First timer looking for good all around Audio interface/DAC to digitize cassette tapes in $100~200 range. Need help.

[GodzFire]

I am going to be digitizing some old cassette tapes and managed to get a Nakamichi DR-1 deck (RCA out) to do it. I'm looking for a good all around audio interface/DAC in the $100~200 range. Basically like an equivalent of a Toyota Camry for cars, not super high end, but solid and true.

I've seemingly found two to choose from:

• Behringer UMC204HD - https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC204HD-BEHRINGER/dp/B00QHURLCW
• Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C5JRTS3Y

However looking here, the reviews for both- especially the UMC204HD- seem to be lacking. Am I missing something? Is there something that would be a better quality choice that's on amazon and fits the price range?

EDIT: I don't have any computers with a line in.

 

[NTK]

Welcome to ASR!

The Motu M2 and Topping Pro E2x2 are both reviewed here and are recommended.

Motu M2 Review (Audio Interface)

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Motu M2 Audio Interface (DAC, ADC and headphone amplifier). It is on kind loan from a local member and costs US $179. I previously reviewed Motu M4 which is its larger brother. The M2 has the look of other Motu products: I like the color...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Topping E2x2 Audio Interface Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping Professional E2x2 audio interface (ADC, DAC, Headphone Amp). It was sent to me by the company and costs US $159. As the British would say, the E2x2 definitely "looks the part" as far as fitting in the general offering of interfaces in...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[JensA]

if you are looking for a nice software for digitising your tapes I can recommend Vinylstudio (www.alpinesoft.co.uk). Despite its name it is not limited to ripping vinyl and the handling is much easier than audacity.

For a couple of years I have used digital mobile recorders like the Tascam DR-05 for recording vinyl in lossless file format using their line in input.
After recording I have transferred the lossless files from the sd-card to my computer and did the rest of the job(track seoaration, tacking etc. with Vinylstudio.
Total cost for a decent mobile recorder with ADC of upto 24/96 for higher and Vinylstudio should be less than 200 USD/EUR.

Alternatively you could use the ADC of your computer in case it has audio inputs.

 

[popej]

If your PC have audio line in, it could be good enough for tapes.

 

[DVDdoug]

Most audio interfaces are better than cassettes (or vinyl).

The line input on a regular soundcard is usually OK too.

The Behringer UCA202 is popular and inexpensive but it doesn't have a recording volume control so there is a potential of overloading-clipping the ADC.

Most laptops only have a mono mic-in and headphone-out. The the mic input is not compatible with line-level signals and even for microphones, the mic preamp is usually low quality plus it's not compatible with "good stage/studio mics.

 

[somebodyelse]

The Behringer UCA202 is popular and inexpensive but it doesn't have a recording volume control so there is a potential of overloading-clipping the ADC.

I've got an old UCA202 with the genuine TI codec, but if I was buying an equivalent now I'd go for the Fun Generation UA202. That's cheaper and still has the same TI codec in the pics, unlike the UCA202 which has a cheaper but worse performing pin-compatible codec - compare the old nwavguy review with the later review here (202 and 222 have same hardware with different Windows driver).

 

[somebodyelse]

Perhaps of interest if you already have spdif/toslink input - https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/pocketadc

 

[Bwaslo]

You nee ADC, not DAC (but most digital interfaces do both)

 

[GodzFire]

I have a 2018 Intel Mac Mini, 2021 MacBook Pro, and an HP Elitedesk 800 G8 Mini; none of which have a line in.

I'm getting confused since some people are saying i just need a cheap $30 DAC Digital-Analog Converter, which gets me concerned for the kind of digitization quality I would get for something like that.

Why wouldn't I get a regular audio interface like Behringer, Focusrite, Motu or Topping?

 

[voodooless]

Why wouldn't I get a regular audio interface like Behringer, Focusrite, Motu or Topping?

Isn’t that exactly what people recommend?

people are saying i just need a cheap $30 DAC Digital-Analog Converter,

Read that 10 times? Is that what you need to do?

which gets me concerned for the kind of digitization quality I would get for something like that.

You get none whatsoever

 

[Bwaslo]

NOT a "DAC", you need an ADC function. A $30 DAC (unless it also has an ADC, highly unlikely) won't do it at all.

 

[kemmler3D]

I'm getting confused since some people are saying i just need a cheap $30 DAC Digital-Analog Converter, which gets me concerned for the kind of digitization quality I would get for something like that.

DAC means digital to analog converter, but as @Bwaslo explains, you need to go the other way, analog to digital.

MOTU M2 will work. I have one and it's a nice unit for what it is.

When converting tapes, in terms of sound quality you will need to pay much more attention to the tape deck. That's where you will run into the most noise and distortion in this process, the M2 will capture all the quality you can feed into it.

 

[JensA]

@GodzFire

I thought mentioning DAC in your initial post was a just a typo but apparently not:
You want to convert your old tapes (= Analog recordings) to Digital files, hence you are in need of an Analog to Digital Converter, i.e. ADC but certainly no DAC which converts digital to analog signals.
As for prices you can spend $$$$ for a ADC if this makes you happy but to be honest any entry 100$ digital mobile recorder with a line in like the Tascam DR05 I mentioned will even convert your tape recordings into high res 24/96 files (but you won‘t hear a difference if you are recording „CD quality only“, i.e. 16/44 or 16/48)
The quality won‘t improve even if you spend 5000 $ for an ADC, the bottleneck will always be your tapes and more importantly the tapedeck (I used to own a couple of Nakamichi decks. the DR1 is rather an entry level deck)
Suggest to search the review database her for entry level prices (upto abt 100 $) which have received a positive review/recommendation

 

[GodzFire]

Apologies, I got my terms messed up. I would update my post but for some reason I can't change the original anymore. It's confusing because I put in ADC or analog to digital converter on Amazon and it comes back with a bunch of DACs in the list as well.

The ADCs are all seemingly going for like 20 bucks and are outputting to just optical audio, not like USB. Which is why it seems I would need an audio interface for that.

 

[Bwaslo]

I don't have one, but got a recommendation from reliable source that this one is pretty good and cheap -
cubilux interface

 

[xanalog]

I am going to be digitizing some old cassette tapes and managed to get a Nakamichi DR-1 deck (RCA out) to do it.

Hi @GodzFire and welcome to ASR,

Are these pre-recorded cassettes or otherwise?
How many will you be 'digitizing'?
Where will these 'digitized' versions will be used?
Some Nakamichi decks were primo items, but back in the '70s (both record/playback).
Cassettes were an interim solution to portability of music (=Lo-Fi) before CD media was introduced with much higher sound fidelity.

IMO: You'd be much better off spending *your time [-that you'd be 'digitizing'-], plus *your money [-for hw/sw-] on used CDs.
Cheers!

 

[GodzFire]

@xanalog this is special material never released on CDs and a fair amount.

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

Whatever A to D converter you use, the weak link will be the analog audio output of the tape deck. Definitely monitor the output of the deck because the digital version will sound exactly like what is coming out of the tape deck.

Head alignment, in particular the azimuth, will affect the high frequency response, and the unfortunate thing is that your playback deck needs to be aligned the same way as the deck the tape was recorded on for best results.

If the tapes were recorded with dolby b, they will need to be played back with dolby b, which unfortunately exacerbates alignment problems.

Some of this is fixable in the digital domain, but best to start without these problems.

Vinyl Studio is worth the small price, although I've not used it for cassettes.

 

[Mr. Swordfish]

Perhaps of interest if you already have spdif/toslink input - https://www.minidsp.com/products/usb-audio-interface/pocketadc

And if you don't have a toslink input, there are many options for a toslink to usb adaptor that cost less than a good bottle of wine. Once the analog signal is converted to ones and zeroes, there's not much to go wrong.