Old-style vinyl LP records...?

Question

My question is: Can the music on old-style phonograph records be converted directly to a digital format (to preserve sound quality) so that it can be burned onto CDs? (For private use, of course.) There has to be a way. Record companies do the same thing, don't they? I'd like to know if there is hardware & software available to the public for this purpose or if there are companies who offer this service. In any case, I'm wondering what would be the least expensive.

Answer 1

Yes - it can be done but you will need a music recording program. You connect your analog source (turntable, cassette deck, etc.) to your sound card's "Line Input" and use the program to record the sound.

I use a program called Magix Audio Cleaning Lab - available at Best Buy for about $40. This program not only allows you to record analog sources into the computer, but after the recording is done, you can clean up any audio problems such as tape hiss, record clicks and pops, and turntable rumble. Then, using the editing and mastering features, you can enhance the sound by compressing or leveling the overall volume level, equalizing, and some other effects, then when you're done, you can burn the finished project directly to a CD or export it to your hard drive as a new MP3, WMA, OGG, or uncompressed WAV file - this is a very versatile program and with the price of CD's being what it is will practically pay for itself after you digitize two or three albums.

Answer 2

There's a lot of good answers on how to do this but you will not get the same audio quality in digital as you will from the LP's. Cd's are still using 16 bit resolution. Even if you had the latest 24 bit sound card the CD's will burn at 16 bit.
If preserving the music is all that you want then go with the suggestions rendered above.

Answer 3

Record companies have analog master tapes of older music. These must be digitized onto a hard disk first & then transfered to CDs.

You need to get the appropriate cables to connect a Hi-Fi preamp or receiver to the Line-In input on a PC sound card. Better yet, buy an external sound-card box with a USB connection to a PC or laptop.

Play the LP & record to the hard disk. Use software like Goldwave (www.goldwave.com) to do the recording. It comes with an online manual that explains exactly this whole procedure.

Answer 4

It's easy enough to do yourself and fairly inexpensive as well. You just need what is known as a "audio interface".
The most IMPORTANT aspects to remember when tranferring LP to PC are using what's known as a PRE-AMP and PROPER GROUNDING of the turntable. If those 2 areas aren't addressed the final product will sound like CRAP.

I provided some links to some of the better audio interfaces for transferring LP to PC. The Terratec models being the BEST in my opinion.

Answer 5

There is service company's to do this ,but you can do-it-yourself.

First you need a "good" phonograph and a cd recorder.

There is more to it of course,a little research on line and you can
decide if you want to do it or send it out.

Answer 6

of course it can.
you can either use your line in jack on your pc/mac or via a USB sound input device such as an iMic. You will need a phono to mini jack cable as well.

It is best to go via your amplifier.

As for software Roxio has an excellent package for this called Spin Doctor for the mac

Answer 7

Either Craigslist or a local record shop. If you can dance to them, a lot of DJs will pick them up since that's usually their format of choice.

Answer 8

you need a turntable, a RIAA equalized preamplifier
and a software like goldwave to make the wav file.
you will also need a lot of patience when running filters to remove clicks and background noise..

Answer 9

yeah, there is! try hammacher schlemmer, they have everything!!!

the link i sent you is an Lp to CD... and then you could burn the cd on your computer if you want a digital file. :)