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Working With Audio Recordings

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"Digitizing" is the process of converting your audio tapes into a digital format where they can be stored and listened to on computers, as well as easily shared with others.

Getting your audio recordings into a digital format is not hard, though it may take some time to do so.

The equipment needs are minimal:

  • Double ended stereo mini-pin cable which connects between the line-out on the cassette player and the line-in on the PC.
  • A cassette player or other devices like reel-to-reel player, etc.
  • A software editing application. Audacity is free and will allow you to record and edit the sound file, and then save it to a MP3 file.

The size of an audio recording is typically almost one mb for every minute of recording.

FamilySearch will upload files with a maximum size of 15 mb, or about 15" of recording time. This will limit uploading a whole tape for example. However, editing the tape into smaller audio clips or "stories" is easily done with the editing software. This way you can preserve just the important parts of an audio recording.

You will need to download Audacity using the link below. (This link takes you directly to the Open Source site that maintains the software. Other sites have the app for download, but often add other "additional" stuff you don't want).

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Preserving Our Heritage

Our own personal heritage and that of our ancestors will be lost to subsequent generations unless we take steps to actively preserve it.

Site Maintained by:

Stephen A Meyers of Idaho Falls, Idaho