LP to CD - For a while I've wanted to try to convert some of my vinyl LPs to digital format. Yesterday I finally tried to figure out how to do it. I hooked up the record player and amp next to the computer so that I could connect a cable from the amp TAPE OUT to the RECord connection of the sound card. I had to buy a cable from Radio Shack that combines the L and R channel wires into a single plug for the sound card.

There are many programs available for recording LPs. I chose Wave Repair, “A shareware editor specifically designed for the restoration of WAV files that were recorded from vinyl records.” Initially I was using an old Realistic STA-82 amplifier by Radio Shack and was never able to record any sound from the Phono mode, although the Radio mode recorded fine. I switched to a more recent Onkyo TX-26 amp and can now record OK.

Wave Repair has an automated Click repair function that works OK, although there is still quite a bit of noise in the recording. I then saved the WAV file and wrote it to disc using the Ahead Nero software that came with the TDK CDR drive, and now have a CD recording of a treasured LP, 80/81 by Pat Metheny et al.

A good site for learning about the process is Transferring LPs to CDR: Some Advice. In order to properly clean up a vinyl recording would take many hours of work, so I'll have to live with the imperfect results. Actually, hearing the clicks and pops and hum in the recording brings back memories of the old days of sitting around listening to records on the turnstile.
posted by Bruce Wright at 10:09 AM #