CASSETTE TO MP3
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125 S. Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126
(630) 279-8696 ● elmhurstpubliclibrary.org
The Tascam CD-A580
The Tascam CD-A580 is a device that will convert cassette tapes
to MP3 formats stored onto a flash drive. It will also digitize CD’s
to MP3, and will allow users to create cassette tapes. The Tascam
does not “burn” CD’s.
Getting Started
Bring a flash drive large enough to store music from your cassette
Music files are roughly 10MB per minute—one hour cassette tape will need about 600MB of free
space
Call Elmhurst Public Library to reserve Creative Studio B for an adequate amount of time
The machine converts in real-time, so 1 hour of music will take 1 hour to convert
How to Transfer Songs from a Cassette to a USB Drive
Load the cassette into the Tascam and place the USB drive into the port on the machine
Press the SOURCE button repeatedly to select Tape
It will scroll between CD, TAPE, or LINE
3. Press the RECORD USB button to prepare the USB for recording
The red indicator above the RECORD USB button and the REC icon on the display will blink
Preparation for USB recording takes a few seconds. USB flash drives with larger capacities might take
more time. When “Record Prepare” is shown during preparation, pressing buttons will have no effect
5. Before recording, adjust the recording level. Failure to do so could cause the recorded sound to be
distorted or noisy
Play the source (cassette tape) to be recorded
Plug headphones into the jack to listen to the tape. (Headphone volume can be adjusted with the
knob just to the right of the headphone jack.)
Use the REC LEVEL knob to adjust the recording level so that the loudest sound never lights the
“OVER” indicator on the peak level meter shown on the display
6. Prepare the tape by cueing it to the place where you want to start the recording
7. Press the RECORD USB button again. The red indicator above the RECORD USB button and the REC icon
on the display will remain solid, and the tape will automatically play and begin recording to the USB.
If you want each song to be a separate file, you will need to divide the files manually. This processed is
described on page 30 of the user manual.
8. Press the USB Stop or Cassette Stop to finalize and end the recording. Display will say RECORD ENDING.
For additional information, see page 28 of the user manual:
