Ion Audio set to introduce TAPE2PC USB tape deck
By Donald Melanson 
posted Aug 3rd 2007 7:15AM
posted Aug 3rd 2007 7:15AM
It looks like Ion Audio is leaving no old school audio format behind, with the company now following up its USB turntables with its TAPE2PC USB tape deck. As the name suggests, the device will let you dust off your collection of Huey Lewis and the News cassettes and enjoy 'em in spruced up digital form. What's more, those looking to revive the art of the mix tape can use to system to make as many copies as they like, with settings available for both metal and CrO2 type tapes. According to Digital Lifestyles, UK retailer Firebox will be offering the device for "just under £100" (or $204) sometime before the end of the year, although we presume it'll also be available elsewhere. Still no word on a USB 8-track deck though.
[Thanks, Simon]
[Thanks, Simon]
Don't mean to spoil your fun, but 100 pounds is not $103, but $203
I like the fact that there are a Take That - Greatest Hits tape on top of the unit. ;-)
Nope, not yet. Call me when it does 8 track.
Relive tape hissssssssssss...
I'm wondering, since everytime someone starts to digitize some music or video format, the music/movie industry jumps up and down about how it's stealing and distroying their business.
It would make them very happy if people who have music on tape had to buy it again thru itunes, or by purchasing a CD. But if they can skip that process and go from tape to MP3 playier they would claim that it's against licensing (or something similar).
I think it's a bunch of BS but since we know that being BS isn't a factor in their reasoning it could still happen. Any thoughts?
Don't need money
Don't take fame
Don't need no credit card to ride this train
Lyrics bring to light that this device would be perfect for digitizing my Back to the Future soundtrack cassette.
I know it looks old school but I was exactly looking for something like this. Well... not so expensive though.
I'm a composer and I have (very) old mixes on cassettes -masters were lost- and this kind of device can help to recover them. Yes, there will be some hiss, but it's not a problem since it can be filtered out (or "soaped") and will sound much better than the use of the analog output wired plug in thru an analog-numeric converter which carry lot more noise. Don't you think?
This said, I someone have other cassette-numeric device to suggest...
A walkman, a 3.5mm stereo lead (couple of bucks tops) from the headphone socket to your soundcard's line-in socket, and Audacity software (free, from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) will do exactly what you want. If you have a tape player lying around, total cost less than $5.
@ Gregor
I tried this before and in addition to the tape hiss, I get hums and noise cause by the wire and the walkman's pre-amp. Even with the line output there's no result easy to clean up after. If there's only the hiss then it's more workable.
uh... hello... this has been around for a while now.... http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PLUSDECK2C&cpc=SCH
Hey! thanks, thats the thing!
I have an ION USB Turntable, and it works great, however I think I will get THIS cassett to PC option instead. The fact that it has Auto Reverse is a HUGE plus!
Here is the makers webpage for all the info on this device you need:
http://www.plusdeck.com/
@ NicheT, no problem.. also you should sign up for the geeks.com sales spams... they'll alert you when they've got new stuff on sale, and they always have something crazy you either never thought was available or never wanted before but now fills a "niche"... pun intended.. later!
For fucks sake Engadget, you cannot get ANYTHING in articles right!
£100 = $204
Way to constructively criticize, Dick.
It's getting pretty tedious. There seems to be mistakes in every article!
No all we need is an 8 track to USB and a Real to Real to USB.
That plusdeck 2 I have and it's not a usb tape deck like the Ion. The plusdeck works great with the software it comes with but you lose use of some on board audio cards. This Ion TAPE2PC USB is just what I need to replace my Plusdeck and give me back my suround sound.
to me the reason I enjoy the few cassettes i have is the warm analog sound. There are plenty of ways to digitize analog music, but the hiss is a part of the recording, any software that "removes" the hiss is just equalizing it out (along with any other sounds in that frequency). The hiss will be gone but so will all your highs. We've been able to do this since audio cards were invented.
Where's my wax cylinder to USB?
"Mary had a little lamb..."
hickhamt: I met with Firebox yesterday, and if I recall correctly, the Ion TAPE2PC uses PlusDeck technology. But instead of an internal-drive-slot deck, it's external, connects via USB, supports Metal and CrO2 tapes, and has two decks. (The last feature seems a bit odd to me, but hey...)
I believe they said the price will be US $130.
OK: Bubble popping time, coz none of you guys seem old enough to remember what was important "back in the day" - This deck has no Dolby B/C/HxPro/S noise reduction, so your old Dolby B encoded commercial tapes aren't going to sound great, and your Dolby C mixtapes recorded on a decent home deck will have way too much high end and a much higher noise floor than they originally did.
There are millions of good tape decks with line level outputs lying around in basements and stereo cabinets all across the USA and Europe. Borrow one or buy one for $20 at a garage sale. Hook it to your computer's line level audio input and you're done. No need to waste money and effort reinventing the wheel.