Reel-to-reel tape recorder

Hello,
Is your tape deck equipped with an input or output/input jack?
DIN connectors, for example, were common on European devices:
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:DIN-3_Diagram.svg
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:DIN-5_Diagram.svg
On other devices, you find cinch/RCA, still used today.
If not, you might consider connecting to a headphone jack...

8:45 PM: Hello?
See you...
Linux Mageia 1 Firefox ESR 10

I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that.

laotseu63 if you are there, I just looked at the links, my entries indeed look like the 2nd DIN 5 solution.
There are 2 behind. The third one has a drawing of a loudspeaker. I suppose that's the output and there are 2 overlapping holes there.

Well, that being said, I don't know how this will connect to the computer?

Hello,

I searched for photos and diagrams corresponding to your device. It is difficult to find sufficiently detailed ones to determine if there is a headphone output, which would be the easiest to use by connecting it to the microphone input of the PC.

If not, you will have to use the speaker output, probably in DIN standards (one flat pin and one round). It's difficult (but possible) to find connectors equipped with these plugs (check old speakers or contact a TV or radio repairman).

You will need to adjust the output level and conduct tests to find the right level that does not saturate the microphone input but is strong enough for quiet recording without too much noise.

Moreover, this tape recorder seems to be monophonic, so there would be a connector to make or modify (soldering) to record on the right/left channels of the PC and avoid noise from an empty channel.

The other solution would be to get the signal from the audio or line output (5-pin DIN). The advantage is a fixed level signal, but that only matters if you have a desktop PC with a sound card that has a line input (3.5mm stereo mini-jack). Again, a cable needs to be made, as these cables are no longer available in stores.

So, it's feasible, but if you do not solder, you would first need to find a repair person or someone who has a soldering iron. Then you need to get a DIN connector (speaker or audio 5-pin).

For the actual recording, you will need to use software like Audacity (free, the reference) because the integrated "tape recorder" software in Windows only has a few minutes of recording time (2 minutes if I remember correctly).

I am available for more information.

Best regards.

Hello,
Some internet users have asked the same question. Here is a forum in English:
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=51267
"The 5 pin Din socket top left rear is for both record and play back. You only need one of the old original 3 pin Din plugs. Looks like pins 1 and 2 are for recording and pins 2 and 3 are for audio out. Pin 2 being the common ground for both. My book says a max of 500mV from this socket which has always been ample for my setup".
This would indeed suit a line input of a sound card.
I’m not sure that such a cable is unattainable, but be careful, if it is "one-way", it must properly connect the output DIN to a input jack.

P.S: Connecting to a speaker or headphone output would indeed, albeit somewhat counterproductively, lower the output level, but the result is not guaranteed: there is a risk of background noise and/or difficult adjustments without saturation. It should only be used if you don't have a line input.
If it’s just a problem of an unattainable cable, I can, as a last resort, make one for you and send it by Post (only provide your address in a private message).
Linux Mageia 1 Firefox ESR 10

Hello,

I see that I am dealing with "pros"! It's very kind of both of you, georges97 and laotseu63, to try to resolve my issue.

I will try to find that famous cable you are talking about, DIN output to jack input.

I do have a cable, but it has DIN input on both ends.

You will probably find my question ridiculous: what does a jack input look like?

I will go to a computer or multimedia store and inquire about both the cable and the Audacity software that georges97 mentioned.

Thank you both; I will keep you updated.
Thank you, laotseu63, for your offer.

Have a nice day!

Best regards

Hello Sacha49,

Your question is not ridiculous. We cannot know everything, and I am sure you would surpass us in your areas of expertise.

Your DIN/DIN cable was used to connect the tape deck to an amplifier, for recording as well as for listening. Keep it, as it could be modified at one end to solder a jack plug.

A jack plug comes in several models and two sizes (depending on whether it is used for headphones, mic, or even input/output line jacks).

What corresponds to your needs is a stereo minijack 3.5 mm, like those found in mini-headphones. Observe the round jacks of this size on a laptop or at the back of a desktop PC.

It is delicate to solder a male stereo minijack instead of a 3-pin DIN because the cable is too thick to fit into the minijack.

The simplest solution, in my opinion, would be for Latseu63 to send you a female DIN to male stereo minijack adapter, which he can make from a regular minijack cable found in all supermarkets (details for Sacha49, of course). This will allow for a wiring that "distributes" the signal across the left-right channels of the PC's sound input. This is the easiest solution to implement if Laotseu has a female DIN.

However, I insist that on a laptop, there are generally only microphone inputs (in which case it would be better to use the headphone output of the tape deck).

Sacha, you should specify the type of PC used.

@ Laotseu63, I believe there is little risk of saturation on the headphone output, as we can adjust the volume to the lowest, but there is always a risk of hum (electronic buzzing) depending on the quality of the tape deck's amplifier design and the PC's sound input (I have a Sony laptop that hums like a locomotive, whereas all my other numerous PCs do not have this problem).

@ Sacha49, you are in no danger of damaging your equipment as you are connecting the audio output to the corresponding audio input (headphone or speaker output to microphone input, DIN line output to line input of a desktop PC sound card). However, you should know that a microphone input and a line input are generally minijack connectors. Hence my request for clarification.

As for Audacity, it is the reference; you have various tutorials available and can even do some editing. Do not be intimidated by an apparent complexity, especially regarding sampling concepts. Experiment with your audio CDs or MP3 music from the internet. You do not need to wait to have your cable. The most complicated part at first is choosing the source to record what is played through the PC's sound card. The finer details will come later.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

The jack inputs and outputs look like the headphone or earphone jacks found on MP3 players or other portable devices.
On a computer, there are usually 2 or 3 jacks of this type:
- one output for headphones, earphones, or external speakers, often colored green.
- one "microphone" input (pink).
- one "line-in" (blue). The latter is often absent on laptops, which is very regrettable.
These jacks are sometimes marked by small symbols, not always very readable.
The software Audacity can be downloaded for free. Simply click on the link.
Microsoft (Windows) will display a warning: this is, among other things, protectionism. In this case, that's all it is: this software is tried and tested, and the download site is safe.
Using Audacity may seem complex, but you will only need to use basic functions and can get help here.
Linux Mageia 1 Firefox ESR 10

Good evening

I'm here to give you some news. Since your last messages, georges69 and laotseu63, I acquired a sound card, an Audiophony converter, which included the Audacity software.

This little device has a DIN 5 socket on one side and a USB connection on the other side to connect to my PC. There are also 4 jack sockets that need to be connected: red, white, black, and yellow.

I tried to manage on my own, but I had no results when listening on my PC.

First, I connected the DIN plug to the back of the tape deck: there are 2 inputs. I tried both.
I connected it to the PC via a USB socket and I connected the colored plugs somewhat randomly, I admit, except for the red which I plugged into the red R, white into L of OUTPUT, then black into R and yellow into L of INPUT.

With my software installed, I started playback of a tape on my tape deck.

The Audacity software window showed the red record button. I clicked it. I stopped after 2 minutes and wanted to listen to the result.

I expected to hear something on my PC... and there was great disappointment: it was complete silence!

I didn't understand... I must have made a mistake somewhere! Yet I thought for a moment that I was starting to master "the thing," but unfortunately, it's more than complex.

Once again, I put you to work to give me tips so that I can achieve a result. I think I'm not done with my struggles.

Thank you in advance

Best regards

Hello Sacha49,

As I told you previously, you need to separate the two "issues" and not try to rush things.

1) Functioning of Audacity: when you are recording, you should see the sound modulation on your screen. If you see nothing (a histogram indicating the sound level), it is normal that you hear nothing. This means that either the source is not selected, or the cable is not transmitting the signal.

In your case, I would lean towards both hypotheses combined.

So, the first task is to ensure you understand how to operate Audacity:
https://www.levenly.com/doc/pdf/audacity.pdf

2) The two DIN ports: only one should correspond to an input/output, while the other is likely a microphone input. If one of the ports has 5 pins, it is probably the input/output to use; otherwise, check the manual. If you are using the microphone input, you will never be able to transmit the signal to the sound card;

3) You mentioned a DIN port on the external sound card, but I couldn't find any trace of it in the description I consulted.

3a) Have you connected a DIN/DIN cable between the tape deck and this sound card?

3b) Does the DIN cable have 5 pins on each side?

3c) Do you hear sound through the PC speakers when you turn on the tape deck, which indicates that the correct input is selected, without even trying to record?

4) Does your sound card work in play-only mode (driver installed), hence the need to verify as indicated in 1) using a source other than the tape deck (mp3 file, online radio on the internet)?

5) I ask you as a favor to yourself to answer each of the questions posed, even with yes or no, because it is difficult to help you without a minimum of clarification. For example: we still do not know the model of your PC (I assume it's a laptop).

6) Regarding the DIN to 4 cinch/RCA (red and white) cable, try recording on the tape deck from a source playing on the PC. If it works, you need to swap the two other colors.

7) Confirm whether the tape deck is mono or stereo.

Looking forward to your reply.

Hello georges97,

I have read and reread your message as well as the detailed user manual for the AUDACITY software.

I have again inspected my tape recorder to identify the input that would correspond to the one that would display a histogram on the AUDACITY screen.

Having tried everything without any results, I went to consult the technician at the store where I bought my sound card and showed him all the equipment: tape recorder, PC, sound card, cable... asking him to show me what needed to be connected and where?

After many attempts, he eventually found, against all logic (according to him), that the input corresponding to the source was the one for the microphone! The other two at the back were giving no signal.

Furthermore, the plug that needed to be connected was only the yellow one on the L of INPUT.

We had to turn all the speakers up to the max because otherwise, it was inaudible, and finally, we saw the sound modulations appear on the screen.

After a playback test of the tape, we recorded a few seconds and listened to the result. It was OK.

I will answer your questions so that you also know what equipment I had. This may be useful for someone else who has the same problem with similar equipment.

The tape recorder is a GRUNDIG TK140 mono and not stereo.
The PC is a Toshiba laptop.
The sound card is equipped with a cable with a USB plug. This sound card has 4 inputs for jack plugs.
The cord I was sold has a 5-pin DIN plug and 4 jack plugs: red, white, yellow, and black.

You were right, it is not the sound card that has a DIN plug; I had expressed myself poorly, too lost in all these cords, plugs, inputs... (sorry)

The recording is not fabulous but acceptable. I will need to improve my tests.

In any case, a thousand thanks for all your explanations, georges97; you understood how to use all this, but my tape recorder did not react logically, which is why I was lost. If you had had the equipment in hand, you would have certainly understood the problem.

I hope we have been helpful to other internet users.

Thanks again and have a good day.

Fortunately, you are here to help us move forward.

Best regards.

Hello Sacha49,

You made the right decision by consulting your seller. It's easier with the equipment on hand.

Regarding the quality of the recording, it's probably linked to differences in levels between the inputs and outputs.

However, you have the right cord, but since the tape recorder is monophonic (I assume), you only have the signal on one channel (the yellow jack).

You would likely get a better result by connecting the speaker output of the tape recorder to the mic input of your adapter. This will allow you to adjust the output level of the tape recorder. Normally, this speaker output consists of a flat pin and a round pin. Alternatively, you may have a headphone output. In both cases, you need to make the cord.

If you have a link to the manual so I can clearly see the shape of the jacks, please send it to me.

Or you can upload photos to a site and send me the link.

As for Audacity, make sure to record at the maximum sampling frequency to get the best signal-to-noise ratio and bandwidth.

I understand that you might want to take a break and not spend too much time on these experiments. If you have a friend who has used any tape recorder, they can guide you practically.

Know that I will always be willing to help you with other trials.

Hope to see you soon, maybe.