Digital Bits Technology Column QnA

Question:

When our son played high school football during 1987 & 1988 I recorded the FM radio broadcast of each game on to VHS tapes and then I added TV highlights at the end.  As a present to him I would like to transfer these tapes, 20 more or less, to preferably DVD’s.  With 20 years plus age on these tapes I would like to do so while they are in reasonably good condition.  I have a Sony RDR-GX7 DVD recorder which I have used to copy VHS tapes that have both audio and video as well as tapes from my Sony Hi-8 camcorder to DVD’s with much success.  However, my dilemma is that my VCR will not produce a recognizable sound track of the audio only portions of the tapes to transfer.  I have a Dell Dimension 8400 with plenty of capacity with CD and DVD burners, Sonic programs as well as Pinnacle software.  Also I am considering buying DVD/VCR combo to replace one of my VCR’s that just died.  Can you offer a procedure including equipment to complete my task?
 
Thank you for any advice you may be able give me.

Continue reading ‘VHS to DVD conversion questions’ »

Question:

I’m having problems recording a cassette. I have hooked up the cable to my cassette player headphone jack and to my laptop headphone jack, I then hit record but after testing it there is no sound. Could you please help with this….I’m using the Audacity software you suggest for Windows XP.

Continue reading ‘When converting with Audacity, connect your cables correctly’ »

Question:

I just recently downloaded Audacity and had no problem recording the cassette, but when I tried to export it as a WAV file to CD I was told that the drive was unavailable, Incorrect function.  When I tried to burn it through WMP I was told that the recording had errors.  It is a recordings of speech so I’m not sure if that’s the problem or not.
 
Any suggestions?

Continue reading ‘Problems burning WAV to CD with WMP’ »

Question:

Am interested in a hi-speed way to convert audio cassettes to a cd, MP3, etc. -type format.  Is there a machine or program that does this?   I have hours upon hours of tapes and it would be a formidable task to transfer them in real time.  Thank you.

Continue reading ‘Cassette tape high speed dubbing’ »

Question:

I have a question. I downloaded Audacity per your site but don’t have a clue. I want to remove vocals from a song that I have rewritten for my kids to sing for my wife. Are you able to help at all.

Continue reading ‘How to make a karaoke song and remove song vocals’ »