karlssongunvor
Level 1 (5 points)
Desktops

Q: how to create individual tracks  from a cassette made into a digital file

I intend to download cassettes into the Garageband application from a walkman via USB cable. When I have downloaded it, and have it in Garageband, I need to edit to  create individual files to be sent to iTunes. I am hoping to do it in such a way as to be able to play individual tracks from the cassette tapes when I sync it to an iPod. I am wishing I can play them in the iPod the same as I might play a Pre-recorded CD by scrolling. I don't want the whole digitized cassette to play without interruption.

 

Since I have 250 cassettes that i want to digitize, It would be nice if it were easy to do the editing instead of cutting at each track, and sending the song to iTunes individually one at a time only over and over again.

 

Can you help me understand how to do this? Any suggestion would be welcome.

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Sep 4, 2016 4:37 PM

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karlssongunvor

Q: how to create individual tracks  from a cassette made into a digital file

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  • Helpful answers

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 5, 2016 5:22 AM in response to karlssongunvor
    Level 10 (105,183 points)
    iLife
    Sep 5, 2016 5:22 AM in response to karlssongunvor

    If you need to split an audio recording into separate songs to be sent to iTunes, you can use the cycle area in GarageBand to mark the individual songs.

    Drag the yellow cycle bar across the part of the recording that should be saved as a separate song, then use the command "Share > Song to iTunes" to add that song as a separate track to the album.

    Screen Shot 2016-09-05 at 14.17.53GMT.png

     

    Repeat this for all songs in the album.

     

    This Help page explains how to use the cycle area:   http://help.apple.com/garageband/mac/10.1/#/gbndac973a7d

  • by Edgar,

    Edgar Edgar Sep 5, 2016 9:58 AM in response to léonie
    Level 4 (3,270 points)
    Audio
    Sep 5, 2016 9:58 AM in response to léonie

    From a workflow point of view, I wouldn't recommend using the Cycle Range for exporting.

    I would use the following procedure. Do all the edits first and then do the export one after another.

     

    Editing

    1. Select the Region
    2. Drag (use control+drag for "un-snapped" dragging) on the Ruler to position the Playhead between two songs
    3. Press command+T to split the (selected) Region at that position, so you end with two Regions (l"eft" and "right"
    4. Click-drag (again, hold down the control key for "un-snapped" dragging) the lower portion of the right boundary of the "left" Region to adjust ending (remove pauses)
    5. Click-drag the lower portion of the left boundary of the "right" Region to adjust the beginning (start exactly at the beginning of the song)
    6. Repeat step 1-5 for the next song on that Region, etc.

     

    Exporting

    Now you can conveniently export one song (separated Region) after another:

    1. Select the first Region.
    2. Select from the Main Menu Share ➤ Share to iTunes
    3. In the Dialog Window that opens, select the checkbox at the bottom, choose a quality settings for the audio file.
    4. Enter the song name and any metadata in the other fields, which are displayed (and can be searched/sorted) in iTunes.
    5. Repeat step 1-4 for the next song et cetera.

     

    Export.png

     

    The advantage of this workflow is that you work (concentrate) onall the edits first and then do the Exports. This is much faster and has less chances for mistakes. The other advantage is that if you later find out that some exported songs have a problem (i.e. impopper beginning or ending, or a song contains two songs, because you overlooked one cut), it is easy open that GarageBand Project later and fix that issue, because you can see the edits, the individual Songs/Regions. This wouln be impossible when using the export procedure with the Cycle Range.

     

    Hope that helps

     

    Edgar Rothermich - LogicProGEM.com

    (Author of the "Graphically Enhanced Manuals")

    http://DingDingMusic.com/Manuals/

    'I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.'

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 5, 2016 10:14 AM in response to Edgar
    Level 10 (105,183 points)
    iLife
    Sep 5, 2016 10:14 AM in response to Edgar

    A good point. I prefer the Cycle Range, because it is easier to play back the selected range and to change the start and end of the segments than cutting the region and having to adjust the splits.

     

    But usually I do not use GarageBand to digitize an album recorded on a tape but use Audio Hijack. It will automatically split the recordings into separate files, if it discovers a long silence.