Vinyl to Digital

Steve Killingsworth · #1 05-28-2007, 06:32 AM

How would I (or what equipment would I need) to transfer my old LPs to a laptop for burning?

I have debated buying a CD recorder but as I understand it, you have to record the entire album as 1 track-something I would prefer to avoid.

Can anyone enlighten me on this?

bassist14 · #2 05-28-2007, 08:03 AM

hi steve
maybe you just need your laptop, a recordplayer, and this:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/?lang=en

Steve Killingsworth · #3 05-28-2007, 10:56 AM

Thanks. It looks interesting. Have you (or anyone else lurking) tried it?

What is used to transfer from the record player to the computer?

bassist14 · #4 05-28-2007, 11:21 AM

i have not tried it yet with a recordplayer.
but i remember some threads about the same topic here.
maybe a search for "audacity" would help

EDIT: did the saerch myself and found this: Gah! Vinyl, why does it have to be on vinyl?!

Jake deVilliers · #5 05-28-2007, 11:32 AM

I just used one of the aux outputs from my receiver into a stereo RCA - mini adapter into my soundcard but you can go direct with one of these.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTUSBMICROPRE

Justin K-ski · #6 05-28-2007, 01:11 PM

I used a program called "cool edit" and just use the headphone out into the 1/8 mic input on my laptop. You can get a M/M 1/4-1/8 or 1/8-1/8 at any radioshack or electronics store.

Kam · #7 05-29-2007, 12:11 PM

If you have a mac (it might work on PC as well?) you can get an iMic which comes with software to transfer vinyl to the computer which can then be burned. I haven't actually tried using it yet, but the interface works well with my laptop.
http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL...nplm=TF815LL/A

northant · #8 06-11-2007, 07:57 AM

another reccomendation for audacity here, extremely functional, FREE, and solved my long running problem of wanting to be able to easily record whatever was playing on my PC speakers

bbates77 · #9 06-11-2007, 08:20 AM

I've used my redundant tape recorder to do this, but you'll need a phono box to reduce the signal. The tape recorder acts as a mini amplifier, then plug the tape recorder into the back of the computer as a stereo input with <2xRCA plugs - stereo jack plug> you can purchase at any electronics store. I've recorded my double bass on to the computer using the same method, but you must reduce the signal with the phono box first, as you can blow your computer speakers; using my pickup in one input and a 57 mic. in the other. Then you can balance the two on the tape recorder with the recording levels. But for this to work you'll need to keep the record and pause buttons down...use a blank cassette.

Steve Killingsworth · #10 06-11-2007, 01:41 PM

I have downloaded Audacity and experimented with some live recordings. So far, as several have noted, it seems very user friendly.

My turntable has just died so it may be a while before I can try it on my LPs. However, I am going to attempt to tranfer some cassettes later this week.

davedamage · #11 06-11-2007, 02:27 PM

this is exactly what you need.
http://www.ion-audio.com/ittusb.php

i've seen them for sale for around $150. if you're turntable is dead, you can't go wrong with this.

**Damon Rondeau** · #12 06-14-2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justin K-ski

I used a program called "cool edit" and just use the headphone out into the 1/8 mic input on my laptop. You can get a M/M 1/4-1/8 or 1/8-1/8 at any radioshack or electronics store.

Personally, I've had problems using headphone outs and the computer's mic in. I haven't done it with a turntable and receiver, but I have tried it with various cassette tape devices and I almost always get a nasty 60hz buzz. I've gone and EQ'd out the buzz as much as I could -- these transfers were for transcribing/archival purposes, audio quality is secondary -- but I found the result compared to the effort disappointing.

I use good cables and I've got a good outboard M-Audio sound unit. I've got various kinds of crappy cassette players, all of them ancient and bound for the dump.