Video: How to backup old records into MP3s (for free) |
10 Comments |
Posted by Marc Saltzman at 4:41 PM | E-mail this post
We've published posts on how to back up your old records and tapes into CDs or MP3s, but you can't beat an accessible video demonstration. Check out this plain English guide on how to convert your analog music collection into a digital format -- without buying one of those fancy USB turntables or cassette decks.
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Posted by Marc Saltzman at 4:41 PM in Computers & Software
, Found on the Web
, Home Entertainment
, Portable Device & MP3 Players
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Stuloud on November 21 at 8:45 PM | Report abuse
A good primer but there are some very important points missing.
1/ Vinyl records are made with RIAA Equalization. They do not have a flat frequency response. The Phono input jacks on any home stereo receiver/amplifier also has RIAA Equalization, but in reverse to the the vinyl record. The result is a flat frequency response when the record is played on a turntable and amplified by a stereo amplifier/receiver. With out the RIAA equalization. The digital recording of the vinyl record will have less bass and more treble because of the lack of RIAA equalization when recorded on the computer.
2/ The microphone input in most laptops is not a stereo input but is realy only a mono input. The tip of the mini jack is used for the DC bias voltage for the electret microphone capsule. This DC voltage is minimal but it could damage the cartridge in the turtable when the lead is plugged into the laptop and the turntable.
3/ The best way to acomplish recording of vinyl records with a computer is to use a turntable connected to the Phono input of a stereo amplifier/receiver and then connect the LINE input (the only true stereo anolog input) of the laptop or computer sound card to the record out or tape out of the stereo amplifier/receiver.
This will give you the best results.
The RIAA equalization wil be there and the digital recordings will sound like the vinyl record does.
Stuloud on November 21 at 8:50 PM | Report abuse
A good primer but there are some very important points missing.
1/ Vinyl records are made with RIAA Equalization. They do not have a flat frequency response. The Phono input jacks on any home stereo receiver/amplifier also has RIAA Equalization, but in reverse to the the vinyl record. The result is a flat frequency response when the record is played on a turntable and amplified by a stereo amplifier/receiver. With out the RIAA equalization. The digital recording of the vinyl record will have less bass and more treble because of the lack of RIAA equalization when recorded on the computer.
2/ The microphone input in most laptops is not a stereo input but is really only a mono input. The tip of the mini jack is used for the DC bias voltage for the electret microphone capsule. This DC voltage is minimal but it could damage the cartridge in the turtable when the lead is plugged into the laptop and the turntable.
3/ The best way to accomplish recording of vinyl records with a computer is to use a turntable connected to the Phono input of a stereo amplifier/receiver and then connect the LINE input (the only true stereo anolog input) of the laptop or computer sound card to the record out or tape out of the stereo amplifier/receiver.
This will give you the best results.
The RIAA equalization will be there and the digital recordings will sound like the vinyl record does.
Wayne Bissonnette on November 22 at 10:26 AM | Report abuse
Glad you reposted this from your earlier post on buying the expensive gadgets which arn't needed.2 thumbs up and keep posting free how to's,more people read these post.
Lloyd on November 22 at 3:42 PM | Report abuse
Fantastic, and yet simple, thank you. I'll be trying this one out.
mick on November 23 at 4:39 PM | Report abuse
i cannot hear a thing on this compter with a missing sound card driver also my son bought me one of those turntables and i still can't convert which is too bad as i have some good music on vinal that would be nice to listen to when i'm out and about
Steve on November 24 at 9:03 AM | Report abuse
Great primer! I have just set up my equipment and was about to search for a good audio (free) software pack. You've provided the last piece that I needed. Thanks for the info.
Graham on November 26 at 11:46 AM | Report abuse
Couldn't read the guide as for some reason the Flash plug-in wouldn't work. However, that said, a year ago I bought a USB stereo interface - for $30 from Costco - which allows me to record all stereo sound, e.g. LPs, Cassettes, Radio, to my computer which I can then convert to MP3. Its been great. Set-up was really simple too.
Backup Tapes on December 11 at 2:23 AM | Report abuse
You can get more detail about backup tapes!
Al on January 2 at 6:27 AM | Report abuse
Doing what the chap did in the demo video can over modulate the input of the laptop.
If that happens, you'll get distortion that can't be corrected with any software I know about.
However, by purchasing and inserting a miniphone to miniphone "potentiometer" (read "volume control") in line with his setup, the output of the record player/stereo reciever can be reduced before the input to the computer.
(His miniphone jack plugs into the "pot", and the output miniphone jack of the "pot" plugs into the laptop.)
While simple, I still like the USB turntable idea.
Michael on February 21 at 5:10 PM | Report abuse
Can you burn the copied files onto CD? I tried through Windows Media Player and was told I couldn't because the system could not recognize the length of the file.