Honest Technology Audio Recorder 3.0 Plus with Cassette Player

• Includes a USB cassette player to easily convert cassettes to MP3, MP3 CDs and audio CDs
• Built-in normalizer controls irregular volume by increasing or decreasing as needed
• Web streaming audio lets you record and convert online lectures, music, podcasts, webinars and more to audio CD and MP3
• Noise reduction to improve audio quality by reducing unwanted noise or static
• Audio track split lets you easily split your audio clip into multiple tracks automatically by detecting the muted sections

This is not a bad deal for the price, although the audio editing software is rather limited compared to a full-featured program like Magix Audio Cleaning Lab ($59.99). The biggest complaint I had was with the included cassette recorder. It seems cheaply made with a cover that was very flimsy and seemed quite likely to break off with any kind of regular use. One annoyance was that the auto-reverse feature, which would have been very helpful to transfer both sides of the tape without monitoring, did not work. I had to use the continuous reverse, which of course negates the whole point since you do not want the tape to keep reversing. However, this was the only work-around suggested by Tech Support. Another issue is the tape direction control, which is a tiny button that seems to function as a toggle, with no visible indication of which direction is chosen.

The biggest fault, which led to my returning the product, was a low-frequency tapping-like rumble added to the digital recordings. I finally figured out this probably was being introduced by the tape drive. After making duplicate tapes using first the HonestTech Audio product, then using a USB connection with the Audio feature of Honestech VHS to DVD converter and software, and finally with USB running directly to Magix software, I found this noise only came with the Honestech cassette. I sent samples to Tech Support but for some reason, they could not hear the tapping even though everyone on my household could. I used Magix Audio Cleaner to remove all the frequencies above the tapping and sent that, which the engineers could hear. Their response was it must be some kind of hardware/software conflict on my PC, which of course is an easy way out.

I do have to say their Tech Support people do try hard, and there was no problem after I returned the product about getting a refund (at least I am still waiting for one but I am confident).

For the price, if you don't have any other way of transferring old tapes to a PC, it probably is worth giving this product a try. Just check it carefully within the warranty period (READ the warranty carefully!), which specifies that replacement is the first option and a refund is completely up to Honestech.

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It looked just like the picture. Arrived when it was supposed to. I wish there was some kind EQ control; but for the price, it does a great job at what it's supposed to do. It doesn't always cut tracks where it's supposed to in auto mode ( if it's a recording with some background noise or talking, it combines the tracks; or if there's a long pause, it may cut the track at that point ), but most turn out fine.

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My mom made a cassette tape of our family history about 20 years ago and I'd been meaning to get them transferred while the tapes were still in working order.

I used this for transferring them to mp3 and uploaded them into the cloud to share with my family. It worked great and was simple.

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Bought this to convert our old cassette tapes over to CD's. It works great. We are saving items that cannot not be replaced. It's great!

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I've been using Honestech media conversion software for about 10 years now and have always been impressed by the "user friendliness" of their software. You don't need to be a techie and nearly all their software needs little instruction. Sure there are some limitations but after trying to use Audacity software to split audio files, I gave up. Then I found HT's Audio Recorder 2.0 and it was a breeze. That was with my old XP PC. When I upgraded to Win 7 I realized 2.0 wasn't compatible so I got 3.0. There are two versions. The one I'm reviewing here is the one that comes with a cassette player. They also sell one without the player both in a box and as a download. The idea of including the player is again to make it user friendly. Many folks have cassette tapes they want to convert to MP3sfiles or burn to Audio CDs, and no longer have a player. Since the "player" that comes with the HT unit is powered by a USB jack rather than batteries, you save there. But, I point this up front (as a previous viewer didn't quite understand the purpose of the player unit), the unit is a PLAYER only and unit does not record. Hence it comes with no cassettes.

As another reviewer stated and I admit I agree the player unit has some "issues". For one it has auto reverse. Which is great as you can dub both sides of a cassette. But it doesn't have auto stop. Also, it is not as sturdy as even a simple Walkman which you can find at yard sales or on ebay if you need one.

So, honestly, was goping to recommend for those with a Walkman or similar already that they buy the Audio Recorder product (Audio Recorder 2.0 Plus) that just has the software and connecting cable BUT, I just noted that 3.0 (with the player!) is cheaper than 2.0 Plus (without player), so I'll say buy 3.0 and use your own player.

As for the software, I love it! Not only can you use the simple "easy" version to record your cassettes but anything that streams on your PC. And the "edit function makes Audacity look like rocket science. I record concerts from the internet and then using the Edit Function, break the concert into separate tracks for each song.I them save as Mp3 or burn a CD.

And HT's customer support is very responsive too.

One caveat for those hoping to put their cassettes on audio CD: Remember that many cassette tapes (home recorded ones) are on C-90 cassettes, which run 90 minutes. The maximum capacity for an audio CD is 80 minutes. So you might not be able to fit it all on. A C-60 cassette certainly will.

I'll be using this software until I need to upgrade because of a new Windows version someday. But for now, I'm a happy camper! Thank you Honestech.

I hope you found this review both informative and helpful.

Steve Ramm

"Anything Phonographic"