[Danberg]

The Square Circle has gotten me interested in converting my vinyl LP's to digital format. 

However, being a novice computer user, please head me in the right direction on the basics needed to make that conversion possible.  All the how-to's, including equipment, software, computer specs, capacity, etc. would be appreciated.  Any input on cost(s) would be helpful.  Reading sources, on the above, aimed at the novice, wouldn't hurt.

I have approximately 300 LP's I'd like to convert to digital.  Keeping the sound as close to the original as possible, is a high priority!

Thanks

[giantsteps]

 Why?

 Frank

[giantsteps]

 I must be biased. Surrounded by musicians there is a quality of sound emanating from those complex grooves that we're not about to give up. My CD's outnumber my Lp's at a ratio of 10 to 1. But when I spin an LP I smile.




Frank 

[Charles Calkins]

I use Acoustica's Spin it again program. I think it's about $35. Very simple and easy to use. Very good instructions on hooking up. Cleans all those clicks and pops up real good. But like everything garbage in garbage out. I don't think there is a program that will perform miracles converting LP's to digital. Might be and maybe some of the guys here have a trick or two to share.

                                              Cheers
                                             Charlie

                                                             

[Wayner]

I rip my LPs to a stand alone Philips CD recorder, manually indexing each track. I then download the CD-RW (music) to my laptop. I have a very special piece of software from Cakewalk, Pro Audio 9 (it is now called Sonar). This software allows me to dump each song, clip the music pane at the start, do a computerized fad at the end and then normalize the recording to bring the input to the highest level. Then I burn onto a regular CD-R for the finality. This is a long process, but there is no noise between songs and the fad-outs are sweet. I have made some copies that sound better than their commercial cousins and have fooled people listening to them, telling them they were listening to a record, of course, with disbelief. Cakewalk makes another cheaper product called Pyro but it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of it's costlier counterpart. I use it because I have it. It may not be the best choice in software, but I think my process of recording is the best way to go. Some people have bought turntables with built in USB, but reports are that the tables kind of suck.

Wayner

[giantsteps]

I rip my LPs to a stand alone Philips CD recorder, manually indexing each track. I then download the CD-RW (music) to my laptop. I have a very special piece of software from Cakewalk, Pro Audio 9 (it is now called Sonar). This software allows me to dump each song, clip the music pane at the start, do a computerized fad at the end and then normalize the recording to bring the input to the highest level. Then I burn onto a regular CD-R for the finality. This is a long process, but there is no noise between songs and the fad-outs are sweet. I have made some copies that sound better than their commercial cousins and have fooled people listening to them, telling them they were listening to a record, of course, with disbelief. Cakewalk makes another cheaper product called Pyro but it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of it's costlier counterpart. I use it because I have it. It may not be the best choice in software, but I think my process of recording is the best way to go. Some people have bought turntables with built in USB, but reports are that the tables kind of suck.

Wayner

Wayner,  with all due respect listen to yourself. I lift my ass from my comfortable sofa , switch CD's or LP's with gusto and pleasure . There is no substitute for the original source. But maybe I'm missing out on something. In our quest to be polliticaly correct and up with the Jones's high tech we lose track of the REAL DEAL. Yes , I'm a little angry and I apologise.


Frank