skip to main content

Downloading &/or Digitizing Music

14 years ago

Hello all

Ive only recently begun catching up with new technology for listening to music.

I have tons of old vinyl and cds, used to be a real music fan back in the day. Some of the vinyl does not exist on Cd or online... does it make sense to just convert these to MP3? Is the sound quality decent? Any reason why Id want to put them in CD format? Can anyone recommend software for this purpose? I have an old turntable but no receiver/amplifier - will I need to have one of those?

Started downloading some music that already exists digitized - purchasing from amazon + downloading some very old 50s/60s stuff from Youtube... its so much fun to find this old stuff!!

Some of the songs I downloaded in MP3 format - I find them right in the "downloads" folder where they should be. Other songs I can't find anywhere on my hard drive! I can see and listen to them on Windows Media Player but cannot locate them anywhere. Where are they??? It kind of bothers me that there's stuff hidden on my computer somewhere - or is it for some reason being streamed from elsewhere - even though I specifically requested it to be downloaded as an MP3?

And Finally - last question. How best to store/organize my music long term. How much music fits on a computer anyway - like say hundreds or thousands of songs? Not sure I want to go the Ipod route.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

grandms
14 years ago
I have lots of old LPs that I have started digitizing. I purchased a USB turntable that connects to my computer via USB. With it came two programs: Audacity, which can be downloaded for free, and Cakewalk Pyro 5. I find Audacity hard to understand, so I use the Cakewalk program and get good results. This is an older version, but it works just fine for me. I have not yet burned any of the music to CDs but just have it on my computer. I know I need to get it saved elsewhere, but I do have it backed up on two different external hard drives. As for your other questions, someone else will have to advise you.
bob414
14 years ago
Do a search for *.mp3. That should find all the mp3 files on your computer. You can then right click on one and choose 'properties' from the drop-down menu and that will tell you where the file is located. It might help to know which version of windows you are using.
Related Discussions
What is the best site to download music from to make CDs?
Q
Comments (2)
well you can actually buy a cd in a music store and then make copies of it and that would be yours, or you can buy the music at online music stores like amazon, google music or play store now, or sites like Rhapsody. Amazon MP3 Rhapsody
...See More
Anybody heard of digital video recorder that also can play music?
Q
Comments (2)
Yeppers, from what I have seen dvr's now will do everything you want. The lowest price one I can find is a tivo. One of the kewlest things is the tivo has a wireless usb network adapter(cost extra thou) that plugs into your comp and no wires to the tivo box, but your connected and can download, program etc. best of luck chris
...See More
Free music download
Q
Comments (7)
Haven't you found that almost every free Audio book download site is covered with spam? Well I found the solution through a Itunes competitor offering free music downloads, Emusic. Here is a link that might be useful: Audio books
...See More
I have a dumb digital camera downloading question...
Q
Comments (18)
OK - I tried uploading directly from my camera to Photobucket - and you cannot do that. DANG! Here is an easy way to upload your pics to a computer (you never need to use the camera software - I really dislike Kodak especially, but if you are comfortable with it, that is ok) Plug your camera in to the computer, or place card into card reader. Go to MY COMPUTER and find the device. Double click on it and your images should pop up. You may see them as thumbnails, tiles, icons, or list - depending on how your computer is set...you can always change that. Click on the first image you want to copy - then hold down the shift key and select the last image you want to copy - this will select all of them in between also. Right click and select copy. Go to the Desktop of the computer. Right click on a blank area and mouse over NEW-> go over to FOLDER and click on that to create a new folder. You can rename it when you create it or just leave it named NEW FOLDER (it doesn't matter). Double click on the folder to open. Right click and select PASTE. Your photos will be zipping into this folder! You can upload to Photobucket like normal from there. This will NOT remove the pictures from your camera card. Delete your folder when you are done. DON'T forget your card if you have removed it from your camera!! You can create the desktop folder at any time - you also don't have to have it located on the desktop - but this would be easiest while you are traveling so you don't forget to delete. You should be able to practice this at home. If you can't shut down the Kodak program - just let it do it's thing - then try it after it has finished. Or try it at a library. The little thumb drives (USB drives) and camera memory cards are the same thing - just in a different package. An external hard drive is just like a thumb drive, just bigger. THumb drives are so easy to lose! They are just the handiest things - but they go missing for me all the time.... Buy some extra cards before you travel. Try them out before you go. Format them in your camera first!! They are cheap and you can NEVER EVER take too many pictures :) If this doesn't make sense at all -I can post screen shots later (probably tomorrow)
...See More
mxyplx
14 years ago
Grandms- USB Turntable:

Have you digitized any monaural records? Did they come out OK?

They don't sound too good on a stereo phono.
grandms
14 years ago
No, mine have all been stereo or monaural that were "rechanneled" or whatever they call it. They came out as well as can be expected, I guess. Certainly not true stero.
grandms
14 years ago
There are other ways of digitizing old records than the use of the USB turntable. Lots of hits when you Google this, but I wanted something fairly easy to do, so that's why I went this route. I bought the turntable online---it is an Audio Technia brand---but there are a number of others. Shop around for the best price because they all work basically the same. Mine does have a cover, which I appreciate, and sometimes I just use it to play my LPs :-) I have fairly good speakers with a sub-woofer connected to my PC, so the sound is good.
Debbie Downer
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks bob, I tried the search function and I still cant find that silly MP3. Actually I think it doesnt exist as an MP3 - its some streaming thing because the only place I see it is in Windows Media Player and under properties, it says its in my "download" folder but then it also says "ip (and a long number)ip.secureserver.net." Which suggests Im plugged into some streaming thing, no?

I went back to Youtube and tried to download it as an MP3 again and got "error" -can't do it! So OK I cant have it, which is fine but what's with the games? Just tell me it's not available and I wont waste my time trying. (BTW, its some obscure 45 year old song I have on vinyl - guess I'll have to get to work converting that instead. Oh well! Thought Id save some time....)

Related Stories

HOME TECH Is the Timing Finally Right for Framed Digital Art?

By R. Daniel Foster

Several companies are preparing to release digital screens and apps that let you stream artworks and video on your wall

ORGANIZING Simple Pleasures: Preserving Analog Memories in a Digital World

By Laura Gaskill

Too often our photos and mementos accumulate in computers and in piles. Here’s how to free them up to be displayed and enjoyed

ART New Digital Art Frame Gets Put to the Test

By R. Daniel Foster

Our writer sets up the EO1 at home, then invites artist friends over for a look — at images of their own work. See what they have to say

HOME TECH Picture This: Your Digital Photos Deserve Frames Too

Decorate with family memories — and swap them out in an instant — with frames made just for showing and sharing digital photos

HOME TECH Facebook Meets Fido: Pet Connections for the Digital Age

Three new products let you communicate with your dog or cat while you're at work

PHOTO FLIP 93 Stunning Sofascapes

By Sheila Schmitz

Plop down and enjoy a showcase of 93 stylish sofa vignettes, then show us your own personalized seating area

HOME TECH Tote Your Tunes to Any Room With a Portable Wi-Fi Sound System

Free your home's music setup from wires with Wi-Fi speakers that let you take high-quality audio anywhere

LIFE Simple Pleasures: Put Your Records On

By Laura Gaskill

It’s cool to just relax on a recliner, delving deeply into tunes? Now that’s music to our ears

HOME TECH Wake Up to the New World of Connected Alarm Clocks

Use your smart phone to enhance your alarm clock, to get more music and better sound than ever before

LIFE The Wisdom of Kenny Rogers, for Declutterers

By Alison Hodgson

No need to gamble on paring-down strategies when the country music legend has already dealt out some winning advice

Sponsored

Inspired Closets Columbus

Innovative & Creative Custom Closet Designer Servicing Franklin County

More Discussions

Tired of MS Office 365 Monthly Fees?

1