EZCap USB Cassette Converter, Non-USB version Review
EZCap USB Cassette Converter, Non-USB version Review
Buy it at Amazon: EZCap USB Cassette Converter, Non-USB version [Affiliate Link]
Takeaway: Easy to use, accurate sound quality, straightforward digitizing of analog tapes.
The cassette converter comes with a 33" miniUSB cable, a set of headphones, and a mini software CD. This converter can help you convert all your old cassette tapes to digital files that you can store on the computer; it also works as a standalone portable cassette player as well! The unit has no internal rechargeable battery and runs off 2 AA batteries, or you can use external power using the included miniUSB cable or a 3V 500 mAh DC adapter (not included).
The cassette converter is very much like any classic cassette player. You've got a play button, stop button, fast forward and rewind, a direction button to switch from side A to B and vice versa without taking the tape out of the player, and a loop switch that will automatically switch to the other side of the tape when the current side reaches its end. On the right hand side of the unit, there is an analog volume control wheel, the USB port, headphone port, and the eject slider. When you pull the slider down, the cassette bay door opens to the left. Inside, in the bottom right corner is the door to the battery bay for loading the 2 AA batteries to power this without a cable and to use as a portable cassette player. The plastic inside the unit feel pretty cheap and lightweight though, so don't be too rough since it feels like it could crack easily.
The software CD simply has the installation files for Audacity on it, which is a free software that can also be downloaded from the internet. A copy of the instruction manual is also on the disk. Recording the output from the cassette player was really straightforward and easy. The included instructions on the CD even had screen shots of the program to help you get all the settings right. Note that Audacity records in real time, so if you have a 2 hour tape, you'll need to allow Audacity to record for the full 2 hours. The recorded sound is very accurate to what you hear if you plug the headphones directly into the player. There was a slight hum of line noise in the background bother during recording and just listening to playback both through the computer and through headphones. However, but the digital file can be cleaned up in post processing if you have audio software like Adobe Audition. Keep in mind that when recording from analog to digital, any imperfection in the tape or cable will end up in your final recording including pops and crackles from the tape medium. Overall, this converter did exactly what I wanted, and it's a great way to preserve older cassettes. I'll definitely be converting some tapes that I have in my collection and stuff my parents recorded when I was young.
Buy it at Amazon: EZCap USB Cassette Converter, Non-USB version [Affiliate Link]
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