Tape recorder fan, and have been working with shoebox recorders since 1977. Might I suggest that anyone using a shoebox cassette recorder get two stereo-to-mono adapters. For recording, if you don't use this type of adapter, you may only get one sound channel from the original source (you'll be missing all of the sound from the right stereo channel.) The adapter wil enable you to make sure that both stereo channels make it into your recording. Also, if you plug stereo headphones, into a mono shoebox cassette recorder, you'll only get sound in one side (usually the left.) A stereo-to-mono adapter will make sure sound gets to both sides of your headphones. To find an adapter online, Google "3.5 stereo to mono adapter." Hope this helps, and thank you for posting this video! Happy Taping!!!
Hey, just want to make sure, so I just plug in one adapter to the shoebox recorder and one to my phone and i should be good to record? Or there anything else i should do?
@@slumpnigelyou’re going to want stereo to mono specifically, but if you want try turning on the mono audio setting on whatever device you use, that could help instead of buying specific adaptors
@@noidontlikeyou1 “Gaming Cassettes” on Facebook! Not sure if he does it through IG. Plenty of options! Takes awhile to ship but the price and quality is well worth it in my opinion!
Hey brother, great video on getting started with tapes! I'm a total tapehead as of only a couple years ago, I own multiple decks (working and not) and record most everything I listen to, to tape. Here is my advice on your tape deck search. 1) Learn the good brands. Sony, Denon, Acai, Nakamichi, etc; all made excellent decks, once you know the style and function of the major brands you can identify quality lesser brands easier too. 2) Condition is everything! You want one that works out of the box, cause repairs on these can be tough, you will want to learn how to replace belts and the difficulty of this can range from very easy, to near impossible, depending on the deck. 3) Don't be too picky, if you find a nice deck at a second hand shop, go for it! (just don't spend too much, cause you will need to test it. 4) Try to find one without unnessisary features. Things like auto-reverse, high-speed dubbing, or soft-touch controls are another thing that can (and will eventually) break, then you will need to fix it. The simpler the design the better, but do get one that has at least Dolby B (you won't regret that one). I hope this helps in your search! 🙌
I do this for years now and can tell you that Spotify recordings on cassette tape sound better (warmer) to me than listening directly to Spotify. However I use a way better deck. Downsides are limited recording time (most albums don't fit on one cassette), dropouts on previously recorded cassettes and tape hiss on quite parts
People, stop using a shoebox recorder like this one! you are recording in mono! in order to record in stereo you need a rca audio cable to connect to your phone or whatever device and that cable must have two separate "in" cables in the other end for left and right audio, and you need to connect that into a compatible device or else you'll record in mono and plenty music use left and right channels to create different effects, in mono you hear only one channel!
Nice video! As a long time user of cassettes in a digital world, I think this is super creative. Sadly, the user asking you to use a stereo recorder doesn’t realize that new stereo cassette players are not made anymore… maybe you should get an older tape deck and show it as an alternative for an intermediate enthusiast?
I should also note, you shouldn’t use a MIC in for recording from an AUX source… the quality will be very bad. You should use “line in” or “aux in”. Microphones need much more amplification than a line input, this is why you have labels for mic and line…
@@mattyb33ts true, nobody makes tape decks anymore and that's why they are so expensive, if they work. A cheaper alternative could be a boombox stereo with both "in" ports for left and right, just be careful as noted in this video th-cam.com/video/GNgm8Cn-HpY/w-d-xo.html
Question I have a cassette deck can I record music from my phone onto the cassette using the cassette deck instead of going to go get a cassette recorder also I am using existing cassettes to record the music over it.
I would definitely try to use blank cassettes to record! And usually cassette decks have the capability but it really depends on the one you have. Can’t know for sure
Конечно можно. Перед записью кассету следует перемотать несколько раз вперёд-назад для снятия внутренних напряжений в рулоне ленты. Желательно протереть смоченной в спирте или в одеколоне ватой головки магнитофона. Далее, при наличии частотного генератора на смартфоне, подаем сигнал в 440Hz и регулятором уровня записи ставим уровнь в районе -6Db. Делаем тестовую запись сигнала, при необходимости увеличиваем или уменьшаем сигнал. После того, как выравнивание уровней прошло успешно и магнитофон пишет одинаково - приступает к записи самой музыки. Устанавливаем уровень с источника сигнала таким образом, что бы пиковый уровень при записи был в районе от -1...+1 Db.
Good video bro, a lot of elitist mfs in the comments don't get that sometime you gotta work with what you got and might not be able to drop a few hundred dollars on a tape deck.
gorgeous cassettes, especially the latest ones, which are shiny and very expensive, but also all high-quality cassettes that we can see with your help, I would also like to see something exclusive and rare, metal cassettes or something that is not available whom, see you on the channel, I have a huge collection of cassettes and there are many rare and high-quality beautiful things
What about tecording from a tape to a smartphkne? I recorded a bunch of tapes years ago but would like to tevord them to my phone I installed a recorder app on my phone. So now i nust record onto my phone instead of tapes. So i wonder if you know how id do the recerse of what you've done here in the video?
hey so I love the idea but the way to go through with this is to get a cassette deck (decent working ones can be found on places like ebay for less than 90 bucks total). I'd really only recommend these/Walkman type things for playing on the go or like voice memos lol. that or ig a super lofi sound lmao
one ring means it's a mono cable. two rings means it's a stereo cable. three rings means it's got a mic line, too, which won't interfere. your main issue is going to be finding a tape recorder with a stereo line in. he doesn't cover that in this video for some reason, probably because he doesn't know much about recording tapes. if your tape player plays or records ONLY in mono, it wasn't made for music and shouldn't be used to make or play mix tapes, unless you want them to sound bad
4:31 get a dual 1980s or 1990s cassette tape deck at the thrift store clean the heads with 91 percent isopropyl alcohol and you will get better quality results
No, I mean you can record over the original voice. But it does not add effects or things like that. And it does not record into your phone or computer in that way
Steps may vary, but for the most part in these recording systems they’ll be pretty similar. Ideally they’ll come with a manual including a recording section!
Hey thanks for the tutorial! I wanted to make a mixtape for my girlfriend...but my tape has a lot of crackling sounds. Any idea how to reduce it while recording? I had my phone on max volume.
I’ve heard keeping the phone on airplane mode, maybe have the volume just below max, and trying to keep the phone further from the recorder as it goes on in case of interference. These type of recorders won’t always produce the best type of quality, so it could be part of the charm of it. It may also be the quality of the tape itself
If possible and you want a good recording do not use a shoebox recorder. They have a weak biasing and non ac erase head and a microphone input is not the same as a line level. I suggest finding a cassette deck and there are decent ones around if you are really serious about taking up the hobby. It’s also better to at least use a speaker out from a laptop, set the volume at 90% and then adjust recording level from there. The shoebox recorders are just not designed the same way for music and I’m not saying all this to discourage you but only because younger generations are getting into tape not realizing they really can sound good but it’s dependent on equipment (and maintenance of the machine itself). People made the same mistakes throughout the 70’s,80’s and 90’s by using poor equipment which resulted in bad recordings and thats why tapes got such a bad rap.
This is not the way to do it all. You need to use a play back system that doesn't send out a pre-amp signal. If you don't, the sound will be all distorted
Bro starting from the absolute bottom. Please know people, tapes are modular. They can sound like absolute poop in a microwave, or like a golden record being played for the first time every time depending on equipment. This will be poop in a microwave. Do not do this, please god, do not do this.
I don't know what the younger generation is on about with this tape trend, but everyone should start watching the cassette comeback before doing this. we do not need to start at the beginning again. Here is a short list of what to do and not to do period. WHY? is something you should spend time googeling. Dont buy new players without stereo heads and bad wow and flutter. Don't buy new recordable tapes unless you can find some remaning maxells. New ones are like sandpaper compared to the old. Dont record without a proper deck with calibration features unless you are using tapes with the TDK standards!!!! type 2 and 4 tapes are better yes, but they also need a different speed, so your deck must be compatible with type 2 and 3. just do the research first!!!
Shoebox recorders like this are a waste of time and $. If you're interested in recording onto cassettes it's worth spending a few more $ on an actual tape recording deck. They're still pretty easy to come by in thrift stores and eBay. Worth the hassle of cleaning up and using. Most if not all vintage gear is going to give better sound quality than a new shoebox recorder will, even if it has some wear
omg, that was so horrible. At least you had a good quality tape, despite putting in compressed crap sound onto a mono recording head which in return now has made the music compressed and in mono, and lastly with a lot of wow and flutter. Pleas, just ripp the music to the phone rather than going back to what they did in the seventies with a portable voice recorder. that is what that is, not a stereo cassette deck.
I'm Hispanic... Bro... You.did.not.just record that monkey on a classic cassette player... The disrespect... Then again.. majority of ''artist' became dark/vulgar.. I stopped listening to that trash music 5 plus years ago.. Hopefully bro one day you'll wake up..
This life is insanely short compared to the eternity we'll see in Heaven. Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins. He was crucified, then resurrected on the third day. With His sacrifice, we can live forever in Heaven with Him! When you're in Heaven thousands of years from now, you won't even remember the concept of money, pain, or suffering. Follow Jesus, repent, and see Heaven! If you want to learn more about Jesus and Heaven, read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John within the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Each book serves as an eyewitness account of the miracles He performed, the things He taught, and His promise to you!
Yeah man, it’s just a quick, easy, and cheaper way to do it. It definitely lacks quality as it’s not the ideal way. Putting this out there helped get me input from folks like you to invest in better and proper ways to do it. So thanks
the sad fact dude is that it's not easy to get started making tapes, but it should be! it's not because they just aren't making good cheap devices for it anymore. didn't meant to be hard on you but the mono/stereo thing is a big deal and sometimes you don't know enough to make a good guide if you are yourself already a beginner. if some young kid buys a $40 recorder (not cheap IMO) and his first tapes are hissy and noisy as hell and reduced to one audio channel, he's gonna think tapes really suck for music, which they don't! @@ElmsGlue
What a complete waste of time and money. The audio quality of that toy mono dictation capture device is just terrible. It was never really made for music. Just play the Spotify you already have.
Tape recorder fan, and have been working with shoebox recorders since 1977. Might I suggest that anyone using a shoebox cassette recorder get two stereo-to-mono adapters. For recording, if you don't use this type of adapter, you may only get one sound channel from the original source (you'll be missing all of the sound from the right stereo channel.) The adapter wil enable you to make sure that both stereo channels make it into your recording.
Also, if you plug stereo headphones, into a mono shoebox cassette recorder, you'll only get sound in one side (usually the left.) A stereo-to-mono adapter will make sure sound gets to both sides of your headphones. To find an adapter online, Google "3.5 stereo to mono adapter."
Hope this helps, and thank you for posting this video! Happy Taping!!!
Awesome!! Thanks so much for the great advice
Hey, just want to make sure, so I just plug in one adapter to the shoebox recorder and one to my phone and i should be good to record? Or there anything else i should do?
Also a lot of them say “mono to stereo”. Is that okay or is that a different type of adapter?
@@slumpnigelyou’re going to want stereo to mono specifically, but if you want try turning on the mono audio setting on whatever device you use, that could help instead of buying specific adaptors
@@buhgingo2933 going from the phone to the recorder, your mono setting suggestion is spot-on!
sick, the fallout tape soundtrack was a pleasant suprise
Was hoping people would catch and appreciate that! Thank you.
WHERE DID YOU GET IT?! PLEASE TELL ME@@ElmsGlue
@@noidontlikeyou1 “Gaming Cassettes” on Facebook! Not sure if he does it through IG. Plenty of options! Takes awhile to ship but the price and quality is well worth it in my opinion!
Hey brother, great video on getting started with tapes! I'm a total tapehead as of only a couple years ago, I own multiple decks (working and not) and record most everything I listen to, to tape. Here is my advice on your tape deck search. 1) Learn the good brands. Sony, Denon, Acai, Nakamichi, etc; all made excellent decks, once you know the style and function of the major brands you can identify quality lesser brands easier too. 2) Condition is everything! You want one that works out of the box, cause repairs on these can be tough, you will want to learn how to replace belts and the difficulty of this can range from very easy, to near impossible, depending on the deck. 3) Don't be too picky, if you find a nice deck at a second hand shop, go for it! (just don't spend too much, cause you will need to test it. 4) Try to find one without unnessisary features. Things like auto-reverse, high-speed dubbing, or soft-touch controls are another thing that can (and will eventually) break, then you will need to fix it. The simpler the design the better, but do get one that has at least Dolby B (you won't regret that one).
I hope this helps in your search! 🙌
It definitely does and is VERY MUCH appreciated!! Thank you!
I do this for years now and can tell you that Spotify recordings on cassette tape sound better (warmer) to me than listening directly to Spotify. However I use a way better deck. Downsides are limited recording time (most albums don't fit on one cassette), dropouts on previously recorded cassettes and tape hiss on quite parts
What deck do you use?
thank you finally someone explains it !!
Happy to help!!
People, stop using a shoebox recorder like this one! you are recording in mono! in order to record in stereo you need a rca audio cable to connect to your phone or whatever device and that cable must have two separate "in" cables in the other end for left and right audio, and you need to connect that into a compatible device or else you'll record in mono and plenty music use left and right channels to create different effects, in mono you hear only one channel!
Appreciate the advice! I’m going to look into devices that give me this capability. Any recommendations you have to get me in the right direction ??
@@ElmsGlue a cassette deck?
Nice video! As a long time user of cassettes in a digital world, I think this is super creative. Sadly, the user asking you to use a stereo recorder doesn’t realize that new stereo cassette players are not made anymore… maybe you should get an older tape deck and show it as an alternative for an intermediate enthusiast?
I should also note, you shouldn’t use a MIC in for recording from an AUX source… the quality will be very bad. You should use “line in” or “aux in”. Microphones need much more amplification than a line input, this is why you have labels for mic and line…
@@mattyb33ts true, nobody makes tape decks anymore and that's why they are so expensive, if they work. A cheaper alternative could be a boombox stereo with both "in" ports for left and right, just be careful as noted in this video th-cam.com/video/GNgm8Cn-HpY/w-d-xo.html
No tape selector, no bias control, no record level, no dolby. Fantàstic.
People can have fun without all that. And btw...Dolby sucks anyway
Dolby stopped licensing NR long time ago.
Nice! Definitely saving this for later. Thank you for the video 🙏🏽
Appreciate it, glad it was helpful!
Cassettes are fantastic, Fun &Creative
can you do this with a vintage cassette recorder as long as it has a mic import?
It should! The steps to may vary, but there should be a way to do it as long as it is a recorder.
I record music off my phone with a 1980s cassette deck great sound quality my deck is a technics rs-m224 i absolutely love it
I learned how to record on cassette in 1971 when I was a kid.
will this work with vintage recorders as long as they have a mic imput?
I loved it, i think sansui has good professional cassette deck with dolby nr
Appreciate it, and noted!! Will definitely look into them
does i have to use a phone that has a headphone jack? or can i get a headphone jack converter ?
Headphone jack converter should work. I had the same issue with my iPhone
Question I have a cassette deck can I record music from my phone onto the cassette using the cassette deck instead of going to go get a cassette recorder also I am using existing cassettes to record the music over it.
I would definitely try to use blank cassettes to record! And usually cassette decks have the capability but it really depends on the one you have. Can’t know for sure
Конечно можно. Перед записью кассету следует перемотать несколько раз вперёд-назад для снятия внутренних напряжений в рулоне ленты. Желательно протереть смоченной в спирте или в одеколоне ватой головки магнитофона.
Далее, при наличии частотного генератора на смартфоне, подаем сигнал в 440Hz и регулятором уровня записи ставим уровнь в районе -6Db. Делаем тестовую запись сигнала, при необходимости увеличиваем или уменьшаем сигнал. После того, как выравнивание уровней прошло успешно и магнитофон пишет одинаково - приступает к записи самой музыки. Устанавливаем уровень с источника сигнала таким образом, что бы пиковый уровень при записи был в районе от -1...+1 Db.
What about cassete player/recorder like a walkman for example? Can you still record music from phone?
Good video bro, a lot of elitist mfs in the comments don't get that sometime you gotta work with what you got and might not be able to drop a few hundred dollars on a tape deck.
Appreciate it! It is what it is. One day I’ll be able to take the Rec’s haha
Me in the 80s: "A record will usually fit on one side. There will be room for one or 2 songs after that." One tape = 2 Albums.
Can you link the resources you used, especially the blank tapes. Thx
gorgeous cassettes, especially the latest ones, which are shiny and very expensive, but also all high-quality cassettes that we can see with your help, I would also like to see something exclusive and rare, metal cassettes or something that is not available whom, see you on the channel, I have a huge collection of cassettes and there are many rare and high-quality beautiful things
Would a p2 to p2 cable work?
I believe so, they are essentially the same
@@ElmsGlue Oh, thank you! Expecially for answering in an old video!
For sure! Happy to help. Happy holidays!
do i have to max out the volume of my device when recording from the spotify app? i hope my question get recognized...
From the device itself , volume should be higher but not necessarily maxed out
@@ElmsGlue THANK YOU!!
Really nice 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
What about tecording from a tape to a smartphkne?
I recorded a bunch of tapes years ago but would like to tevord them to my phone
I installed a recorder app on my phone.
So now i nust record onto my phone instead of tapes. So i wonder if you know how id do the recerse of what you've done here in the video?
hey so I love the idea but the way to go through with this is to get a cassette deck (decent working ones can be found on places like ebay for less than 90 bucks total). I'd really only recommend these/Walkman type things for playing on the go or like voice memos lol. that or ig a super lofi sound lmao
Appreciate the encouragement! Definitely something I’ll be looking into moving forward
Nice.I did this with my ION boom box that has bluetooth, worked fine
Noted! Will have to look into it
Is it a three ring headphone jack or can a 2ring work
Either should work, I believe the one I used was a 2 ring
one ring means it's a mono cable. two rings means it's a stereo cable. three rings means it's got a mic line, too, which won't interfere. your main issue is going to be finding a tape recorder with a stereo line in. he doesn't cover that in this video for some reason, probably because he doesn't know much about recording tapes. if your tape player plays or records ONLY in mono, it wasn't made for music and shouldn't be used to make or play mix tapes, unless you want them to sound bad
Where did you get that fallout 3 cassette?
FB page called Gaming Cassettes
4:31 get a dual 1980s or 1990s cassette tape deck at the thrift store clean the heads with 91 percent isopropyl alcohol and you will get better quality results
Thank you!
can you do this with a portable cassette player that can record?
Yes. It’s more limited and may not produce the best audio, but it is definitely a way to do it
I have old tapes. I want to change the voice in tape into phone and computer..this device can change it?
No, I mean you can record over the original voice. But it does not add effects or things like that. And it does not record into your phone or computer in that way
does this method work on other cassette recording systems other than the jenson? and this one?
Steps may vary, but for the most part in these recording systems they’ll be pretty similar. Ideally they’ll come with a manual including a recording section!
Oh myyyy❤ how you connect iPod with this ?
Use the auxiliary
How should I adjust the volume on my phone when recording?
I would either kept it just below the highest volume or at the high volume before recording.
If I set my Spotify to mono will it sound better?
Только в том случае, если магнитофон моно.
Hey thanks for the tutorial! I wanted to make a mixtape for my girlfriend...but my tape has a lot of crackling sounds. Any idea how to reduce it while recording? I had my phone on max volume.
I’ve heard keeping the phone on airplane mode, maybe have the volume just below max, and trying to keep the phone further from the recorder as it goes on in case of interference. These type of recorders won’t always produce the best type of quality, so it could be part of the charm of it. It may also be the quality of the tape itself
If possible and you want a good recording do not use a shoebox recorder. They have a weak biasing and non ac erase head and a microphone input is not the same as a line level. I suggest finding a cassette deck and there are decent ones around if you are really serious about taking up the hobby. It’s also better to at least use a speaker out from a laptop, set the volume at 90% and then adjust recording level from there. The shoebox recorders are just not designed the same way for music and I’m not saying all this to discourage you but only because younger generations are getting into tape not realizing they really can sound good but it’s dependent on equipment (and maintenance of the machine itself). People made the same mistakes throughout the 70’s,80’s and 90’s by using poor equipment which resulted in bad recordings and thats why tapes got such a bad rap.
@@RB-xm3edwhat are some cassette decks you would recommend
Former a record at my hifi to cd a cassette
This is not the way to do it all. You need to use a play back system that doesn't send out a pre-amp signal. If you don't, the sound will be all distorted
Bro starting from the absolute bottom. Please know people, tapes are modular. They can sound like absolute poop in a microwave, or like a golden record being played for the first time every time depending on equipment. This will be poop in a microwave. Do not do this, please god, do not do this.
This type of thing will never work and how come this unit isn't in STEREO? It's only in MONOPHONIC and this sucks big time which it does.
That records mono,believe me if it was stereo it would be the 1st thing you would know
im gonna stick with my CDs.
Devi abbassare il volume del cellulare se vuoi registrare bene
I don't know what the younger generation is on about with this tape trend, but everyone should start watching the cassette comeback before doing this. we do not need to start at the beginning again. Here is a short list of what to do and not to do period. WHY? is something you should spend time googeling.
Dont buy new players without stereo heads and bad wow and flutter. Don't buy new recordable tapes unless you can find some remaning maxells. New ones are like sandpaper compared to the old.
Dont record without a proper deck with calibration features unless you are using tapes with the TDK standards!!!!
type 2 and 4 tapes are better yes, but they also need a different speed, so your deck must be compatible with type 2 and 3.
just do the research first!!!
Can you guys please shut up about whether or not it should be in stereo? No one cares.
Shoebox recorders like this are a waste of time and $. If you're interested in recording onto cassettes it's worth spending a few more $ on an actual tape recording deck. They're still pretty easy to come by in thrift stores and eBay. Worth the hassle of cleaning up and using. Most if not all vintage gear is going to give better sound quality than a new shoebox recorder will, even if it has some wear
omg, that was so horrible. At least you had a good quality tape, despite putting in compressed crap sound onto a mono recording head which in return now has made the music compressed and in mono, and lastly with a lot of wow and flutter. Pleas, just ripp the music to the phone rather than going back to what they did in the seventies with a portable voice recorder. that is what that is, not a stereo cassette deck.
I'm Hispanic... Bro... You.did.not.just record that monkey on a classic cassette player... The disrespect... Then again.. majority of ''artist' became dark/vulgar.. I stopped listening to that trash music 5 plus years ago.. Hopefully bro one day you'll wake up..
Get a proper decent deck not this please
Working on it! Thanks
@@ElmsGlue good your ears will thank you for it 😀
This life is insanely short compared to the eternity we'll see in Heaven. Jesus, the Son of God, died for our sins. He was crucified, then resurrected on the third day. With His sacrifice, we can live forever in Heaven with Him! When you're in Heaven thousands of years from now, you won't even remember the concept of money, pain, or suffering. Follow Jesus, repent, and see Heaven!
If you want to learn more about Jesus and Heaven, read the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John within the New Testament of the Holy Bible. Each book serves as an eyewitness account of the miracles He performed, the things He taught, and His promise to you!
if you're recording lossy streaming spotify mp3s to cassette tape on a *MONO* tape recorder you should NOT be making a guide on how to make mix tapes!
Yeah man, it’s just a quick, easy, and cheaper way to do it. It definitely lacks quality as it’s not the ideal way. Putting this out there helped get me input from folks like you to invest in better and proper ways to do it. So thanks
the sad fact dude is that it's not easy to get started making tapes, but it should be! it's not because they just aren't making good cheap devices for it anymore. didn't meant to be hard on you but the mono/stereo thing is a big deal and sometimes you don't know enough to make a good guide if you are yourself already a beginner. if some young kid buys a $40 recorder (not cheap IMO) and his first tapes are hissy and noisy as hell and reduced to one audio channel, he's gonna think tapes really suck for music, which they don't!
@@ElmsGlue
What a complete waste of time and money. The audio quality of that toy mono dictation capture device is just terrible. It was never really made for music. Just play the Spotify you already have.
Wow that sounded horrible. Guess I'll save up more money to get a ream tascam recording unit