Ion Tape2PC USB Cassette Deck

by Ion

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 8.8 x 5.2 inches ; 7 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000VG802I
• Item model number: TAPE2PC
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (166 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,282 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #3 in Electronics > Home Audio & Theater > Stereo Components > Tape Decks

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Reclaim those old cassettes--both store-bought and recorded from the radio or live performances--and save them to your PC with the Ion Tape 2 PC USB dual cassette deck, which is compatible with both Windows- and Mac-based computers. Just plug the Tape 2 PC into your computer using the provided USB cable, install the software and start converting your music.

The Ion Tape 2 PC USB dual cassette deck (see larger schematic image of front panel controls)

It comes with everything you need to turn your music into digital MP3 files. ION's exclusive software suite makes transfer and editing your music easy. EZ Tape Converter provides an easy way to transfer your music and import it into your iTunes music library. Windows users can download a version of EZ Tape Converter with Gracenote MusicID technology for free. It automatically adds album, artist, and song information for you.

When you're finished archiving your cassettes to your computer, Tape 2 PC can connect to your stereo system using standard RCA cables for convenient cassette listening in your living room, garage, or wherever your stereo system resides. Other features include recording level adjustment, dubbing (from deck A to deck B) with high-speed dubbing capabilities, and gain adjustment.

Key Features

• Transfer music on your tapes to MP3
• Dual-dubbing cassette deck
• Plug and Play USB connection--no drivers needed
• Works with Metal and CrO2 tapes
• EZ Tape Converter (PC) and EZ Audio Converter (Mac) software for hassle-free recording

What's in the Box
Tape 2 PC, USB cable, RCA stereo audio cable, software CD, quick start manual

Computer Requirements

• PC running Windows XP (32-bit or 64-bit) or Vista (32-bit or 64-bit)
• Mac running OS X 10.4 or higher
• One available USB 1.1 port or higher

With EZ Tape Converter, you can quickly start recording LP tracks...

...and then tag individual tracks with artist, album, and song title tags.

Product Description

Reclaim those old cassettes--both store-bought and recorded from the radio or live performances--and save them to your PC with the Ion Tape2PC USB dual cassette deck, which is compatible with both Windows- and Mac-based computers. Just plug the Tape2PC into your computer using the provided USB cable, install the software and start converting your music. Easily transfer your music to your iPod or other MP3 player, or record it to CD.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

939 of 972 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Save your money -- Get a Simple $15 Radio Shack Connector Instead of the ION, November 27, 2007

By 

soba525 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ion Tape2PC USB Cassette Deck (Electronics)

Before I purchased the ION I read many articles on the Internet about how to transfer my audio cassettes to CD/iPod. I was overwhelmed by the technical terms, so I thought the ION would be the answer to my dreams: an easy, trouble-free solution. I assumed, that the ION (at it's steep price) would give me all I needed for simple, stress-free transfers.

I was wrong. The ION is a bad-investment for a number of reasons:

1. The ION is huge.
2. The software included with my ION was defective (Chinese characters appeared when I tried to load the application) -- and although the folders opened in English, they still didn't load.
3. The recording software for MAC users is available FREE on line.
4. If you have an old tape deck, or any cassette player with audio-out ports, you can go to Radio Shack (which I just did), buy a standard issue "Y" connector (1/8" stereo plug on one end and a white (male) and yellow (male) plug on the other end and (voila) you are done -- you now have precisely what the ION gives you: all for about about $15.

Believe me, I am no computer/tech genius. I'm a forty-something mom. But buying and plugging in the "Y" connector was super easy.

The ION merely gives you an old-fashioned, basic cassette deck, basic software (and, in the case of Audacity, something that is free from the Internet) and a USB connector (which does exactly the same thing as the $15 Radio Shack Y-connecter).

After that, you are on your own. I found the steepest learning curve was figuring out how to use the audio recording software. When I was stymied by the defective ION software, I discovered Garage Band was already on my iMac -- but I have since downloaded and use Audacity (on both my husband's PC and my iMAC).

The ION directions are so basic as to be nearly indecipherable. And as far as the Audacity software goes, the ION literature says something like: if you've never used audio recording software stick with the EZ converter software (which I believe only works on PCs).

Please also note that the ION literature doesn't tell you the next most important step you must take to make the ION work (goodness knows how any of the other reviewers were able to use their ION w/o a good working knowledge of their computer and/or audio recording. In short, you must go into your Control Panel (PC) or System Preference (MAC) and make sure you change your sound input option to in-line audio port (if using a Y-connector) or USB (if sticking with the ION).

Buyer Beware: think twice before you click to buy the ION. If you have a cassette player (or access to one) with output audio ports (most have them), you can buy the Y-connector and download the software for free.

To Amazon's credit, it appears they will refund my money and cover the cost of return shipment because of the defective software contained with the ION I purchased.

113 of 116 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works Great!, October 21, 2007

By 

B. Tarr (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ion Tape2PC USB Cassette Deck (Electronics)

I have several old cassettes made during my childhood that I really wanted to preserve. I found the ION Tape2PC USB Cassette Deck and thought it looked like a good solution for converting those cassettes onto CD. The device was easy to install and easy to use as well. I don't know how to do anything "fancy" with it and just basically let it do it's thing, which has been good enough without using all the fancy options. I am impressed that the sound quality turns out better than if I just played the cassettes on a regular cassette deck. My cassettes are very scratchy sounding because they've been played over-and-over through the years but the ION Tape2PC is able to filter a little of that scratchy sound pretty well. I am happy with my purchase and I didn't need any special tools or anything to install it.

198 of 210 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I've been looking for!, November 20, 2007

By 

Sheri Fogarty (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ion Tape2PC USB Cassette Deck (Electronics)

I have a number of irreplaceable cassette tapes that I've been trying to figure out how to convert to CD for the past few years. I'm on a Mac and pretty technical but nothing I've looked at previously seemed quite right. I had looking into the Crossly all in one but that didn't have very good reviews and I looked into the iMic but it seemed a little complicated.

When I read about the Tape2Pc I was very hopeful. I've had it for a few weeks now and it was very easy to set up. If you're on a Mac you'll have to go to the Ion website to download the EZ Tape Converter and Audacity soft wear, the included CD is supposed to be for PC or Macs but the files are .exe which Mac's can't use.

I decided to try the EZ Tape soft wear as I don't have time at the moment to mess with the files and was hoping that it would be simple, and it was! Just Open the program, click a few buttons and press play on the Tape2Pc deck and you're recording! *Important Mac note - before you start, you need to go into your sound playback file and choose: USB audio codec - this is the opposite of what they say in the booklet. It's mentioned on the Ion forums too.

The sound quality is wonderful - seems the same as on the cassette. You do need to stay nearby your computer when your making the file because if the CD has tracks that you'd like to keep separate for your CD, you need to press a 'track' button between each one, then you need to press 'finish' when it's over. After that it automatically uploads and converts the tracks into your iTunes (or any other CD burning program you choose).

Finally an easy way to convert your cassettes - thanks Ion!