Plenty of people want to convert cassettes, LPs and even reel-to-reel tapes to CD or MP3. I must tell people how to do this two or three times a day! However, I’m still waiting for someone to ask about 8-track tapes!

It is relatively easy to digitize records and tapes on your own. You just need the right cables to connect a stereo to your sound card. Then you use software like Audacity to record the music.

Several manufacturers have created USB cassette decks and turntables. These will help you convert your old audio. These offer advantages over a do-it-yourself solution. They’re particularly useful for people who want to convert large music collections quickly and easily.

Since they connect via a USB port, you don’t need to hunt down cables to hook up your stereo. And you don’t need to worry about using the correct input jack on your sound card.

In the case of turntables, the sound needs to be amplified. Some turntables have built-in pre-amps. Turntables without pre-amps can’t be connected directly to your computer’s sound card. You don’t need to worry about this with USB turntables.