Date:         Thu, 11 Jan 2007 18:39:03 -0500
Reply-To:     Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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Sender:       Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
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From:         Tom Fine <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      Re: Microcassettes
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Hi Brenda:

A typical Microcassette recorder/player can be connected right up to your monitoring system thru the 
headphone jack. It'll easily drive a line input. I'd knock out all the record-protect tabs before 
doing this, just to make sure no one accidently throws the machine into record.

I've done a fair number of microcassettes here and I just use one of two Olympus battery-op 
machines, both of which have speed adjust (although I usually prefer to do speed-correction in the 
computer if it's needed). Most microcassettes are just spoken word and I'm happy to EQ it for 
audibility if the client so desires. Neither of these machines have ever eaten a tape, and one of 
them has been used extensively since 1988.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nelson-Strauss, Brenda" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:46 AM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] Microcassettes


We've begun to receive some interviews on microcassettes, so I'm looking
for advice on playback machines. Our immediate goal is to review the
material on the microcassettes for content and sound quality and make a
serviceable reference copy.  As far as I can tell, most machines do not
have an output, other than a headphone jack. We do not foresee using the
playback machine for either recording or transcribing; however, if the
transcription machines offer better quality sound and have an output,
then perhaps that is what we should consider.



Just as an FYI, I've already spoken to Richard Hess about his process
for transferring microcassettes, and certainly for long term
preservation we will consider other options. But at the moment, we just
need to be able to evaluate the content.



Thanks-

Brenda



Brenda Nelson-Strauss

Head of Collections

Archives of African American Music and Culture

Indiana University

Smith Research Center, Suite 180

Bloomington, IN 47408

812-855-7530

bnelsons@indiana.edu
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www.indiana.edu/~aaamc

www.blackgrooves.org