Don't use a microphone for this job unless you want it to sound like a really bad stage effect. Instead, use a 3.5mm TRS plug to 2x 1/4" TS plug breakout lead (a.k.a. an insert cable) such as [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.sweetwat…"]this[/]="http://www.sweetwat…"]this[/] one to go from the headphone output of your cassette player to the two instrument inputs of the VSL22. These are the centre jacks of the combo input connectors, and the plug labelled "send" or "tip" should go to the left channel.

You could try a noise gate to reduce the feedthrough from the other tracks, but my guess is that it will be better left as is.

My first suggestion is,
If the songs are really important, you might consider sending this off to a mastering house. They can remove unwanted stuff and get it sounding pretty good for you for not much money in comparison to all the fuss you'll be having. They'll have better conversion as well.

Are you able to adjust the head of the cassette player to get it to playback better?
I'm not sure why you mention a limiter for this? I wouldn't be using one for this purpose.

To remove unwanted noise like rumble and hiss, you can use a spectral restoration process.

I wouldn't use a mic to transfer it unless thats the only way for you. Keep it as close to a straight wire as possible for transferring to digital.

audiokid, post: 408759 wrote: My first suggestion is,
If the songs are really important, you might consider sending this off to a mastering house.
Are you able to adjust the head of the cassette player to get it to playback better?
I'm not sure why you mention a limiter for this? I wouldn't be using one for this purpose.

To remove unwanted noise like rumble and hiss, you can use a spectral restoration process.

Well, actually it's spoken audio - a woman telling a narrative story. But yes, I thought about adjusting the playback head or trying another tape deck.

But I thought the noise gate effect of the limiter could put the clamp down on those low level bleedthrough/backtracking sounds.

Wasn't as concerned about the hiss but thought I might EQ out some of that.

1. The typical way to do this would be start with a decent, reasonably well-maintained cassette deck. (not a boombox)
Take the RCA cables from the unbalanced -10dB Left / Right outputs on the tape player into something like this [="http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062455"]RCA - ¼" adapter[/]="http://www.radiosha…"]RCA - ¼" adapter[/] (or a cable that accomplishes the same thing). Plug the ¼" into two channels of your VSL22 and away you go.

Any portable will probably be comparably lo-fi. If a boombox or other portable is your only option then you will be much better served coming out of the headphone jack than you will micing it - compounding the lo-fi problem. If the boombox is stereo get [[url=http://="http://www.radiosha…"]the appropriate ⅛" TRS to RCA cable[/]="http://www.radiosha…"]the appropriate ⅛" TRS to RCA cable[/] AND the [="http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062455"]RCA - ¼" adapters[/]="http://www.radiosha…"]RCA - ¼" adapters[/] above. At this point you're in it for less than $3.

If you're using some ancient mono portable you need a corresponding [[url=http://="http://www.radiosha…"]mono ⅛" to ¼" cable[/]="http://www.radiosha…"]mono ⅛" to ¼" cable[/] into one channel of the VSL.

2. The best way to eliminate your tracking artifacts - physically fix the playback head alignment. If it was tracked out of alignment, and your current player is good, mark the starting point on your deck and temporarily realign for this one time playback then tweak it back to the mark. The only tool required is a small philips head screwdriver and ears. There's usually a drop of loktite or similar, but it's not brain surgery. You can use nailpolish to lock set screw after you've returned it to your mark. If you're using a portable, chances are better those heads are out. Ordinarily I might not suggest tweaking the head alignment, but let's face it cassette is a dead technology. So unless you've got a library of tapes to digitize, you've got nothing to lose fixing it at the source.

Good luck.

ED: I was about to post when I got a couple long phone calls… Meanwhile Boswell and audiokid got you covered with good advice, carry on.