Connect a tape deck, portable player or USB cassette converter, record a side, and get each song as its own MP3 or WAV file. Split points are found at the silences between tracks.
Updated ·Free, no sign-up·Audio never leaves your computer
1. Connect and set the level
Your browser will ask to use the microphone. That permission covers line-in sockets and USB audio devices too.
−60−∞ dB0 dB
Clipping: turn the player's volume down a little.
Play the loudest part of the tape. Aim for peaks in the green-to-amber range, never red.
2. Record one side at a time
0:00
0 MB in memory
Start with “Allow audio input”, then press Record and play the tape.
Recording, splitting and MP3 encoding happen in this tab. Nothing is uploaded. Download your files before closing the page.
3. Check the tracks and download
Shaded areas are the detected tracks; the red dashed line is the silence level. Move the sliders until each song is one track.
01 / Before you start
What you need to digitize cassette tapes
Any player that can send audio to your computer works. The connection matters more than the player: a line-level signal into a line or USB input gives the cleanest result.
Your player
Connect it with
Notes
Home cassette deckRCA “Line Out” or “Rec Out” sockets
RCA-to-3.5 mm or RCA-to-RCA cable into a USB audio interface or a computer line-in socket
The best option. The output level stays fixed, so set the level once on the interface.
Walkman or portable player3.5 mm headphone socket
3.5 mm stereo cable into a line-in socket or USB audio interface
Start at about half volume and adjust with the meter. Full volume often distorts.
USB cassette converterPlugs straight into USB
Its own USB cable
If it appears in the input list above, select it. Some models only work with their bundled software.
Laptop with only a headset jackCombined headphone/mic socket
A USB audio interface or a USB adapter with a line input
Headset jacks expect microphone-level signals; a tape player's output is much stronger and usually distorts.
Tip: if the tape was recorded with Dolby B noise reduction (common on pre-recorded music tapes), switch Dolby B on during playback. Leaving it off makes the copy sound bright and hissy.
02 / Step by step
From tape to MP3 files in six steps
01
Check the tape
Handle the cassette by its shell, not the tape. If the tape is snapped, sticky or squeals, stop: a damaged tape can be ruined by playing it.
02
Connect the player
Use the line or headphone output and a line or USB input, as in the table above. Clean the player's heads if you have not used it in years.
03
Allow input and pick it
Press “Allow audio input”, then choose the socket or USB device in the list. Select mono for voice recordings to halve memory use.
04
Set the level
Play a loud passage and adjust the player's volume until the meter peaks in the green-to-amber range with no clipping warning.
05
Record each side
Rewind, press Record here, then play. Press Stop when the side ends. Rename the next take “Side B”, flip the tape and repeat.
06
Split and save
Check the shaded tracks, rename them, then download them one by one, as a whole side, or all together in a ZIP file.
03 / Settings
Formats and file sizes
Sizes are for stereo audio and are rounded; mono files are half the size. MP3 size depends only on the bitrate, WAV on the sample rate.
Format
Per minute
45-minute side
Best for
MP3 · 320 kbps
2.4 MB
108 MB
Music you care about, if space is not a concern
MP3 · 256 kbps
1.9 MB
86 MB
Music; the default here
MP3 · 192 kbps
1.4 MB
65 MB
Music on phones and in cars
MP3 · 128 kbps
1.0 MB
43 MB
Speech, voice letters, answering-machine tapes
WAV · 16-bit, 44.1 kHz
10.6 MB
476 MB
An archive copy to edit or convert later
WAV · 16-bit, 48 kHz
11.5 MB
518 MB
Same, when your input runs at 48 kHz
While recording, the page holds the side in memory as 16-bit audio at your input's sample rate, which is the WAV figure above. The recorder shows the running total. Long sessions are safest one side at a time.
04 / Splitting
How the tracks are split
The recorder measures loudness every 20 milliseconds. Anything quieter than the silence level for at least the shortest gap counts as a pause between songs. After a recording, the silence level is set automatically a little above the quietest tape hiss.
Two songs stuck together: raise the silence level or shorten the gap.
One song cut in half at a quiet passage: lower the silence level or lengthen the gap.
Short fragments: raise the shortest-track length; fragments are merged into the neighbouring track.
Speech, interviews and live albums: pauses are not track breaks. Use “Download whole side” instead.
Half a second of the surrounding silence is kept at each end, so songs do not start abruptly.
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05 / FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is my recording uploaded anywhere?
No. The audio is captured, split and encoded in your browser tab. Files go straight to your downloads folder, and closing the tab discards anything you have not downloaded.
Can I digitize cassette tapes without a cassette player?
No. The tape has to be played back by a cassette deck, a portable player or a USB cassette converter. This page records whatever that player sends to your computer.
Why does the browser ask for microphone access?
Browsers use the microphone permission for every audio input, including line-in sockets and USB audio devices. After you allow it, choose the input your tape player is connected to.
How long can one recording be?
A stereo recording at 48 kHz uses about 11.5 MB of memory per minute, so a 45-minute side needs roughly 520 MB. Record one side at a time and download it before starting a long batch.
Which format should I choose?
MP3 at 256 or 320 kbps suits music, and 128 kbps is enough for speech. Choose WAV if you want an uncompressed archive copy you can edit or convert later.
My input does not appear in the list
Plug the device in before pressing “Allow audio input”, or reload the page after connecting it. On a Mac, check System Settings → Sound → Input; on Windows, check Settings → System → Sound → Input. A device your system cannot see will not appear here either.
The recording hums or buzzes
Hum usually comes from the connection, not the tape. Try running a laptop on battery, plugging the player and computer into the same power strip, or using a different cable.
The sound is muffled or only one channel has audio
Muffled sound often means dirty heads or a head-alignment (azimuth) mismatch with the deck that made the tape. Audio on one side only usually means a mono plug in a stereo socket, or a cable not fully inserted. If the tape itself is mono, choose Mono above.
Should I use a professional service instead?
For tapes that are damaged, sticky, or the only copy of something irreplaceable, yes. Cleaning and repairing magnetic tape is specialist work. For tapes that play normally, recording them yourself gives the same digital copy as the player can produce.
Reviewed October 22, 2026. The recorder asks the browser to turn off echo cancellation, noise suppression and automatic gain control so the tape is captured as played; browsers may ignore these requests, and the input line above says when level control is still on. File sizes are calculated from bitrates and sample rates. OneTaskKit is an independent site and is not affiliated with any tape, player or software maker.
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