1. From Cassettes to CDs Digitizing Audio

2. Topics Overview Tools Required Media Types Preparing the Computer Recording the Audio Editing the Audio Creating an MP3 Burning a CD Transferring to Portable Media Player Hands-On Demo Ontario Library Service - North 2009

3. Overview What is the goal? Preserve/Archive cassette recordings by converting them into a digital format and storing them on CD or other digital media. Ontario Library Service - North 2009

4. Overview Benefits of Digitization Preserve the Original Recordings Improve the Sound Quality Accessibility Portability Ontario Library Service - North 2009

5. Tools Required Computer with: Soundcard and microphone or line-in jack. Speakers CD/DVD Burner and CDs/DVDs Internet connection to download the software Ontario Library Service - North 2009

6. Tools Required Cassette or other media player with: Headphone or Line-Out Jack 1/8” male-to-male stereo patch cable Ontario Library Service - North 2009

7. Tools Required Software: Audio Processing software –Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ CD/DVD Burning Software –Windows Media Player Portable Media Player Software (if using iPod) –iTunes http://www.apple.com/itunes/http://www.apple.com/itunes/ Ontario Library Service - North 2009

8. Media Types Vinyl Records Virtually obsolete Difficult to keep in good shape Require a lot of space to store/archive Ontario Library Service - North 2009

9. Media Types Compact Disks Still a popular choice Sound quality does not degrade Can be difficult to maintain similar to vinyl records Can require a lot of space to store/archive Ontario Library Service - North 2009

10. Media Types Audio Cassettes Becoming Obsolete Prone to failure Audio quality degrades over time Require a lot of space to store/archive Ontario Library Service - North 2009

11. Preparing the Computer Download and Install Audacity –Get AudacityAudacity Download and Install the MP3 creation software –Get the MP3 SoftwareMP3 Software Ontario Library Service - North 2009

12. Preparing the Computer Adjust the Windows recording properties to use the microphone jack for recording Ontario Library Service - North 2009

13. Preparing the Computer Connect the cassette player to the computer Ontario Library Service - North 2009

14. Recording the Audio 1.Insert cassette into cassette player 2.Start Audacity –START>ALL PROGRAMS>AUDACITY Ontario Library Service - North 2009

15. Recording the Audio 1.Click the Record button in Audacity Ontario Library Service - North 2009

16. Recording the Audio Press the play button on the cassette player Audio is now recording on your computer When the recording is finished, stop the cassette player and stop Audacity Ontario Library Service - North 2009

17. The Recorded Audio! Ontario Library Service - North 2009

18. Editing the Audio Normalization –Making the audio louder and more even Hiss Removal/ Noise Reduction –Reduce the hiss that is common with cassette recordings Fun Effects –Echo –Delay Ontario Library Service - North 2009

19. Creating an MP3 In Audacity, 1.Click File>Export as MP3 Ontario Library Service - North 2009

20. Creating an MP3 2. Name the file and save to your desktop for now Ontario Library Service - North 2009

21. The MP3 has been created! Ontario Library Service - North 2009

22. Burning a CD Insert a CD into the CD drive Click START>ALL PROGRAMS>WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER Ontario Library Service - North 2009

23. Burning a CD Drag the MP3 you just created from your desktop into Windows Media Player Ontario Library Service - North 2009

24. Burning a CD Click the “START BURN” button Ontario Library Service - North 2009

25. Burning a CD The CD will burning process will start Ontario Library Service - North 2009 Status indicator will show percentage complete

26. Burning a CD Remove the CD, label it, and play it on any standard CD player! Ontario Library Service - North 2009

27. Transferring to a Portable Media Player Connect portable media player Ontario Library Service - North 2009

28. Transferring to a Portable Media Player Windows Media Player will recognize the device Ontario Library Service - North 2009 Portable Media Player

29. Transferring to a Portable Media Player Click the Sync tab Drag the MP3’s in Click “Start Sync” Ontario Library Service - North 2009 Sync Tab Start Sync

30. Transferring to a Portable Media Player The files are now on the portable media player! Ontario Library Service - North 2009

31. Demo Ontario Library Service - North 2009