DO THIS IF YOU WANT A GOOD SOUNDING RECORDING!!
This 2 minute read will save you HOURS OF TIME....I wish some one wrote this before I started on this project. I bought this due to the positive reviews and that it is made by Jensen and they are supposed to be an audio company right...car stereos anyone. Anyway, I have about 30 cassette tapes from the 1990s that have interviews, my kids talking and playing guitar with friends. I used a $50 boom box with the worlds worst mic(built in to the boombox) for some of the recordings so I did not have the best equipment at the time and did not realize that I would be messing with these 30 years later. I am a computer graphics person, musician and a semipro photographer...so I use computers and software a lot. I also tried the best rated usb cassette recorder that amazon sells the Cassette to MP3 Converter, BlumWay Portable Cassette Recorder Player, It was hard to use and would not record to the usb after 2 tapes...sent it back. Do not waste your time with it if you value your cassettes. The Jensen is about $8 more, solidly built and will last. SO buy it as it is easy to operate and you can see the tape moving...big buttons...and it just works like it is supposed to. Even your grandmother can use it. It is the best alternative for doing this project...I spent HOURS trying to find the best option and even considered buying a $200 cassette deck of ebay, but I did not want the cost and the hassle of setting up a big unit that I would not use again once the tapes were recorded.
I used the Jensen with a VTOP USB2.0 Analog Audio Capture Card Device Compatible for Windows (price $19). Works much better than the headphone jack. This plugs in to my windows laptop and makes it easy. You can use the headphone jack but this picks up a lot of random noise. The recorder takes 4 C batteries and also comes with a AC power plug. So here is the IMPORTANT part...If you use the power plug(wall outlet) you will get very loud humming/buzzing or electrical interference when you try to listen/record through the computer. So loud it will ruin your recordings. I tried multiple plugs and computers in my house and all had the hum(it is a grounding issue with the recorder itself and it picks up electrical interference which will end up in your recording) It will not do this if you use the batteries and the recording sounds fine. I have a lot of tapes and did not want to mess with buying C batteries or getting a rechargeable kit of batteries($25more). The solution and the answer is this problem is a noise isolator...
"Smof Ground Loop Noise Isolator for Car Audio/Home Stereo System (Eliminate The Buzzing Noise Completely) with 3.5mm Audio Cable, Black Ground Loop Noise Isolator for Car Audio/Home Stereo System"
The cost is $10 and it removed ALL of the electrical noise and the recording is as good as the tape! If you do not use one of these you will be frustrated and sorry that you are trying to record all those tapes with poor sound quality...the buzzing is so loud that you can not listen to the recording. Any noise isolator will work and a $30 one is not any better than a $10 one as they all do the same thing.
So for about $50 I have a good system to digitize my tapes. NO it is twice as much as the cheap China usb recorder, but I know that the time spent recording will not be wasted and the recordings will be as good as the tape....and you will SAVE TIME in the end. I use adobe audacity to capture the recordings as I have a subscription for my work, but most any program will work. A good FREE software is audacity sound software.(audacityteam.org). It is pretty basic and easy to use. When I put a tape in the Jensen to record, I set a timer on the software for the length of the tape, usually 46 minutes for my 90 min tapes, so the recording will auto stop when the tape is over. That way I just load a tape and hit record and it stops recording when the timer is up(I put one in and go to bed). It keeps you from making hours long recordings that you have to edit later....no timer and you have to turn off the record button or sit by the Jensen to stop it(again a time issue if you have lots of tapes). Audicity also has a timer mode and a quick google search will tell you how to set it.
** Also save your recordings as wav files for the original and make a mp3 copy of the file to share.
**Also, do a 1minute test recording before you start to record the entire tape so you can set the volume on the Jensen correctly as it acts as the gain for the recording. Failure to do this can result in a recording to low or too high and both will sound bad
***So if your cassette tapes are important to you, do it right the first time and spend a few $$.
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This Item  JENSEN® Cassette Player/Recorder |  |  |  | |
| Price | -34% $26.49 List: $39.99 | $28.99 | $35.00 | -20% $27.99 List: $35.00 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 7 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 7 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 7 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 7 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||
| Easy to use | ||||
| Value for money | ||||
| Sound quality | ||||
| Volume control | ||||
| Durability | ||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | TOOBOM | Reshow-US | Reshow-US |
| hardware interface | usb | usb2.0 | usb | usb2.0 |
| memory capacity | 64 GB | 64 GB | 32 MB | 32 MB |
| format | mp3 audio | wav, mp3 audio | mp3 audio | mp3 audio |
| battery quantity | — | 1 aaa, 2 lithium ion | 2 aa | 2 aaa, 2 aa |
| weight | 0.2 pounds | 30 grams | — | 100 grams |
| mic form factor | Built-In | Built-In | Built-In | Built-In |
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From the manufacturer
JENSEN MCR-100 Portable Cassette Player and Tape Recorder with Built-in Microphone and Retractable Built-in Handle, 1 Touch Recording
Rediscover the joy and simplicity of recording with the JENSEN MCR-100 Cassette Player/Recorder, a modern take on the classic "shoebox" design. This device is not just a throwback to the golden era of cassettes but a versatile tool for anyone looking to capture or relive audio moments in a tactile way.
The MCR-100 excels in its ease of use. The one-touch recording simplifies the process of capturing audio, making it ideal for a range of activities, from recording interviews and lectures to creating your own audio diaries or musical demos. With its automatic voice level control, the recorder adjusts the audio input level to ensure consistent and clear recordings, eliminating the need for constant manual adjustments.
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VERSATILE LISTENING AND RECORDING OPTIONSNot only can you play and record cassettes, but the auxiliary input also allows for the connection of smartphones, tablets, or other audio sources. This feature transforms your cassette player into a dynamic, multi-source audio recorder, bridging the gap between analog and digital. |
PORTABLE AND USER FRIENDLY DESIGNWith its classic “shoebox” style and retractable carrying handle, the JENSEN Cassette Player/Recorder offers nostalgic charm with modern convenience. It's perfect for on-the-go use, whether you're recording outdoors, in a classroom, or moving from room to room. |
EFFORTLESS AUDIO CREATIONDive into the world of recording with the JENSEN Cassette Player/Recorder's one-touch recording feature, making it simple to capture lectures, music, or personal notes. Whether you're a student, a musician, or just love to document your thoughts, this device turns your audio recording into an effortless, enjoyable task. |
Reviews with images
Jansen portable cassette player
Jensen portable cassette Player ! The product was exactly what I needed but I did not order two need to ship one back and I was supposed to get a package that had cassettes. I have no cassettes.! ? How do I proceed?
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Top reviews from other countries
Jerry
100% no good for recording music.
Reviewed in Canada on September 13, 2020Size: StandardColor: SilverVerified Purchase
Allan Weiss
Meets my needs
Reviewed in Canada on October 5, 2017Size: StandardColor: SilverVerified Purchase
Jocelyne Fournier
Facile à faire fonctionné
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2021Size: StandardColor: SilverVerified Purchase
