Vinyl Records to CDs

[geffric]

I have lots of records and want to turn them into CDs to play on my Zune or computer.. Have you tried this?

My turntable doesn't work anymore, it needs a needle and a belt. What works best to do this or should I just give everything away and let it go???

 

[erincon23]

For less than $200 you can buy a turntable that will record your albums to an MP3 file, or, depending on the model, right to a CD. I know Target has them -- it may be closer to $150. My son is dying for one of these -- we have a huge collection of albums. There are probably services that will do this as well (like the ones that will take your home movies and put them on DVDs).

Erin

 

[dawson5]

You'll still need a turntable to record them. Only difference is running the lines in to the pc instead of the stereo. I believe you need capture software also. It would only be worthwhile if your albums are in pristine condition, digital still cannot capture the "warmth" that you get from vinyl.

There are some decent turntables out there under $150. Depending on your original turntable, you might be able to buy the parts for about the same cost. Last time I replaced my needle it was around $80 and I had to buy an aftermarket because they no longer made the original for mine. There was only one place in town that I could go to also. This was before there was a lot of internet shopping. I have a Denon turntable and it uses a cartridge style needle.

 

[geffric]

I have a quadroflex ql-410.. i can get a belt.. i need to look for the needle..

have u ever tried a
Crosley Songwriter CD Burner? does this work?

 

[mykidslovesdisney]

Dh has a huge LP collection. We got an ION turntable at BJ's wholesale 2 yrs ago. He got a laptop and it is hooked up to it. The CDs come out really nice. He loves to mix up his old favorites. It is fairly easy to do. He has an exteranal hard drive that he stores all the music on.

He is constantly needing to redo the CDs bc his brothers and friends love them soo much that he lets them have them.

HTH

 

[Golf4food]

I have a friend with one - he says it is as easy as pie.

I need to get one myself because I have a huge collection of old classical LPs I bought for a dime each from the local NPR radio station when they got rid of their old LPs for CDs and Digitial. Lots of great out of print or hard to find stuff, too.

 

[dawson5]

I know a girl who collects mfsl vinyl. I had no clue what it was until she "educated" a lot of us. Interesting stuff, never would have known there was that big of a difference.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Fidelity_Sound_Lab

As for the software, I'm not sure. There is a site (tradersden.org) and they have a technobabble section, they probably would have the best ideas of what to use. There will be pops in the recording, I know you will need something to edit these out. I keep thinking audacity but I'm not sure. I'm on my son's computer and can't access my computer at the moment. I know there are a few that are good and free.

 

[tar heel]

I bought my DH an ION UCB turntable for Christmas -- this is the gadget you use to go directly from vinyl to computer files. He hasn't used it yet, but it was very inexpensive at Kohl's and was the same kind they had at Best Buy and Sears. I got it at Kohl's b/c the price was better and it can be returned if it's useless. You might see if they still have them b/c it's the kind of item they will discount like crazy after the holidays.

 

[GeorgeG]

I saw something several months back that played the records and recorded them to a digital format. Ploblem is I don't remember where I saw it, but it does exist. Seems it was $200-$300.

 

[geffric]

After work this morning, I went on a quest... here is what I found.

Target - Crosby CD recorder $ 249.99.. goes direct from the record to a CD no computer or stero needed.

Kohls - IT ( Interactive Technology) CD recorder.. same as Target.. $ 249.99

Best Buy - Sony USB Turntable.. records vinyl to CD using the computer and USB port $ 157.00

Costco - ION turntable TTUSB10 - similar to Best Buy but has cable to hook to recriever - not sure if I need these or if I have to record from the stereo..v $ 99.99

no sales here at all..

 

[MIGrandma]

I've been thinking about this as well. I have a lot of my own albums, plus all of my Mom's from the 50's, 60's and 70's plus all of my grandmother's from the 30's, 40's and 50's!!!

I would love to transfer all of them over to CD's, but I don't want to pay for a turntable that I would only use a few weeks to get the job done.

I've been thinking of going to Rent Rite to see if they have them to rent. This is the place that rents all kinds of things for weddings, and tools, fork lifts, etc. etc. that people need occasionally but don't want to buy.

 

[Imzadi]

Here's a new turntable at Radio Shack for $80 that will record them to MP3s automatically. It seems much cheaper than all those other workarounds of getting a new needle PLUS belt PLUS software.

$80 turntable

Depending on your PC, it probably already has software to burn a CD or DVD from MP3s. This way you have both the MP3s and the CDs. CDs will degrade over time and need to be transferred to some other archival storage.

 

[geffric]

Thanks I'll take a look at that..

 

[Abbie]

Dh has a huge LP collection. We got an ION turntable at BJ's wholesale 2 yrs ago. He got a laptop and it is hooked up to it. The CDs come out really nice. He loves to mix up his old favorites. It is fairly easy to do. He has an exteranal hard drive that he stores all the music on.

He is constantly needing to redo the CDs bc his brothers and friends love them soo much that he lets them have them.

HTH

Sorry to be off-topic, but this is what we just gave my DH also, about $90 at BJ's. He loves it but is there a way to record an entire album at a time? He has only figured out how to do it song by song and that is tedious!

OP, I haven't read the whole thread, but this machine comes with the turntable for turning albums into mp3's.

 

[nd5056]

I have lots of records and want to turn them into CDs to play on my Zune or computer.. Have you tried this?

My turntable doesn't work anymore, it needs a needle and a belt. What works best to do this or should I just give everything away and let it go???

It depends if you just want to do it the cheapest way or are you an Audiophile that wants the best?

The vinyl to MP3 process is fairly simple regardless if you do it via PC or thru the All-in-One device. What makes a difference is how much that recording device generates “needle scratching the vinyl” noise and how it “deals” with it? Some devices are better then other.
Heard many good things about the Ion LP 2 CD vinyl to MP3 Turntable, you can read a little about it HERE: or HERE:

...
Ion LP 2 CD

Extra features (dustcover, headphone jack, and the ability to burn MP3s to a built-in CD drive) give the Ion some bragging rights, and like all the models in this test, it offers playback speed options for 33s, 45s, and 78s (though, frankly, 78s are for weirdos who like crackly Dixieland jazz records and Elvis collectibles).

But it takes match point as a vinyl converter for being the only option here with a dedicated gain control. If you want the best-sounding MP3s on your computer, this is the choice.

[ionaudio.com]

RATING:

.

 

[BunsenH]

............ He loves it but is there a way to record an entire album at a time? He has only figured out how to do it song by song and that is tedious!
...............

Let me reinforce that the process of recording vinyl to mp3s is rewarding, but tedious.

I use old software from Roxio called Spin Doctor. It does a good job of filtering pops & clicks, but the steps include:

Creating folder for artist
Creating folder for album
Naming track (track#_songname.mp3) to maintain correct playing order within "album"
Cueing track
Recording (this is in real time, not like ripping a CD, 6 minute song takes 6 minutes)
Stopping recording at end of track (there may be an automatic function for this)
Entering other track info, if desired (year, cover art, etc.)

I recently started recording taped tracks to mp3, and that is even more difficult. You can't 'see' where the tracks start.

 

[nd5056]

...

I recently started recording taped tracks to mp3, and that is even more difficult. You can't 'see' where the tracks start.

You can covert the entire tape to MP3 and split it up later...

.

 

[BunsenH]

You can covert the entire tape to MP3 and split it up later...

.

That might help. The mp3 editor I have (mp3trim?) is only good for cleaning up the start and end of the file. What's out there for a free full editor?

 

[legalsea]

I have lots of records and want to turn them into CDs to play on my Zune or computer.. Have you tried this?

My turntable doesn't work anymore, it needs a needle and a belt. What works best to do this or should I just give everything away and let it go???

In 2006 I bought a TEAC GF-350 Turntable that will record your lps to CD. I use it a lot. Very easy to use. I also brought out my old walkman cassette player and hooked it up (using a simple connection device otained at Radio Shack: one end fits into the earphone plug of the Walkman, the other two ends, being white and red, plug into the back of the Teac unit) and so I am now transferring old cassettes to CD.

To put on my Ipod: I then load the CD into my computer, transfer to itunes, then to the Ipod.

 

[disneymarie]

For less than $200 you can buy a turntable that will record your albums to an MP3 file, or, depending on the model, right to a CD. I know Target has them -- it may be closer to $150. My son is dying for one of these -- we have a huge collection of albums. There are probably services that will do this as well (like the ones that will take your home movies and put them on DVDs).

Erin

Bought dh one for Christmas, it has a vinyl player, cassette and CD player to recordable CD. He has been playing with it since Christmas.
I also have unopened software and cable to go from our stereo to the CPU to record from SAMS unopened as we needed a needle to play, and I could not crawl behind the storage cabinet.
I got his at Bed Bath & Beyond, with the 20% off coupon, so about $160. I did see a unit at Target on sale.
They are so old fashion looking, love it. Has a radio too,