Converting vinyl LP's to digital

[Urban Earth]

Yes, I admit, I am a vinyl dinosaur. I have a good collection of vinyl and was wondering if anyone has seen/used a way to hook up a record player to the computer to then burn to CD. Any info and good/bad experiences would be appreciated.

Thanks

AJ

[Kov-Ice]

Try a search of these forums for the key words in your post's title. You'll find several threads on the subject. If you get a soundcard with RCA inputs, you can record directly. I use Adobe's Audition software to touch up and convert the files to MP3. Nero to burn.

[ComputerNut]

I agree with Kov-Ice, there are TONS of threads on this forum which pertain to the same situation you have. Just do a search, youll find tons of info.

HTH,
CN

[Urban Earth]

Already did a search before I posted. Just did another, and 'vinyl' as a keyword showed nothing.

AJ

[Kov-Ice]

HERE is just one of many I came across. Try fewer, more, or some different terms when searching. You should be able to come across some other good links as well.

[Hi Ho]

You don't need a sound card with RCA inputs. What you need, depending on your setup, is a preamp and a cable like THIS. You could get by without a preamp if the reciever your turntable is connected to has a line out. For recording you can use Audacity. It's a free program that works great.

[SonicVanguard]

All you need to know: http://www.delback.co.uk/lp-cdr.htm

[Urban Earth]

Thanks for the info.

Dave, that site really is all you need to know! Thanks.

AJ

[Kov-Ice]

That's the link AudioYoda gives in the post I directed ya to!

[SonicVanguard]

Originally Posted by Kov-Ice That's the link AudioYoda gives in the post I directed ya to!

Audi's my business partner - where do you think I got it?

[ssahl]

you dont need anything aside from a turntable, and one of those cables that has 1/8th inch sterio jack on one side, and two rca jacks on the other, then hook up the turntable to your line in on your sound card, use a program like
goldwave to record the line in while your playing the record and save it as an mp3, or whatever then use windows media player to burn the files to a cd

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by ssahl you dont need anything aside from a turntable, and one of those cables that has 1/8th inch sterio jack on one side, and two rca jacks on the other, then hook up the turntable to your line in on your sound card, use a program like goldwave to record the line in while your playing the record and save it as an mp3, or whatever then use windows media player to burn the files to a cd

I may be mistaken, but I think you missed a component. The turntable needs to be connected to an amp or receiver/amp in order to amplify the signal from the turntable. Connecting directly to the pc will result in a much reduced volume.

[ComputerNut]

It really depends on the turntable. if it has a headphone jack, and/or line output jacks, then the signal should already be amplified to a line level signal. Id expect more recent turntables to have such connectors.

HTH,
CN

[SonicVanguard]

Originally Posted by ComputerNut It really depends on the turntable. if it has a headphone jack, and/or line output jacks, then the signal should already be amplified to a line level signal. Id expect more recent turntables to have such connectors. HTH, CN

Never, and I mean NEVER use a headphone jack to run into a line-in. Don't even suggest people do that - that's an amplified signal running to a preamp expecting a 0dB (or even -3dB) signal. The preamp will overload and someone's buying a new soundcard.

Turntables do have line outs - but they are still configured to the RIAA EQ curve. They have to be considering the LP was mastered to the converse of that curve. I know of three very high-end turntables that have a converse EQ preamp output - 99% of the turntables on the market do not.

Panama is correct, an amp with a turntable input is needed to convert the RIAA EQ curve to a standard signal. Then you would use a line out (again, not an amplified out) from the receiver or amp to your soundcard to process the signal.

[Enigmatism]

I have the answer, AND the perfect program for your vinyl needs!

Audacity Is what you are looking for.
Download it here.

Heres what to do:
1 - Download Audacity
2 - Install Audacity
3 - Connect the "Tape Out" RCA jacks on your amp to the 3.5mm "Mic In" jack on your soundcard. (The turntable is presumeably connected to the AMP) (You must use the Tape Out jacks, Headphone jacks are pre-amplified and can fry your sound card.)
4 - Open a new project on Audacity
5 - Play the record and run over to your computer and hit the "record" button on Audacity.
6 - Wait for the song to end, and press stop on audacity.
7 - Incase there is extra length or noise in the beginning or end, simply highlight the part of the song you wish to cut and press delete.
8 - On the top menu, click "convert to....[preferable filetype: MP3, WAV, AAC, etc]."

*NOTE* if you want to convert it to a mp3, you must download a file called lame_enc.dll
Download that here

Both downloads are free and legal. If you have any questions, send me a PM.

[ComputerNut]

Originally Posted by SonicVanguard Never, and I mean NEVER use a headphone jack to run into a line-in. Don't even suggest people do that - that's an amplified signal running to a preamp expecting a 0dB (or even -3dB) signal. The preamp will overload and someone's buying a new soundcard.

I'll have to keep that in mind, cause several audio editing software manuals ive read claim that you can use the headphone jack to the line-in

CN

[Hi Ho]

I may be mistaken, but I think you missed a component. The turntable needs to be connected to an amp or receiver/amp in order to amplify the signal from the turntable. Connecting directly to the pc will result in a much reduced volume.

That's where a preamp comes in. Unless you have a receiver with a phono input and a line-out and your turntable doesn't have a line-out you will need a preamp. Most of the turntables I have seen needed a grounded phono input. I know mine does. Urban Earth, I'm assuming, that since you are a self proclaimed "vinyl dinosaur" that you have a reciever with a phono input.

[Enigmatism]

Just use a normal, run-of-the-mill amplifier / receiver. If it has a Tape Out and a Phono Input (with ground recommended), then you are fine.

[SonicVanguard]

Originally Posted by Enigmatism 3 - Connect the "Tape Out" RCA jacks on your amp to the 3.5mm "Mic In" jack on your soundcard. (The turntable is presumeably connected to the AMP) (You must use the Tape Out jacks, Headphone jacks are pre-amplified and can fry your sound card.)

And if you connect to the mic-in you'll also fry your soundcard. A microphone input is expecting a -100dB signal - to run a line level to that is as bad as running a line from the headphone jack to a line-in.

Look, the definitive source for this topic has already been posted. There is no better source or knowledge base on-line for recording LPs to your computer.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by Hi Ho ... I'm assuming, that since you are a self proclaimed "vinyl dinosaur" that you have a reciever with a phono input.

Sure do! Just for the record, I tried a preamp once and the sound was terrible. Probably cuz it was a cheap Radio Shack unit.

[Enigmatism]

I tried using the Line-In connector, but my program wont recognize it as an input source. When using a Line-In connection, the sound plays through the computer's speakers, but the program doesn't record it. (Can someone help me out with this?)

[Kov-Ice]

Originally Posted by ssahl you dont need anything aside from a turntable, and one of those cables that has 1/8th inch sterio jack on one side, and two rca jacks on the other

When going from left/right RCA jacks to a single Line-In, is the integrity of the signal still intact? Meaning, are the left/right channels recorded separately from one another?

[Enigmatism]

Yes.

If you look at the 1/8th inch (3.5mm) jack, it has two stripes on the metal prong. One is for the left signal, one is for the right signal.

[ssahl]

If your using goldwave you need to click on tools then click on 'device controls'
then click on the device control properties button. make sure that the record device is your sound card then click on the volume tab, you'll see line in, microphone, aux, etc... choose line in and adjust the volume
if you can hear it then you just need to make sure your program that your using to record is recording from the line in of your sound card.

I never said anything about using a microphone jack, especially one that came from a turntable, most new motherboards however will adjust the mic, line in, and speaker jacks acording to what you plug into them, not that I would test that.

Yes if you have a Receiver with line out rca jacks that would be the best, but it will still work without a receiver, as was said though the volume will be low, that can be adjusted some when you record the sound file, as for the quality who knows, it may very well sound like crap, I've done this MANY times with a tape deck, not once did I ever ruin my sound card, and it worked everytime, however when I didnt run from the line out of a receiver the quality was sometimes really crappy, but not always

[VideoQuasar]

Just get this and have fun doing it. It comes with a pre-amp that is powered by USB. I love mine....its a fun program and works excellent. It will also find your LP's tracks and separate them for you.

http://tinyurl.com/3v654

[Hi Ho]

That program seems to be discontinued. I don't see why. It looks like a nice program that I might have wanted to try.

[SonicVanguard]

Clean was a great program. But I think when Steinberg sold off their consumer products line it fell through the cracks - at least here in the United States. Steinberg's Clean 5 is still sold in Europe by Pinnacle Systems. But Hi Ho you are correct, it is discontinued.

[VideoQuasar]

Oh wow...that so sucks! I just love mine, so sorry for posting something not available.

[ssahl]

this is a killer program

http://www.goldwave.com/

[hunter11]

I use sound recorder from WWW.polderbits.com They give you instructions how to connect and their trial version is fully functional for 15 day. been using it for 2 years with no problems. They update regularly. It has an editing program included and you can save in multiple formats.