Which is appropriate equipment to record albums on CD or computer

14 years ago

I posted this on the electronics forum, but got no response. This questions really straddles computers and electronics, so I hope it's okay that I repost it here. I'm also hoping to have an answer to this in time to plan my purchase of a laptop while the back to school specials are available.

I hope I can articulate this clearly. I have endless albums (maybe 10 feet long) - which I'd like to get rid of, after I record some of them on my computer. I'm gathering there are several ways to do this - and I'd love to hear any relatively easy ways I don't know about.

Our audio system is old (my husband got it well before we met 14 years ago), but probably very good for it's time. Pioneer turntable (PL-12D) - with red and white cables running out from the back (not removeable - no jacks to plug into). Onkyo TX 36 amplifier. On the back there are phono in jacks (red and white). Then there's a section for Tape 1 (which has red and white jacks marked record - and another pair of red and white jacks marked play/cd). There is a similar set of input/output jacks under Tape 2. I'm not sure if record is the same as line in - or line out - or if play means one of those.

We also got a JVC cd recorder (probably 5-7 years ago). We were able to make a few recordings of albums (but could never get the process to work for recording from tape). Last time we looked at this recorder, we were overwhelmed by the technology.

Now I know little more - and technology is more advanced and complicated. I want to get the albums recorded. And I have 2 possibly mutually exclusive goals. I do not want to compress the recordings and lose audio data (this project is for my husband and mother - who have wonderful musical ears, though no tech talent - and me - who has a smidge of musical ear and a little more courage to try the technology). Yet I would love to get this music digitized on my computer (with the option to convert formats and load some on my ipod).

One thing I could do is dust off the cd recorder manual and learn how to use it to record the albums on cd. Am I correct that this would be a lossless recording Is this the way to record the full range of audio information on these albums? And then I suppose I could load those cd's on my computer and convert the ones I want to either mp4 or apple lossless format to get it on my ipod.

The other possibility is to record directly from the phonograph into a computer (and just burn cd's of the ones I want on cd). I know I need an amplifier or preamp. Could I use our current Onkyo amplifier and somehow run those red and white cables into a computer or something intermediate that would run into the computer? If I did this, would it be losing musical data - or is there a way to set it to not compress it. (As a side note, it might be nice to use software that removes any cracks and hisses).

Or perhaps I should buy a digital turntable and just plug it into my desktop?

Then the next set of questions - what input jacks do I need on my computer to do this? If I use my current stereo system, I am not going to want to move the whole thing upstairs to my desktop - or move the desktop down to the stereo - or run cables up two floors and run back and forth to coordinate recording. So if I use my current stereo, I think I'll need to record to a laptop. And I'm about to buy a new laptop (and take advantage of back to school specials) - but don't know what inputs I need on a laptop. I haven't found any with line-in audio. Do I need a separate sound card - or can I do this with an integrated sound card. (Oh - and I don't really have any idea what I'm talking about with sound cards - just dimly remembering hearing about them. I could use some enlightment about sound cards as well. Does the quality effect the quality of my recording?).

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Comments (7)

zep516
14 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
See the link for more information, there are also services that will do this for you, after you read the link you will be somewhat more knowledgeable about the entire process.

Also conduct your own search on googl using key words like
"Record albums to cd" and see what you can come up with, and stay tuned for others input.

Here is a link that might be useful: Albums to cd
grandms
14 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I picked the easy way out and bought for under $100 a USB turntable that connects to my computer. Software made by Cakewalk came with it as well as Audacity, but the Cakewalk software is very easy to use. I can save in different formats, burn to CD, etc. So much easier than any of the other methods I have read about. The turntable I bought is made by Audio-Technica, although there are several different brands available. I found mine by doing a search using Google, and after I decided on this brand, I searched for the best price I could find. I bought through an online merchant for a price much better than CC or BB for the same model.

Sad to say, I haven't done very much with it as yet, converting only a few albums to digital, but I listen to the albums just for the fun of it. By the way, it has a dust cover, so I have it sitting on a little table next to my computer desk.
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THANK YOU! This looks like something that would do it although I'm not understanding how the gadget plugs into the two ports at the back of the old Panasonic (perhaps it just needs another cord with the red and white plugs at each end). I also did more web searching and came up with the Ion u-Record Music Archiver at Think Geek I'm not sure how it works...as it too just seems to connect the computer with the old music outfit, but this one seems to need software installed and I'm wondering if it is for more complex stuff than I'm trying to do. Has anyone used this? As I said before, I'm not very computer savvy (I'm from the old LP era) and appreciate being able to do this without a lot of frills and hassles. Thanks again for any and all input. Here is a link that might be useful: Ion u-Record
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lynnalexandra
Original Author
14 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Grandms - thank you. I thought about on eof those turntables (the two I've heard about are Ion and Audiotechnica) - which I think can each be found for about $100. I just may take the easy way myself.

On the electronics forum, I got one link for a ton of detailed information on how to do this - but it is much more of an undertaking than I am up for. So if I can't find an easier way to use my existing stereo, I'll probably get a digital turntable.

Lynn.
lynnalexandra
Original Author
14 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi,Zep. That information was great. It's the information I was referring to above - but when I came here to post and thank people, your posting wasn't on here - weird. Then I checked if it came from the electronics forum - but it hadn't. Then I checked back here and now your posting is on this thread. Don't know why it didn't appear before - but I do want to thank you.

A lot of that was more complicated than I would undertake, but it sure does spell out a lot. Great information that helps me understand what's entailed (although I'm not about to cover my albums in soapy water to get the best recording - and then tinker with the files multiple times - but it was fascinating). There were less comlicated suggestions there as well.
bob414
14 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I did the same project a couple of years ago. My turntable no longer worked so I bought one on ebay and it turned out to be a great turntable, but without an amplifier. Like you my stereo was upstairs and I didn't want to bring it down to my computer so I bought a preamplifier (around $15) which turned out to be all I needed to plug into the sound card on my computer. I recorded the music to my computer and burned it to cd's using Roxio Media Creator which I already had. But if you can get a turntable hooked up to your computer you could use the free Audacity program to record the music and Windows Media Player does a good job of recording to CD. I like my music but I'm no audiophile so can't say if the results would please critics but it's good enough for me.
lynnalexandra
Original Author
14 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Thanks Bob. I think I have Roxio Media Creator (I'd have to doublecheck). I have some follow up questions because I'm really in the dark here. I gather you plug the turntable into the preamplifier (with the red and white plugs?). Then what goes from the preamplifier into the computer. What kind of cable or cord?

I'm also unsure of which jack on the computer goes to the sound card. I see a bunch of colored jacks, but don't recognize any of the symbols except for the microphone symbol.

Anyone know if the quality of soundcard in the computer matters? Any anyone know if this signal fromt he preamplifier can be fed into a laptop as well.

Thank you.
Lynn.
bob414
14 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
My turntable plugs into the preamplifier with the red and white plugs (which I think are called RCA phono plugs) and a cord with the same plugs goes into the outlet side of the preamplifier, but this cord is called a Y cord because it goes from the 2 RCA to one 1/8 inch stereo jack on the other end. That end plugs into the 'line in' jack on the back of my computer.
If your version of Roxio is like mine try this: Open the media center Home

{{gwi:1490847}}

Click on 'Convert LP's and Tapes to CD' in the left hand column and this screen comes up

{{gwi:1490848}}.

Click on 'Recording Setup' and you get this screen

{{gwi:1490849}}

Which contains a step by step guide to hooking up your equipment.

I don't know how you feel about buying on ebay, but here's a link to a preamplifier like i got.

Which is appropriate equipment to record albums on CD or computer

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zep516

grandms

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Which is appropriate equipment to record albums on CD or computer

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