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Topic ClosedConverting LP's to CD's ...and beyond

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T.Rox View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Converting LP's to CD's ...and beyond
    Posted: October 01 2007 at 12:23

I have found a great gadget complete with software for converting my LP's to CD's by creating .wav files directly from an ANALOGUE stereo to the INport "device" and into the computer USB port, bypassing the computer's sound card. It is the Xitel INport Deluxe Stereo to PC Recording Kit, complete with LPRecorder, Wave Corrector and LPRipper software. The whole package does a brilliant job. I do use  freeware Audacity to trim the recorded data and save an updated .wav file before using the ripper on it to break up the tracks. After breaking up the tracks I can save as .wav or encode them directly to mp3. The cost was $149.95 AUD, which seems quite reasonable given the quality of the results.

 
A link to the INport product details: http://www.xitel.com/USA/prod_inportdl.htm
 
 
Does anyone else use this INport set up Question I'd like to hear your thoughts on it.
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 01 2007 at 12:38

I use Magix Audio Cleaning Lab.  I think it runs for about $50.  Allows you to get rid of scratches and clean up the music in several ways. 

The big question I have is why is it whenever I convert an LP to CD and go to all the trouble to scan in the cover art and make my own CD booklet does the album shortly become available on CD?LOL
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 01 2007 at 12:42
Where do you find a scanner big enough to do the whole cover Question The biggest scanners I seem to be able to find are not quite 12" wide, which ends up cutting off some of the art work.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 01 2007 at 12:50
Originally posted by Slartibartfast Slartibartfast wrote:

I use Magix Audio Cleaning Lab.  I think it runs for about $50.  Allows you to get rid of scratches and clean up the music in several ways. 

The big question I have is why is it whenever I convert an LP to CD and go to all the trouble to scan in the cover art and make my own CD booklet does the album shortly become available on CD?LOL
 
The very thing that happened to me after spending a long weekendconverting the double Don Ellis At Fillmore from vinyl to CD, via a digital clean-up, discovered it was being released on CD in the US, 3 days later! However, my CD transfers/versions of Suntreader's Zin Zin and three Stomu Yamash'Ta Island Records releases are now over 6 years from such a conversion with no legit CDs on the horizon..
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 01 2007 at 12:55
Originally posted by Dick Heath Dick Heath wrote:

Originally posted by Slartibartfast Slartibartfast wrote:

I use Magix Audio Cleaning Lab.  I think it runs for about $50.  Allows you to get rid of scratches and clean up the music in several ways. 

The big question I have is why is it whenever I convert an LP to CD and go to all the trouble to scan in the cover art and make my own CD booklet does the album shortly become available on CD?LOL
 
The very thing that happened to me after spending a long weekendconverting the double Don Ellis At Fillmore from vinyl to CD, via a digital clean-up, discovered it was being released on CD in the US, 3 days later! However, my CD transfers/versions of Suntreader's Zin Zin and three Stomu Yamash'Ta Island Records releases are now over 6 years from such a conversion with no legit CDs on the horizon..
 
If I read you right you are incorrect about Stomu's Go albums.  They were released as a single package, double CD which I have. Big%20smile  And yes, that was one where I went to the trouble of making my own CD version of the live album with a homemade CD booklet.
 
 
Couldn't find a release date, but I'm fairly sure it came out after each of us had made our own CD's.  Maybe we should team up or something. LOL


Edited by Slartibartfast - October 01 2007 at 13:18
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 01 2007 at 12:56
Originally posted by T.Rox T.Rox wrote:

Where do you find a scanner big enough to do the whole cover Question The biggest scanners I seem to be able to find are not quite 12" wide, which ends up cutting off some of the art work.
 
I scan it in two parts and combine with my pic program, Corel Photopaint.
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 02 2007 at 08:33
Take a photo of the album with your digital camera - much easier than scanning Big%20smile
 
I'm investigating the crop of USB turntables (mostly from Ion and NuMark) that have come onto the market recently - some have inbuilt SD card slots - and even CD burners - to make the process much easier.
 
It's the potential sound quality that bothers me, as these decks are priced around £80 - but anything that makes the process easier has got to be worth a try.
 


Edited by Certif1ed - October 02 2007 at 08:35
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 03 2007 at 18:31
The sound quality of the Xitel INport "device" (I don't know what to call it ... it must be some sort of analogue to digital audio converter) is quite good. I have the device hooked directly to the Tape 2 line in on my amp (through standard RCA plug leads ... supplied) and the other end hooked straight into a USB port ... as simple as that! The computer sound card is eliminated as there are supposed sound quality issues there ... as is the common earth link between amp and computer via the house wiring to reduce hum.
 
The biggest hassle with the whole thing is correctly spliting the tracks in the LPRipper ... the computer is not very good at making the distinction between quiet passages of music and track breaks as the stylus always produces a low level of audio output ... and that is really no hassle at all as it just takes time. 
 
I'm happy as a pig in poo with this set up. To my ancient ears the results are awesome ... way better than any cassette tape I ever made to listen to before I had a CD player in the car Thumbs%20Up 


Edited by T.Rox - October 03 2007 at 18:34
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2007 at 20:35
Originally posted by Certif1ed Certif1ed wrote:

Take a photo of the album with your digital camera - much easier than scanning Big%20smile
 
I'm investigating the crop of USB turntables (mostly from Ion and NuMark) that have come onto the market recently - some have inbuilt SD card slots - and even CD burners - to make the process much easier.
 
It's the potential sound quality that bothers me, as these decks are priced around £80 - but anything that makes the process easier has got to be worth a try.
 


I see sharper image is selling an USB turntable as well now.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 12 2007 at 07:03
For an all-in-one solution with built in phono stage and usb connection I'd probably go for something like the Project Debut III/Phono USB. Retails at about UK£210. They make really decent budget turntables that will keep you happy for years of vinyl replay as well as allowing you to make a digital copy.
Plug it straight into your computer and off you go...

This from their website:

Pro-Ject Debut III/Phono USB  

Manual turntable with fitted cartridge Ortofon OM 5E and integrated MM phono pre-amplifier  

with A/D converter and USB output  

 

Good sound from sound technology  

• Tonearm bearing comprises inverted hardened stainless-steel points and sapphire thrust-pads  

• Headshell and armtube formed from a single aluminium workpiece, rotation allows adjustment of needle azimuth despite fixed headshell  

• Steel platter with felt mat  

• Low-tolerance chrome-plated stainless-steel axle runs on a polished ball bearing in a brass bearing housing  

• Motor decoupled to reduce vibration  

 

Features  

• Supplied with Ortofon OM 5E cartridge fitted  

• Pro-Ject 8.6 tonearm  

• Nominal speeds 33 / 45 / 78 r.p.m. (78 optional)  

• Gold-plated RCA phono sockets  

• Equipped with internal phono pre-amp (MM)  

• Digitalisation of analog signals for recording direct to disk via USB with suitable recording programs  

• Dust cover  

• Available in matt black and silver





Edited by arcer - October 12 2007 at 07:04
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 13 2007 at 14:58
Originally posted by crimhead crimhead wrote:

Originally posted by Certif1ed Certif1ed wrote:

Take a photo of the album with your digital camera - much easier than scanning Big%20smile
 
I'm investigating the crop of USB turntables (mostly from Ion and NuMark) that have come onto the market recently - some have inbuilt SD card slots - and even CD burners - to make the process much easier.
 
It's the potential sound quality that bothers me, as these decks are priced around £80 - but anything that makes the process easier has got to be worth a try.
 


I see sharper image is selling an USB turntable as well now.
 
I'm sorry - I don't understand what you're trying to say there Confused
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 20 2007 at 04:06
Originally posted by Slartibartfast Slartibartfast wrote:

I use Magix Audio Cleaning Lab.  I think it runs for about $50.  Allows you to get rid of scratches and clean up the music in several ways. 

The big question I have is why is it whenever I convert an LP to CD and go to all the trouble to scan in the cover art and make my own CD booklet does the album shortly become available on CD?LOL
 
the Magix Audio Cleaning Lab is a great piece of software for converting vinyl into digital MP3 or burning onto CD,
 
 
it is a very inexpensive program to buy on Ebay at the moment (£7.99 for 2005 version), i did some work from my old  "IF" lp's and sent some MP3's up to the  IF section in PA,  i think they came out really well if you'd like to listen to them. ...Smile
 
 


Edited by mystic fred - October 20 2007 at 04:10
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