Digital Speech Recordngs to CD

[andy-hughes]

I have a number of interviews conducted on a digital redorder, which I wish to transfer to CD. They are stored as WMA files, I would like to convert them to MP£'s to transfer to CD for storeage - can anyone advise some nice simple free software i can download please?

Also, all the interviews play on my recorder loudpseaker, but when I plug into my PC, some of them have no sound - why would this be, and will the transfer as audible to MP3?

Thanks.

[bravejordy]

Is this any help, andy?

http://nsftools.com/misc/TapeToCD.htm

[HowardKennitby]

Assuming your recorder has an output socket you could connect to the microphone socket on your PC's sound card and use Audacity software to record.
If you want to save as .mp3 files you would also need the LAME encoder add-on.

[HowardKennitby]

Sorry

That may not work with digital files

[bravejordy]

Sorry Andy, didn't read your post properly. I thought you meant one of those dictaphones that takes mini-cassettes.

[HowardKennitby]

Does your recorder have a socket for output to earphones or similar?

[andy-hughes]

Yes Howard it does, but I would have thought plugging into a USB - as it will - would be a better connection?

[birdie1971]

Free software for audio editing/converting..

Editing: Audacity -
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Converting: Freemake Audio Converter
http://www.freemake.com/free_audio_converter/

[birdie1971]

With regards to the WMA files that are unusually quiet when played on your PC but play perfectly well on the recording device, I have no clue as to why this would happen.

However, if you can hear (even quietly) the audio when played on the PC, you should be able to use Audacity to maximise the volume to get a better level (I don't know off the top of my head if Audacity can directly read WMA files, but if not, you can convert them into an acceptable format first using Freemake). Unfortunately, this will also increase the background noise which my be unacceptable depending on how you intend to use the recordings.

Another solution to your low volume problem is this – assuming your anomalous recordings play back okay on your recording device and assuming that it has an 'audio out' socket – you could connect the device to your PC via a suitable audio cable and use Audacity to record the input directly.

I hope all of that makes sense. Good luck.

[HowardKennitby]

Andy

Since you have an earphone output available my earlier suggestion will work. That method is what I am using to transfer from old cassettes onto my PC.

[Wak]

Google for, download and install the FREE program "Format Factory" and convert WMA to MP3.
The Output Setting allows you to double the original volume.
Hope this helps.