converting vinyl to mp3?

We were talking about this at work today...  most of us are of a 'certain age' and have crates full of vinyl LPs, some of which we'd like to either burn onto CDs or convert to MP3s to keep on our computers or iPods.

I googled this and have seen that there's loads of 'dowload our software' sites that say they can do this.

I just wondered if anyone has tried it, and maybe can recommend one or 2 sites out of the squillions!

Thanks..

I hope you get some responses to this Q-G -- I'd be very interested too!

My boyfriend does this all the time. He's a huge record collector but I can't be bothered so he puts the stuff I like onto CD's for me, then I put them into iTunes. Just asked him and he said he uses Nero software made by Ahead (he thinks). He just made me a CD last night If you're interested in knowing how the process works, I can get more info from him. It looks really easy (she says from her chair across the room) but I know it takes a little bit of time for each album.

I'd love to know, if you have time to tell! 

Thanks...

Here's the process in a nutshell.....

1. You need to make sure your computer allows for audio input
2. You need a cable that connects the computer to the amplifier or headphone outlet (he got his at PC World)
3. You run the software and use the feature to record then start playing the album
4. Once its recorded, it gives you one big file which you can breakdown and edit and rename into the individual songs.
5. Its now a digital file that you can burn to CD, put into iTunes, etc.

Sounds a bit complicated to me but I think once you've done it once, its pretty easy. He used to send me mixed CD's he made me from his album collection before I moved over

I'm sure Paul or Dennis!! will come along with more info as well.

Step 4 is the only one that sounds difficult to me... thanks very much for that! 

Ah, so I'd need to buy a turntable is what you're saying??

Yeah... you'd have to have that!  You need something to play the records on while the amp feeds into the computer and the software digitises the sound.

If like me you are tech challenged,try the ADS TECH Instant music,its just a box and you plug one end into your stereo and the other into your computer,comes with all the leads and software.I got mine off QVC but they have them at Amazon,bit more expensive (£32) but theres no hassle setting up,and it works great.




Dave

That looks fantastic Daver!!

Its actually the same thing I listed (same software and everything) but provides the cable and looks cheaper than buying the software on its own. Looks like a good way to go.

Not much more I can add really!

I will say though, MP3's are of a lower quality in terms of sonic performance and I'd recommend using the higher quality settings for the conversion process. I personally have ripped using a piece of software that I cannot remember the name of now which did some excellent conversions without the 'clipping' and 'distortion' you get with normal conversions.  It's been ages since I've even had a chance to rip anything new, no time for it really and my current 330GB MP3 collection/conversion of my CD's is more than enough !

Happy converting!

Dennis! West London & Slough UK!

Thanks everyone... 

If it's easier for you, you could record each track of an album separately rather than record a whole side and then split it into individual tracks. 

If you already have a sound card with line level inputs and something like the Nero CD Burner software -- which includes a Wave Editor --  then you have everything you need (except for a turntable, of course! ). 

If you have the disk space available, digitizing to a PCM/WAV file will give better quality than compressed MP3.  A 44kHz sampling rate is CD-quality sound.

By the way, on the turntable issue, don't try to connect a standalone turntable with either ceramic or magnetic cartridge direct to the line input of your sound card.  The impedances, levels, and frequency response characteristics are totally different.  You need to couple the turntable up to a amplifier designed for the cartridge, then feed from the amplifier's auxiliary (or tape record ouput) to your computer.

Was that even in English?!?