convert a couple of your more memorable tracks to MP3 and post them somewhere where we could have a listen.
You might be surprised what we can appreciate, even if the banjo strings were made of Woogy Mammoth hair.

Yes, I said Woogy. When I was a kid I used to ask to wear the woogy socks on cold days.

It's a good thing those reel-to-reel tapes made it onto the ark, so they weren't lost in the flood.

Love ya, Jack.

Murph, I'll see what I can do.

J.P., Boy, you are not kidding. Many of these tapes are nearly 50 years old. They are deteriorating fast. I have to clean the heads and capstan on the tape deck after every pass, thus the urgency to get them into the digital realm.

Thank you for preserving them, Jack. I want to listen.

Me too.

A real labor of love. I look forward to hearing more (literally and figuratively) of the process/progress.

What kind of music is on them? What instrument(s) did you play back then Jack?

He played banjo and guitar AT THE SAME TIME.

Yeah. Right.

Two hands on the guitar, one foot and his on the banjo.

The music is pretty varried. Most of it is commercial folk/folk-rock music (The New Community Singers/Bruce and Jack, maybe others depending on what I find on the tapes). If I get ambitious, there will be some standards from the 30s and 40s (The Corsairs)

I played guitar; nothing fancy just your basic strummer. Singing was my thing. Though you could not tell from my voice today, I was a pretty darn good first tenor.

Also I was a radio DJ at WNCR in Cleveland and WHCN in Hartford, CT. I've got a two hour interview I did with Loggins and Messina I want to get converted to digital before the tape rots away.

Apologies to all who have seen these photos too many times (GOD!).

I never get tired of those pictures, Jack.

Or the 'stache.

Hair.......sigh!

Always fun looking back in time.

Ain't much of that left..........sigh!

I did the hair thing too back in the day. Shivers. I played lead electric in the folks basement with a Fender fuzz/wah pedal. Never got with a band, other than an occasional bass or drummer.

So you were Josie?

Well, I successfully transferred the Loggins and Messina interview, the two hour New Community Singers concert, and a 6 song NCS studio recording.

In Vietnam, I was the soundman on a motion picture crew. Today I will be transferring the recording of the one time I was in actual combat. Scary memory.

Great pictures, Jack! we love 'em!