How to Digitize Cassette Tapes

How-to GuidesAll About Tapes
Written By TapeLab

Have a box of old mixtapes gathering dust? Digitizing them ensures you never lose the memories—or the music.

What You’ll Need

  • A cassette deck (with clean, working heads)

  • RCA-to-USB or line-in audio interface

  • Recording software like Audacity (free)

Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Clean your tape deck.

  2. Connect it to your computer via an interface.

  3. Play the tape and record in real time.

  4. Edit the file, trimming silence and reducing hiss.

  5. Save as MP3 or WAV and back it up.

Why It Matters

Cassette tapes degrade with every play. Digitizing preserves the sound forever while keeping the physical tape intact.

Tape Lab frequently digitizes their basement recordings, creating a hybrid archive: physical tapes for collectors and digital versions for longevity. It’s the best of both worlds.

TapeLab

Welcome to #TapeLab—stay a while and listen. Founded in 2017 by lifelong friends, Tape Lab is a collective of artists and a hub for innovation, always open to collaboration. With the zeal of a self-published memoir, our sound is our own, but you can be the decider. We make music and art that sounds like it was fun to make and stands out in a sea of bland beats.

As independent artists, we are always exploring new ways to expand our audience and find new creative outlets—especially with other undiscovered artists!

#TapeLab is currently based out of two headquarters in Durham, NC, and The Hamptons, NY.

https://www.TapeLab.live
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