Converting music on a vinyl LP into a digital file not only lets you play the music on computers and portable MP3 players, but it also protects the music should the record be damaged. A good conversion should capture all the nuances and depth of the original recording. Achieving this quality requires not only a turntable that can transfer the music from the vinyl record to a computer but also software to address the problems of hiss and static that are part of playing a record on a turntable.
Instructions
Transferring the Vinyl Recording to the Computer
1. Connect the USB turntable to the computer using a USB cable.
2. Download the Audacity software onto the computer (see Resources). Click the "Audacity" icon once the download is complete, and then follow the directions to install the program. Restart the computer after installing the software, if necessary.
3. Download and install the LADSPA plug-ins from the Audacity website (see Resources). Restart the computer, if necessary.
4. Launch the Audacity program.
5. Turn on the USB turntable, put the record on it that you want to convert and then place the stylus onto the record so it starts playing.
6. Check the settings and levels in the Audacity program as the music on the record plays. Make any adjustments and changes as necessary.
7. Return the stylus to the beginning of the record, and then start the Audacity program recording.
8. Pause the Audacity program when the first side of the record has finished playing. Turn the record over, place the stylus down to play the second side and then click the button in the Audacity program to continue recording the record.
9. Stop the Audacity program recording when the second side of the record has finished. Give the file you just created a name, and then save it somewhere on the computer.
10. Take the record off the USB turntable, and then put it back in its dust jacket. Turn off the USB turntable and disconnect it from the computer.
Making a CD
11. Download and install the iTunes software (see Resources) if it's not already installed on the computer.
12. Launch iTunes, go to the "Edit" menu at the top of the iTunes window and click "Preferences." On the "General" tab of the "Preferences" window,click the "Import settings" button. Select "AIFF Encoder" from the "Import Using:" drop-down menu, click "OK" to close the "Import settings" window and then click "OK" again to close the "Preferences" window.
13. Click and drag the file you made from the record to the "Music" option in the left-hand window of iTunes. Wait for iTunes to convert and load the file, and then find and click the file you just imported into the iTunes music library.
14. Insert a blank recordable CD into the computer's CD or CD/DVD recordable drive.
15. Click the "Burn Disc" button at the bottom of the main iTunes window. Leave the default options in place in the window that appears. Click the "Burn" button to burn the music from the record onto the CD.
16. Eject the CD from the drive when burning is complete, and then quit iTunes.
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