Vinyl records can be easily transferred to CDs for safe archiving, and digital listening convenience. It's a fact that vinyl records wear over time, and many owners shy away from playing them for fear that their favorite music will someday be forever lost. With a home computer and inexpensive software, analog to digital transfer makes files for CD burning can be accomplished with minimum skills. The transfer process must be done in real-time, resulting in long sessions, but vinyl record aficionados will appreciate the effort required when the first CD is completed.
Instructions
1. Connect the turntable's left and right RCA male phone plugs to the two RCA female jacks on the adapter cable.
2. Plug the adapter cable's 1/8" plug into the computer's audio or microphone input.
3. Start the analog to digital recording software on the computer and follow help guide instructions for recommended input levels, and choosing MP3 or WAV digital file format. WAV files are large files, but capture more sound than MP3 files. CDs may be made with either WAV or MP3 files, and WAVs may be easily converted to MP3s at a later time.
4. Make a test recording to check input levels for distortion and adequate volume. Digital recordings are especially sensitive to distortion, and the software's "auto-level" or "compression" setting should be used. These functions limit the input volume, and when combined with proper input levels, help prevent distortion.
5. Record songs one at a time to limit digital file size. Songs should be saved and named as they are recorded, which will help save time, and avoid confusing work, later in the process.
6. Save files in a music management software program, which are equipped on most newer computers or easily downloaded, to organize files, burn CDs, and transfer files to portable digital devices.
Tags: input levels, adapter cable, analog digital, digital file
