Converting Vinyl / tape to MP3

Message

Paulh · #1 Post by **Paulh** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:37 pm

Posted this elsewhere but got bombarded with techie responses that mean nothing to me - I just need a simple answer.

I've got loads of old vinyl and tape that is not readily available as downloads or on CD these days and I want to be able to put it on my MP3 player.

I need something thats simple to use and cheap that I can simply plug into my PC, stick my records and tapes on, and record off - anyone got any recommendations?

D-Rider · #2 Post by **D-Rider** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 1:52 pm

If you want to avoid the hassle of connecting your hifi up to your PC and then capturing the sound, I'm sure I recently saw a USB turntable - presumably designed for this (I guess it probably comes with easy to use software).
I guess a google search will help you

Samray · #3 Post by **Samray** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 2:27 pm

For what it's worth something similar caught my eye in the junk that came with the Sun on Saturday.

Fausto · #4 Post by **Fausto** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 4:12 pm

If your MP3 player has a mic built in just stick it in front of the stereo and hey presto...

..ok, tongue in cheek that but it reminds me of being lots younger and recording the top 40 off the radio in a similar way. And hey the sound quality will just be in keeping with the nostalgia of that old vinyl.

Seriously - I tried this a few years back connecting the turntable to the line in on the PC soundcard which is an audio (non digital) input. Then used some free software I may still have if you need it to convert to digital..... BUT....

and it's a big BUT.....

it was such a pain in the arse that I soon gave up and now just buy them on CD as and when I find them. They're all out there somewhere.

Pierre · #5 Post by **Pierre** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:16 pm

Just searched ebay, searched for " vinyl to mp3 " and "tape to mp3" and got loads of matches

Looks like a lead from headphone output to mic input on pc soundcard and some software for converting.

Mind you, I cant belive theres anything that isnt available for download. I mean if you have the originals then it could be deemed legal to re-download the digital version, as you could rip it anyway - and this would justify you looking round the slightly more , shall we say , disreputable sites

Firestarter · #6 Post by **Firestarter** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:44 pm

Pierre wrote:Mind you, I cant belive theres anything that isnt available for download. I mean if you have the originals then it could be deemed legal to re-download the digital version, as you could rip it anyway - and this would justify you looking round the slightly more , shall we say , disreputable sites

I thought that ripping was strictly legal either?

#7 Post by **mangocrazy** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:16 pm

It all depends how geeky you want to be, really. I do a bit of DJ-ing and have my decks & mixer wired up to my (good quality) soundcard in my PC. I use a piece of software called Sound Forge, but there are loads of other programs that will do the same thing. Every sound card has an analog/digital converter (called a DAC), by the way, it's just that most are cheap and only give so-so results.

Quality I get is excellent, but I don't convert to MP3, I convert to WAV which preserves the original quality. What most people don't realise is that when you convert a music file to MP3 format you're throwing away 90% of the original sound. And the lower the bitrate/more compressed the files are, the worse it gets.

If you're only going to convert your old vinyl to MP3 to use on an iPod or similar, then a USB turntable will do absolutely fine. Check to see if the package includes the software to do the recording to MP3. The analogue/digital conversion is almost certainly performed in the turntable's electronics.

Pierre · #8 Post by **Pierre** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:19 am

Yea mango, but sometimes losing 90% of the music is a good thing

Anyway, Maplins weekly email has this on offer atm :
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Mod ... =-11925249

Looks like a connection box that you wire your shizzle stuff to and then it plugs into your usb port. £50 but looks idiotproof (no offence paulh

)

Paulh · #9 Post by **Paulh** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:42 am

Pierre wrote: Looks like a connection box that you wire your shizzle stuff to and then it plugs into your usb port. £50 but looks idiotproof (no offence paulh )

Trouble is I dont actually have any kit - it was all lent out to relatives years ago and never seen again.

I may take a wander down to Maplins though as they seem to have some turntables that plug into PC's

Aladinsaneuk · #10 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 11:59 am

If you would care to pm me I will give you a couple of bittorrent links that I use to find the more obscure parts of my pl collection
I think it wapuld be wrong to post publically with such sites before anyone asks!
I have a lot of music and I too had what I thought were lost vinyl classics but over a few months I was able to find most

wavey · #11 Post by **wavey** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:13 pm

Does £39.99 + free next day delivery for a USB turntable sound ok? If so try this link http://www.djkit.co.uk/product.php?id=4209&cat=85

Dave

#12 Post by **Kwackerz** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:18 am

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98232

This one has the ability to add other stuff...

-Maybe 'Smoke on the Water' on the deck coupled with you smashing out the tune on an electric guitar.. all saved to pooter!