'LINE IN' Function

Question

I'd like to 'rip' some Cassette tracks to my computer, then burn them to CD.  Question I have is, can I use the 'Line In' input to do this?  Where can I find information about this input on the Dimension 4300 - the Dell provided 'manual' says nothing about it, and I haven't been able to use the Dell Solution Center. If the Line Input is the viable way, what kind on 'line' is useable?  Like many people, I no longer have an audio pre-amplifier.  Can I use the headset output from a cassette player?  Curious.

vivona · Answer

The line-in connector is on the back on the computer adjacent to your speaker connector. The Mic connector is also there, do not use that one. The best signal to feed into the line-in connector is from the output jacks of a cassette player. You would use a patch cable with an adapter (Radio Shack) to adapt from RCA connectors to a 1/8' stereo plug which you plug into your computer's line'in jack.   If you are coming out of a player that doesn't have line-out connectors, you could use a headphone out, but start with a moderate playback level to keep from overdriving the line-in connector.   You can record with any wave recorder that has a VU meter, such as Creative Wave Studio or the excellent Goldwave program (free download from www.goldwave.com). Be sure that the VU meter never reaches 100% during recording or your audio peaks will be clipped and sound distorted.   By the way, I record from tape all the time and it sounds excellent. By using the noise reduction feature in Goldwave, I can sample the tape hiss and remove it and end up with a very quiet and clean recording.

camaz · Answer

Thanks, 'Vivona'.  I wasn't too sure I could do the analog/digital thing with software, particularly without a good preamp.  I'll try the Goldwave/headphone out route and, if successful, will make my wife very happy be getting her old Jim Nabors, Tennessee Ernie and Jim Reeves recordings on CD. Unfortunately, not too many of those have been commercially remastered.

fireberd · Answer

This link should also help.  Click Me

vivona · Answer

fireberd - Great job on the 'how-to' website!

Locked Topics – Desktops General

"LINE IN" Function

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