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User profile for user: Richard Pitcairn
Richard Pitcairn Author
User level: Level 2
287 points

Importing audio from an analog tape

I have some old tapes from meetings I presented years ago. I bought a device that was said to import the audio into the computer but it does not work. I searched online but the advice I find says to use the "input" port on the computer by my iMac does not have such a port. Does that mean it is not an option to do this? The device I bought connects as USB so that seems to suggest that can be used somehow for that purpose — I mean an USB port.

Any suggestions welcome.

— Richard

Posted on Jun 15, 2021 3:59 PM

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User profile for user: D.I. Johnson
D.I. Johnson
User level: Level 7
24,143 points

Posted on Jun 15, 2021 4:51 PM

Hello, Richard Pitcairn.


You haven't told us exactly which iMac model you're using. Click (Apple menu) > About This Mac to find that info.


Yes, it's definitely possible to do what you're attempting, even if you iMac has no line in audio port. Your USB audio interface may simply need to be selected as the input source before it will work.

Plug in the USB interface and then go to System Preferences > Sound > Input. Hopefully your device will be listed there and allow you to select it as the audio input device.


If this particular interface is unsupported, a quick search online at Amazon will discover very many such devices at relatively little cost for what you wish to do.

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User profile for user: D.I. Johnson
D.I. Johnson
User level: Level 7
24,143 points

Jun 15, 2021 4:51 PM in response to Richard Pitcairn

Hello, Richard Pitcairn.


You haven't told us exactly which iMac model you're using. Click (Apple menu) > About This Mac to find that info.


Yes, it's definitely possible to do what you're attempting, even if you iMac has no line in audio port. Your USB audio interface may simply need to be selected as the input source before it will work.

Plug in the USB interface and then go to System Preferences > Sound > Input. Hopefully your device will be listed there and allow you to select it as the audio input device.


If this particular interface is unsupported, a quick search online at Amazon will discover very many such devices at relatively little cost for what you wish to do.

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Importing audio from an analog tape

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