headphone output to line-in/mic input

Tomsk · 23 Dec 2016 at 23:19

I have found some old recordings of my deceased father on minidisc which I would like to transfer to my PC and then onto other formats.

My knowledge of audio stuff is basic enough to know that the impedance etc of headphone output won't match with the microphone or line in input.

What do I need to connect the headphone output from my minidisc player so I can record it on my PC (preferably in stereo)?

I found some cheap USB 'soundcards' for a couple of quid. Some of them have volume controls that they claim will work for input and output. Are these be likely to work?

TIA

hornetstinger · 23 Dec 2016 at 23:23

You could use headphone out, it just means it's amplified so it's not ideal connection like line out. Perhaps use a fairly low volume. Too high and you'll overdrive the input on your soundcard.

Or you could get a minidisc full width unit and use line output (or even digital, much better)

Marsman · 24 Dec 2016 at 12:02

Doesn't the minidisc player have mini toslink output?

I had two many years ago which did; a mini discman and a minidisc desk with a standard toslink, both Sony.

Rroff · 24 Dec 2016 at 12:12

"Shouldn't" be a problem connecting the headphone output on it to a line in - might have to fiddle with volume to get it right but should be able to get something working fine.

Tomsk · 24 Dec 2016 at 12:31

Marsman said:
Doesn't the minidisc player have mini toslink output?

I had two many years ago which did; a mini discman and a minidisc desk with a standard toslink, both Sony.

It does, but I don't have the cable.

Anyway, I connected the minidisc headphone output to the front mic input.
The sound level is a bit low and there's some background noise, but a bit of tweaking with Audacity has resulted in an acceptable sound, bearing in mind it was recorded 'live' some 30 years using a cassette Dictaphone!

Thanks for the advice and I saved a couple of quid.