Connecting receiver to PC

Cardan

Hi everyone,

I can convert audio cassette tapes to digital files directly from my cassette deck however the sound is very flat.  I have a receiver amplifier that greatly improves the audio quality but I can't seem to figure out how to connect it to my PC.  I have all the necessary RCA cables.

Please see attached pic showing the back of my cassette deck and the back of my receiver.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cardan                                                                       

EndlessWaves

So you want to try digitising the audio signal on the PC after passing it through the amplifier?

In that case you'd connect the tape deck to one of the receiver's inputs and the receiver's output to an input on the PC

Cardan

Yes, I want the audio signal from the cassette tape to pass through the amplifier before it goes in to the PC.  I'm not sure which combination of inputs/outputs to do this on the back of my receiver.

noiseboy72

I am guessing you use the loudness, bass and treble controls to give things a boost? You may find these are not applied to the tape output and won't give you the desired effect.

To connect it, plug the output from the tape deck into the CD / DAT input and then connect from REC output to your PC digitiser input. Select CD/DAT input on the receiver and the signal will be routed to the record output.

As I say, this may not have the eq applied, as it depends on the receiver design.

Cardan

You're right, the connection worked but it didn't do anything to the sound.  The whole purpose of filtering it through the receiver is to apply the equalizer which really improves the sound.  There's a big difference.

Cardan

Anybody else out there have a solution please?
Thanks

noiseboy72

If you are digitising into a PC, why not apply the correction digitally as part of the process?  You can use Audacity - Audacity ® | Free, open source, cross-platform audio software for multi-track recording and editing. as your free editor to split the tracks, convert to your chosen format and also to apply the EQ needed to perk the sound up. Audacity has a huge number of plugins, so finding the right sound will be quite easy. You can apply some bass boost, reduce the hiss, anything really!

This might be a little more fiddly to start off with, but once you find some settings that work for you, it's as simple as applying them to the tracks and saving in your desired format. You can get some excellent results - easily up with some very expensive professional software.

Cardan

Haha, it's funny you mention Audacity because that's what I'm using to capture the audio from my cassettes.  I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and do it through Audacity.
Thanks.

EndlessWaves

You need to connect the PC to the main outputs of the receiver.

By 'outputs' I mean the bits where you plug the speakers in. They don't appear to be in the picture you showed us.

Cardan

The inputs where the speakers plug in are in the style where you have to twist the copper wire and insert them.  How do I plug the other end in my PC Line input?