TSGL: Digital recordings on PC

[Tilman Brandl]

Hi guys,

thanks for your most helpful remarks!

The tape player I was referring to is an old Philips pocket memo 393 from 
old times, running on mini tape cassettes. It has an earphone jack, which I 
probably could use - only need the correct plug ...This solves the problem 
of my old recordings. I'll certainly get Audacity, your descriptions truly 
sound good. If I understand you correctly, I can use it as the recording app 
too, right?

As to the laptop, I guess direct recording would give me better quality than 
running it through my old memo tape player again. Or should I buy a new 
(digital ?) pocket device, they're not cheap though from first sight. And - 
how about the sound quality of these devices?

I've btw still my old (and pretty good) Technics cassette deck - 
unfortunately it's not portable, and the people I want to interview are too 
old to get them into my place easily. So this isn't an option  ;-/

I'm really glad I asked here, thanks again.

Tilman

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tilman Brandl
  To: Tech Support Guy Mailing List
  Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 11:56 PM
  Subject: TSGL: Digital recordings on PC


  Hi,

  I wonder what the standard audio equipment on my new PC + Notebook can 
handle, and how to create and edit recordings.

  In connection with my family history project I've recorded a few 
interviews with older relatives (born around 1910-25) in the past . My 
questions are:

  1. the older records were with a voice recorder - probably analog(ue) - 
resulting in a few tapes. What would I need in order to convert those 
recordings into digital format, which would be easier to use later when my 
tapes may have faded (and I too)?

  2. What do I need to do decent digital recordings. Can this simply be done 
e.g. using my laptop and a microphone? Is recording quality a highly 
important point, or just important to get standard intelligibility? Besides 
a good mike - what else would I need ?

  Thanks in advance
  Tilman