record and copy vinyl to cd and mp3

Last updated 14 April 2009

Vinyl Records to CDs in Easy Steps
or if you don't want to do it yourself...

This article contains step by step instructions for convert ing your records to CDs, and also includes links to simple explanations of windows functionality (with pictures), because to keep it compact the general assumption is that the reader will be familiar with this. Over the releases of windows, microsoft have followed a policy of hiding more and more from the user in the belief that this makes windows easier to use. Up to a point this is correct, but when things aren’t working the way you want its normally a hinderance. However, all of the hidden information can fairly easily be revealed – wherever you find a Pink Link follow it to find windows function information.

1. The Hardware

You will need;

A desktop computer (most laptops are not suitable unless you purchase USB soundcard).

A Turntable with a preamp

A recording lead - 2 phono plugs to one stereo 3.5mm jack

2. The Software

You will need;

Recording software eg Accoustica Spin-It-Again. Its one of the best products out there and there's a free trial version.

Crackle removing software [optional, but recommended] eg DePopper. There's a free trial and its only $18 to buy.

CD Burning Software. eg Nero - but whatever your PC was shipped with should do fine.

If you want to make your finished CDs look great, you can use a label maker, like this one

3. The Process

a) Connect Up. If its a USB turntable, connect it a USB socket. Turntables with built in preamps, connect the turntable to the PC line-in (blue 3.5mm jack socket, normally on the back). If you're using a hifi amp, connect from the 'tape out' sockets to the line-in.
phono jack

b) Make sure your PC sound driver is set to record from line-in. The easiest way to do this is choose Run from your start menu and type sndvol32 /r
which will bring up the following window;

recording control

Note that the Select box under Line In is checked. A good idea is to set up a shortcut to this on your quick start bar.

c) Start up your recording software. Put the record on, start recording in the software. When the record is finished, save the file.

If you save straight to mp3 saving can take a while, so its probably better to save as a .wav file first, then batch convert later if you like. If you're going to make audio CDs, a .wav recording will also be better quality. More about file types and sound quality if you need to know this.

d) Run crackle removing software if you like

e) Split the recording into separate tracks - tutorial on this using Wavepad

f) Burn the files to audio CD or copy them to your mp3 player.

Well Done. That's the job done. Only read on from here if you need further help.

How to use the software

Click on Depopper or Nero to jump to a simple tutorial with screenshots. Spin-it-again is so simple there's really no need for a tutorial - every button press is plainly obvious.

DePopper Nero/Roxio/Whatever

How to Deal With Live LPs

The question here is whether to keep each side as one piece or break it into separate music tracks. You can break it into tracks using your editing software with carful use of fading in and out, which means you can play the tracks in any sequence. Another approach is break them up into tracks in such a way that they will still play seamlessly, but still allow you to skip forward track by track on your cd player. The way to do this is split the track up into however many segments you want, using a sound editor (such as wavepad etc), don't use any fade, just make a clean cut anywhere you choose and save each segment as a separate .wav file. You must use .wav and not .mp3 for this purpose. Now burn you audio CD but be sure you have set Disk At Once (DAO) as the mastering method, or specify zero gap between tracks because most software defaults this to 2 seconds. Thats it - play on your CD player and it will be seamless.

The reason you must use .wav format is because its a raw uncompressed data format. Mp3 and other compressed file formats also contain some text header data, which will appear as a tiny little bit of silence at the end of the track.

Background Noise Problems

A good recording, like the one in the wavepad tutorial, should have low background noise.You can't expect absolutely zero noise though, as you will record the sound of the stylus tracking on the vinyl. If there's a significant noise there are several things that can be generating electrical noise;

1. Any transformer thats near to your PC. Your PC speakers usually have a built in mains transformer, try recording with them turned off. Any other suspicious kit, turn it off or move it away.

2. The computer's Power Supply Unit (PSU). These can be electrically noisy, as well as physically noisy. There are a number of whisper quiet PSUs on the market, but the only way to test if this is the problem is to try one.

3. Your turntable. The best hifi turntables are 12v or 16v with the transformer at the plug end - ie well away from the stylus.

4. Your hifi amp or preamp. This is the last port of call and its unlikely to be the problem unless its faulty because (audiophiles turn away now) the difference between even a low budget amplifier and the best is quite small - much less than the difference between the best and worst PSUs and turntables.

Have you thought of buying your music instead?

Of course you don't have to record your records, quite a lot of material is available for download and probably much cheaper than you think. Try 7 Digital.

Don't Forget to Backup

You'll probably put a lot of time into copying your LPs and singles to files on your hard drive. I'm sure you know that all hard drives fail sooner or later, so don't take a chance, make sure you get everything copied to CD. This is another good reason for keeping files in mp3 format - even a big music collection will copy onto just a few CDs.

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