- Joined: September 2005
- Post Count: 1,331
No expert here, but If I wanted to do something like this I'd just record them to my PC. Your computer should most likely have an audio "line in" somewhere, a mini-audio jack. You'd just need an RCA to 3.5mm adapter. Costs a couple of dollars. You don't need any special software or anything, even the basic Windows sound recorder will get the job done.
"Because he's the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now... and so we'll hunt him... because he can take it... because he's not a hero... he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector... a DARK KNIGHT."
- Joined: July 2003
- Location: Lacombe, AB
- Post Count: 2,564
I agree with Zack, but it depends on your turntable or system. If you want to plug your turntable directly into the computer, you might run into problems if it has a grounded pre-amp out instead of 2 RCA plugs. You could get around this by using the tape outs on your receiver.
The other option, which is what I did becuase I couldn't get a replacement cartridge and belt for my old Toshi turntable, is to buy a USB turntable. I have an ION turntable which I adore, but ultimately it's up to you.
\"My opinion is that (a) anyone who actually works in a video store and does not understand letterboxing has given up on life, and (b) any customer who prefers to have the sides of a movie hacked off should not be licensed to operate a video player.\"-- Roger Ebert
- Joined: January 1999
- Post Count: 6,691
If you have a computer with a sound card I agree the easiest way to go is to plug your stereo into your computer. You can go from the "tape out" of your stereo receiver into the line in on your sound card. Then use some software to record WAV files at 44.1/16bit, split the WAV files up for the songs if you wish, then some software to write the CDs.
If your computer has a decent sound card installed the results will probably be acceptable to you.
Unless your computer has a very good quality sound card installed, the chances are that the audio quality will be better from a dedicated CD-R deck like the one you're considering. The CD-R will have better Analog-to-digital conversion and therefore will give you better sound. How much will the difference be and will you even care? Impossible to say. Consumer sound cards on computers are highly variable. Some of them have quite good digital audio conversion, some don't. It's impossible to know if yours are good or bad without actually trying something. It doesn't cost hardly anything to try, so give it a try before shelling out the casho on a CD-R unit.
Philip Hamm
Moderator Emeritus
- Joined: January 1999
- Post Count: 6,691
Excellent. If your laptop has a firewire port, look into those options as well. Nero BTW allows for splitting up a single WAV file to multiple tracks, and also has support for CD-Text, so you can make very nice CDs if you wish. I would give that a try on your laptop, I would expect it would work very well. I use sound forge also for the initial recording, it's pretty nice. I usually create one WAV file for the whole record, normalize it, then write to a CD. I use CD Architect which came with Sound Forge 9 (if you have an older version of Sound Forge you probably don't have CD Architect). Good luck!
Philip Hamm
Moderator Emeritus
- Joined: July 2003
- Location: Lacombe, AB
- Post Count: 2,564
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RockinPharoh 
EUREKA! I just found the answer to my delema! Stephen, your ION turntable idea prompted it. The actual ION Turntable would not have worked for me, but it prompted me to go to their website and look at them as I have not looked since they first came out. In doing so I ran into a $50 problem solver. A little box that hooks up to your PC via USB and you just hook your existing Turntable (or even tape deck or CD player) into the box and bob's your uncle! Brillant! No need to spend $250 on an EMU unit to get things into the PC.
Granted I still have to address my desktop, but at least I can get the long part of the job done and then throw the recordings on an external HDD for transfer later!
I had no idea they had this device!
Whew!
Did I mention that the ION turntables have audio pass-thru via a 1/8" stereo plug mounted on the deck? BTW, you'll never pay$250 for an ION turntable; I paid $129 Cdn for mine, and most go for about $150 Cdn.
\"My opinion is that (a) anyone who actually works in a video store and does not understand letterboxing has given up on life, and (b) any customer who prefers to have the sides of a movie hacked off should not be licensed to operate a video player.\"-- Roger Ebert
