ProAudio Review - March 2008 - (Page 34)

BROADCAST | REVIEW by Ty Ford tests using a 500 MHz Mac G4 Sawtooth running OS X 10.4.11, but Tape2PC works with any Mac at OS 9+ as well as PCs running Windows XP and Vista as long as you have a free USB 1.1 port or higher — that’s about as universal as it gets. The dual-well cassette tape drive is not elegant, but its utilitarian metal cabinet feels solid and the controls are easy to operate, albeit slightly stiff. I’m not sure why you’d want to make cassette dubs at real time or high speed, but you can do that with the Tape2PC transport even when it’s not connected to a computer. There are switches for noise reduction and Chromium Dioxide tape. The stereo RCA I/O jacks on the back allows integration into the standard record/tape monitor loop system you’ve known for years. If you have other consumer audio gear, you ION Audio Tape2PC Cassette Archiving System This inexpensive cassette to digital file hardware conversion system is simple, easy to use, and universally welcoming to users of all stripes. Audiocassette tapes: Nearly everyone over a certain age has more than plenty of them. My wife had so many that I bought a big, sealable plastic tub to put them in so they would be stable and contained until something could be done with them. We seldom spoke about them afterwards … until now. The cassette was always about portability, not fidelity. However, times have changed while listening habits and consumer audio technology have changed even more. For most folks, a cassette deck with a USB out and a simple PC recording program such as Audacity is a great way to reclaim the soundtrack of your life: old radio broadcasts, mix tapes, live music or old studio dubs, speeches, lectures, and even messages on hold. There are memories on some cassettes you probably don’t want to remember, but I guarantee there are some you do. For these reasons, a product such as the ION Audio Tape2PC cassette archiving system exists. The Tape2PC consists of a cassette deck with analog and USB output, USB cable, stereo RCA cable, software CD and quick Start Manual, all for only $199. Once you get the audio into the computer, you can burn CDs or squirt it to your iPod or cell phone. Is it a plausible professional tool or cheap audio Ginsu knife? Let’s find out. | FEATURES Just because the name Tape2PC seems to ignore Mac users, don’t fret. The box and software speak “Mac" just fine. In fact, it brings up the files in iTunes and you can burn your CD right from there. I did my can use the RCA jacks to throughput to the USB output and go right to the host computer. There’s a small tape counter meter on the front panel. There is no tweak for balance adjustment and no fast-speed audible cueing. | IN USE The EZ Audio Converter software that comes with the kit is very easy. Make sure you take a trip to your computer’s audio preferences panel before recording; although I could plainly hear Spirit’s “12 Dreams Of Doctor Sardonicus” cassette coming out of the Mac, nothing was recorded the first time because I hadn’t chosen the USB codec from the input selector of the Mac sound preferences panel. There’s a handy sheet for Windows XP and Vista users that explains how to set the correct configurations. Concept albums present a problem when the cuts crossfade because you have to decide when to click the button to drop the next CD track flag. Don’t get too caught up in precision ID dropping and APPLICATIONS Cassette and other consumer audio to CD archiving. Key Features: Audiocassette transport recording to a Mac or PC host computer; USB and analog RCA I/O; EZ Audio Converter software KEY FEATURES Audiocassette transport recording to a Mac or PC host computer; USB and analog RCA I/O; EZ Audio Converter software PRICE $199 CONTACT ION Audio | ☎ 401-658-3743 ➲ www.ion-audio.com 34 | ProAudio Review | March 2008 Subscribe to the Digital Edition of Pro Audio Review http://www.proaudioreview.com/subscribe www.proaudioreview.com http://www.ion-audio.com http://www.proaudioreview.com http://www.proaudioreview.com/subscribe

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - March 2008

ProAudio Review - March 2008 Contents Publisher's Page Studio News and New Products Sennheiser MKH 8040 Microphone Digidesign Mbox 2 Micro Studio Spotlight Upsampler X/Audio Live News and New Products Touring Gear From the Road Broadcast News and New Products ION Audio Tape2PC Cassette Archiving System Brauner VMA Large-Diaphragm Microphone Audio Ltd. RMS 2040 Series Post News and New Products First Look NAB Showcase Buyers Guide Single Slice

ProAudio Review - March 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.