The Audio Media Conversion Project:
Introduction
The Audio Media Conversion Project of the Sun City TX Computer Club provides basic equipment,
software, training, and help for Club members to use in converting old audio recordings into CDs
which can be played back on consumer CD and DVD players, as well as on computers equipped for such
playback. The Project does not undertake to convert audio materials
for Club members, but rather to
help Club members learn simple procedures for doing it themselves, using Club and/or
personal computer and audio equipment. The types of audio media which can be converted include
- disk records (33 rpm, 45-rpm, and 78-rpm
- 7-inch reel audio tapes
- 8-track audio tapes
- audio tape cassettes
The purpose and motivation for such conversions are determined by individual Club members
undertaking projects, but they will include preservation of audio materials for future generations
and ability to listen to them on current consumer digital playback equipment.
The audio conversion activity is based on workshops, led by more experienced Club members, to
demonstrate the procedures and to guide participants in devising and carrying out a plan to convert
their personal audio recordings to CDs. These notes constitute the outline for the workshops -- a
step-by-step outline of the procedures for converting audio recordings to CDs. Each
project will be somewhat different, so an important part of the workshop process is
mentoring -- discussing the specifics of each project with the Club member undertaking it
and agreeing on the best approach. The specific procedures (and these notes) have evolved over
time. We also hope that many of the Workshop participants will volunteer to lead subsequent
workshops to share their experience and skills with other Club members.
To participate, you need to bring the following things to an Audio Media Conversion
Workshop:
- a specific audio project -- the audio materials to be converted to CDs, and a
concept of what you want the result to sound like;
- an interest or willingness to do it yourself, including learning any of the
simple, basic procedures with which you may be unfamiliar;
- a general comfort and familiarity with using personal computers, including
skills equivalent to Windows XP 2 or Windows Vista� 2.
The remainder of these notes on the Computer Club web site constitute a set of
procedures and guidelines for carrying out the conversion of 7�reel and cassette tapes, 33, 45 and
78 rpm records to digital format, producing audio programs and burning them to standard audio
compact disks (CDs). The sections of these notes cover the following topics:
A. Getting ready to start a project
B. Assembling equipment and software
needed for your project
C. Recording digital master tracks
for your project; then saving and protecting them
D. Selecting out the digital tracks
for your CD, and editing them
E. Burning the final CD