Cassette Tape Recorder Promposal Help

[TaylorDean16]

So I need help finding something i can use to put audio files from my computer onto a cassette tape, as well as something to listen to the tapes with using headphones (Sony walkman type of thing I guess). I was searching around on Amazon and doing some searching, but honestly I have no idea what the heck I'm looking at. If any of you guys know of a good old school looking tape recorder and an old school looking way to listen to the tapes that would be great! If we can stick to the classic look aesthetic too that would be great, but I'm not trying to break the bank either since it's for a prom thing.

 

tl,dr:

Need to listen to/ put recordings of my voice on a cassette tape

I want it to look old and be relatively cheap

I'm confused and scared.

 

Thanks!

[mxk]

The best way for your budget is to pick up a used boombox/mini boombox that can record cassettes from the audio of a USB drive/SD card and a used walkman/off brand walkman from eBay (or amazon if you get lucky). The newer USB stuff is easier to use than what I do (record from my laptop, into hifi system which feeds into my double cassette deck). 

 

I personally think you're going to have to leave behind the idea of going for retro stuff, because people charge a lot of the old cassette gear (unless you get a great deal of course). 

 

My used walkman from the early 2000's costed me $25 on amazon, used and it still works great ever since I first bought it in middle school. 

[TaylorDean16]

6 minutes ago, fantasia. said:

The best way for your budget is to pick up a used boombox/mini boombox that can record cassettes from the audio of a USB drive/SD card and a used walkman/off brand walkman from eBay (or amazon if you get lucky). The newer USB stuff is easier to use than what I do (record from my laptop, into hifi system which feeds into my double cassette deck). 

 

I personally think you're going to have to leave behind the idea of going for retro stuff, because people charge a lot of the old cassette gear (unless you get a great deal of course). 

 

My used walkman from the early 2000's costed me $25 on amazon, used and it still works great ever since I first bought it in middle school. 

Yeah I was worried the old look would cost extra... Your setup sounds pretty cool though!

Here's some different cassette players I found on Amazon, any of them stick out to you? The first one in particular seems to be what I'm looking for since it said something about being able to record to the cassette tape, but the smaller ones are more portable obviously.

 

https://www.amazon.com/QFX-RETRO-39-Shoebox-Recorder-Player/dp/B076W2F1GV/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=old+school+cassette+player&qid=1555267339&s=gateway&sr=8-1

 

https://www.amazon.com/Reshow-Cassette-Player-Compatible-Computers/dp/B018WBUJBS/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=old+school+cassette+player&qid=1555267339&s=gateway&sr=8-2

 

And these are the cassette tapes themselves that I kept seeing get recommended

 

https://www.amazon.com/Maxell-108562-PacksMaxell-Recording-Protective/dp/B00006IAAL/ref=pd_bxgy_107_img_2/146-7172011-8419714?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00006IAAL&pd_rd_r=94b7196d-5ee5-11e9-921f-93d945d215dc&pd_rd_w=CFlMD&pd_rd_wg=sZpXY&pf_rd_p=a2006322-0bc0-4db9-a08e-d168c18ce6f0&pf_rd_r=DNTVRNXPGNNXBVDTBW85&psc=1&refRID=DNTVRNXPGNNXBVDTBW85

 

https://www.amazon.com/Maxell-108575-Optimally-Designed-Recording/dp/B000087NBW/ref=pd_sim_229_9?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000087NBW&pd_rd_r=208ab10e-5ee6-11e9-8078-db1490754bb9&pd_rd_w=voqnu&pd_rd_wg=gXe5L&pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=QYMT3Y7824NG7AE1J8YZ&psc=1&refRID=QYMT3Y7824NG7AE1J8YZ

[mxk]

2 minutes ago, TaylorDean16 said:

snip

I'm looking at the first one and it looks decent. I see it on B&H and they spec it with a built in mic and a USB audio line in (plug a usb in and send audio to it). I'll be honest, I have no idea how the recording process will go for this little shoebox thing but I'm taking a guess that you just select it as the audio output instead of your headphones or speakers. I would suggest picking up a 3.5mm audio jack to USB adapter so the PC can easily recognize an audio output.

 

I wouldn't pick up the second one, by the way. It's a newer attempt with cassettes and its pretty cheap in quality. The reviews speak for themselves. I'm not sure if you were wanting to pick this up as a player for your recorded cassettes but either way this thing sucks.

 

As for the tapes, don't worry too much about it. The first ones you linked are perfectly fine. They're not the best for sound quality compared to expensive type 4 cassettes, but they sound fine to me, no issues. 

 

 

If you can spend a tiny bit extra on this walkman, I would recommend it as I used to own one. It sounds quite good and is durable since it's a Sports model.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SONY-SPORTS-WALKMAN-MEGA-BASS-FM-AM-W-HEADPHONES-WORKING/293032807799?hash=item443a1dcd77:g:LkcAAOSwpkJco72w

[TaylorDean16]

3 minutes ago, fantasia. said:

I'm looking at the first one and it looks decent. I see it on B&H and they spec it with a built in mic and a USB audio line in (plug a usb in and send audio to it). I'll be honest, I have no idea how the recording process will go for this little shoebox thing but I'm taking a guess that you just select it as the audio output instead of your headphones or speakers. I would suggest picking up a 3.5mm audio jack to USB adapter so the PC can easily recognize an audio output.

 

I wouldn't pick up the second one, by the way. It's a newer attempt with cassettes and its pretty cheap in quality. The reviews speak for themselves. I'm not sure if you were wanting to pick this up as a player for your recorded cassettes but either way this thing sucks.

 

As for the tapes, don't worry too much about it. The first ones you linked are perfectly fine. They're not the best for sound quality compared to expensive type 4 cassettes, but they sound fine to me, no issues. 

 

 

If you can spend a tiny bit extra on this walkman, I would recommend it as I used to own one. It sounds quite good and is durable since it's a Sports model.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SONY-SPORTS-WALKMAN-MEGA-BASS-FM-AM-W-HEADPHONES-WORKING/293032807799?hash=item443a1dcd77:g:LkcAAOSwpkJco72w

Great, Thank you so much!

[mariushm]

A lot of  systems that have  cassette tape / cd player / fm tuner / aux in / line in  can record to tape stuff from the other inputs (cd , radio. aux in, line in)

 

So you could simply connect the stereo output from your sound card to aux in or line in of such system using a basic stereo to 2 x RCA or stereo - stereo cable, play the sound on your computer and hit record on the tape.

Alternatively, you could record your voice or music or whatever as a regular audio file and then create an Audio CD using whatever CD burning software you want. Then, simply insert the CD, hit play, then hit record on your cassette tape.

 

Here's a very simple and cheap cassette player/recorder with CD, tuner and aux in , at $59 :

 

Sony CFDS70-BLK CD/MP3 Cassette Boombox Home Audio Radio, Black, With Aux Cable : https://www.amazon.com/Sony-CFDS70-BLK-Cassette-Boombox-Audio/dp/B01NAWBY12/

 

 

You get a stereo-stereo cable in the box or you can buy one to connect this directly to your computer or laptop... if you need to buy a cable it looks like this : https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-Stereo-Audio-Cable/dp/B00NO73Q84/

 

You'll need to use Type 1 cassettes with this one which aren't the best, but they're good enough. Honestly these days Type 2 and higher tapes are either old stock and expensive or fakes or genuine Chinese crap ... so not much higher quality.

Here's example of type 1 cassettes:

1. https://www.amazon.com/TDK-Superior-D90-Everyday-Recording/dp/B016EPP2KC/

2. https://www.amazon.com/Type-Dynamic-Performance-60-Minute-Cassette/dp/B000000O2F/

3. https://www.amazon.com/Sony-C60HFR-Single-60-minute-Cassette/dp/B00000JBOB/

 

click on used and new on all links ... you'll see "new" condition and fullfilled by amazon ... those should be safe buys, basically new old stock

 

Here's the instructions : Sony-CFDS70-manual.pdf

Or link : https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/4584/54beaca2744ad6bf875ddecd5c65fef7/45843491M.pdf

 

 

[TaylorDean16]

5 minutes ago, mariushm said:

A lot of  systems that have  cassette tape / cd player / fm tuner / aux in / line in  can record to tape stuff from the other inputs (cd , radio. aux in, line in)

 

So you could simply connect the stereo output from your sound card to aux in or line in of such system using a basic stereo to 2 x RCA or stereo - stereo cable, play the sound on your computer and hit record on the tape.

Alternatively, you could record your voice or music or whatever as a regular audio file and then create an Audio CD using whatever CD burning software you want. Then, simply insert the CD, hit play, then hit record on your cassette tape.

 

Here's a very simple and cheap cassette player/recorder with CD, tuner and aux in , at $59 :

 

Sony CFDS70-BLK CD/MP3 Cassette Boombox Home Audio Radio, Black, With Aux Cable : https://www.amazon.com/Sony-CFDS70-BLK-Cassette-Boombox-Audio/dp/B01NAWBY12/

 

 

You get a stereo-stereo cable in the box or you can buy one to connect this directly to your computer or laptop... if you need to buy a cable it looks like this : https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-3-5mm-Stereo-Audio-Cable/dp/B00NO73Q84/

 

 

Here's the instructions : Sony-CFDS70-manual.pdf

Or link : https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/res/manuals/4584/54beaca2744ad6bf875ddecd5c65fef7/45843491M.pdf

 

 

Thank you!!!

[mariushm]

Re-read my previous post, I added links to tapes that would be compatible with that Sony if you need to buy some.

[mxk]

2 hours ago, TaylorDean16 said:

Thank you!!!

yeah that boombox that he showed, that's one of the things I used before I moved to a whole system

[Slayerking92]

https://www.amazon.ca/DIGITNOW-Cassette-Player-Cassette-Converter-Compatible/dp/B01GI9791O/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_267_bs_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=YS5WN0H9292FD3HAPKCP

 

• 1,Cassette tape to mp3 converter：Via a USB cable, you can convert old mix tapes and cassette to MP3 to Play on iPod/MP3 player or burn to CD
• 2,Audacity software: Using software to convert cassette tape to digital MP3. Audio output enables you to listen on your headphones, or other speaker system
• 3,Portable design for Cassette Walkman: Compact Size and suitable weight makes you enjoy the music conveniently in any where via 3.5mm jack earphone (included). No installation or drivers required
• 4, Various compatibilities: Compatible with Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7, mac older than version 10.5. Battery(not included)/USB-powered operation
• 5, Package Included: 1 x USB Cassette Capture, 1 x USB Cable, 1 x Software CD, 1 x 3.5mm jack earphone, 1 x User Manual