File format

[Don J.]

Here's another question for the forum. What is the best file format to use when digitizing old audio tapes. I don't do music, just old voice tapes. That's the only reason I bought Roxio VHS to DVD. I have been using .wav. But I'm think MP3 might be better in terms of file size. My main objective is to archive these old tapes, and be able to put them on a CD or DVD to distribute to family members who have never heard Grandma or Grandpa's voice.

 

I also have a ton of old VHS tapes to digitize as well. But that is a project that can wait for a while. These audio tapes are getting pretty old. When the time comes though, what's a good format for the Video conversion?

 

Don J.

[Brendon]

Hi Don,

 

WAV files are the best to initially convert your audio to, because they hold all the available audio information.

MP3 files are smaller, but you lose audio information in the conversion from WAV to MP3.

 

A lot depends on how much audio you have, and how you intend to distribute it. You can fit 80 minutes of audio on an audio-CD, the type your relatives can just play in a CD or DVD player, so if you don't have more than 2-3 hours this is obviously the best way to store and distribute it. It will certainly have the highest fidelity.

 

If you have tens of hours you could convert it to MP3 and store it on data discs, but your relatives would then have to play it on a computer if they have one.

 

There are similar considerations when it comes to your video, but I really think they're better left until you're going to start on the video.

 

Regards,

Brendon

[Don J.]

 

 

Thanks for the advice Brendon. I do have about 50 3" reel to digitize. Right now I have about 12 of them completed. I have plenty of disk space, but did notice that each ~26 minute file is about 200 meg in size when saved in .wav format. By accident I created one in MP3, and notice the file size was only 18 meg. When played back the tone quality seem to be equal on these old, often breaking, tapes. I'll just continue in .wav. I guess I can find a program to convert them to MP3 later if I want.

 

Don J.

 

 

Hi Don,

 

WAV files are the best to initially convert your audio to, because they hold all the available audio information.

MP3 files are smaller, but you lose audio information in the conversion from WAV to MP3.

 

A lot depends on how much audio you have, and how you intend to distribute it. You can fit 80 minutes of audio on an audio-CD, the type your relatives can just play in a CD or DVD player, so if you don't have more than 2-3 hours this is obviously the best way to store and distribute it. It will certainly have the highest fidelity.

 

If you have tens of hours you could convert it to MP3 and store it on data discs, but your relatives would then have to play it on a computer if they have one.

 

There are similar considerations when it comes to your video, but I really think they're better left until you're going to start on the video.

 

Regards,

Brendon

 

[Jim_Hardin]

Thanks for the advice Brendon. I do have about 50 3" reel to digitize. Right now I have about 12 of them completed. I have plenty of disk space, but did notice that each ~26 minute file is about 200 meg in size when saved in .wav format. By accident I created one in MP3, and notice the file size was only 18 meg. When played back the tone quality seem to be equal on these old, often breaking, tapes. I'll just continue in .wav. I guess I can find a program to convert them to MP3 later if I want.

 

Don J.

You can convert them within Roxio to mp3…

 

However, the quality is always reduced and many 'ears' out there can tell the difference! (I cannot, close encounter with an Anti Tank mine)

 

The BEST quality will be if you capture in WAVE. If you capture with lesser quality, you can never make it better!

 

For later conversion to mp3, assuming you are not burning discs, use Digitize LPs and Tapes. Just use Explorer to Drag and Drop them into the LP and Tape Assistant.

 

Select Advanced Options and set it to mp3.

 

Then go to Step 3 and click on Export Tracks.

 

No need to hunt fro more software when the one you have will do the job

 

[Don J.]

 

Thanks Jim . . .you're the man! My ears couldn't' tell the difference either. I was sitting too close to the nozzle end of far to many 2.75 H.E and Willie Pete rockets when they went to work. Even with a flight helmet on, they still hurt.

 

Don J.

 

 

 

You can convert them within Roxio to mp3…

 

However, the quality is always reduced and many 'ears' out there can tell the difference! (I cannot, close encounter with an Anti Tank mine)

 

The BEST quality will be if you capture in WAVE. If you capture with lesser quality, you can never make it better!

 

For later conversion to mp3, assuming you are not burning discs, use Digitize LPs and Tapes. Just use Explorer to Drag and Drop them into the LP and Tape Assistant.

 

Select Advanced Options and set it to mp3.

 

Then go to Step 3 and click on Export Tracks.

 

No need to hunt fro more software when the one you have will do the job

 

[Jim_Hardin]

Thanks Jim . . .you're the man! My ears couldn't' tell the difference either. I was sitting too close to the nozzle end of far to many 2.75 H.E and Willie Pete rockets when they went to work. Even with a flight helmet on, they still hurt.

 

Don J.

I can only try to imagine! I shot many a 3.5 shoulder fired Rocket as well as its' 90mm recoilless rifle replacement!

 

But the 3.5 only had about a 2 foot motor whereas yours was like 5 feet long and still running when it left the tube!!!

 

I wonder what they do today for ear protection…