Just what the subtitle says.. how do you get data off of a tape into a digital format?

This is probably the most primitive, but the only way, i know about going about this.

What I'd do is first download a free program called Audacity. Then using a Microphone hook it up to your computer, most likely into the 'headphone jack'. After that, using human logic, record on audacity with the microphone recorder, your stereo playing your tape. The sound will be recorded as most likely .wav or .mp3 format, then you can go about your business, fighting of ninjas in medieval Japan.

And, uh, if that doesn't work, blame tv. Or the government....whatever you think of first.

Well, you got the Audacity part right, but I can't really interpret the rest of your post. What you do is buy a two sided audio cable (looks like a headphone plug on each end). Put one end into the casette player's headphone jack, and the other end into your PC's microphone/line in jack. Put the casette player at about 50% volume, hit Play, and then record with Audacity or whatever audio program you like.

Here's a link to buy/look at the cable you need:
http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat%...=2002&sku=21062

Here's a link to the free multi-OS audio editor, Audacity:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/?lang=en

isn't there some other free thing you gotta download to turn the .wav files to .mp3s? i'm thinkin i had to get one when i recorded my voice that time, but i forget what it's called, & i can't find any of it since i've been backing stuff up for the big reformat i've got coming up. i wish i could think of what it's called...

i'm on a Mac though, so that might be why i needed it.

You are correct, Audacity support saving to the LAME MP3 codec, but only after downloading the plugin for it here:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s...l&item=lame-mp3

In this case, LAME stands for 'LAME Ain't an MP3 Encoder' instead of meaning 'stupid' or 'disappointing'.

that's it! i knew it started with an 'L'.

Excellent! Thanks guys. I downloaded Audacity, and I *think* my brother might have something like that cable.. he gets home on the 31st, so I'll ask him about it then. If not I'll buy it, but I want to first see if I can avoid that. Because it's a hassle for me to try to buy stuff offline, since I don't have a credit card. I have to go through the process of convincing my mum to let me use her's and pay her back.

been there, done that... but on the Mom end.

now my kids have more money than me, & their own check cards.

Just run over to the nearest Radio Shack with a printed picture of the cable and $5 cash.