putting LP's on disc

[Fulton]

I hope this is the right section. I have about 200 LP's, (old records, some may not remember these!) and I was wondering if there is a way to record them via my pc onto disc.
Any suggestions?

[sddsddean]

I've seen an ad in the national press over the last couple of weeks for a record deck with a USB cable on it to do this. Cost �119 I think. I believe ther is commercial software available as well so that you can 'hool up' your existing deck.

[sddsddean]

Found the deck on Maplins site
http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=9 8232&doy=search

[dodgyshirt]

Slightly cheaper than that, is this alternative which utilises your existing deck and also includes the necessary software to clean up the input.

http://www.secure-server-centre.com/eurotech/d atasheet.php?partno=E3357

I've used an older version of this for some years now with very good results.

[alunrw]

Magix audio cleaning lab is another good one, just a simple connector from your deck to the PC (which is provided) - loads of them on amazon/other sites at various prices, you can get a version of this reasonably cheap- been using it myself (2004 version) and it works well
http://uk.best-price.com/procSystem,showProduc tSearchByUserSearch,,0,magix%20audio%20cleanin g%20lab.html?cat=computer

[Buenchico]

. . . and here's how to do it for free (except possibly for the cost of a cheap lead):

Assuming that you've already got a record deck, you need to choose a suitable output. Ideally, if you're using 'hi-fi separates' the best source would be the phono outputs from the record deck. If you've only got a deck with a built-in amplifier, you might have to use the headphone socket. (If so, keep the volume set low).

Now find the relevant audio input on the back of your PC. This will probably be a 3.5mm jack socket. Head for your local branch of Maplin Electronics and purchase a lead to connect output to input.

Now all you need is some suitable (free) software. The most popular program for recording (and editing) audio is probably Audacity:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Chris

[rojash]

"if you're using 'hi-fi separates' the best source would be the phono outputs from the record deck". Have to disagree with you there, Chris. If you have a decent deck with a magnetic cartridge, the output from the deck needs to be RIAA corrected through a filter, so you really need to connect the deck to your hifi amp or preamp and take the output from there to the computer input.

[Buenchico]

I yield to Rojash's superior knowledge. All of my record decks have had a built-in pre-amp. As Rojash states it would be better to take the output from an amplifier rather than directly from the deck.

However, if you've only got a deck (without any form of amplification) you would probably find that you could connect the direct output from the deck to the microphone input (rather than the audio line-in) with satisfactory results. (You might need to use the PC's software controls to limit the input level).

Chris

[ugly_bob]

I've got a cheap record deck connected to my line-in on the back of my PC.
I simply used a converter lead to change the red/white RCA output from deck to 3.5mm jack input on PC. works fine. Can't remember which software i've got though. Soundforge springs to mind, although so do audacity and magix :-(

[rojash]

Yes, UB, by a lucky chance, the natural frequency response of a piezo-electric cartridge quite closely approximates the compensation of the RIAA filter

[ugly_bob]

Yeah. I knew that ;-)
To be honest, I'm not the most sensitive-eared person in the world, so just cutting off the high freq problems seems to sort out problems for me.

[Fulton]

Thanks for all the answers, some a little too technical for me!
But at least you have given me some ideas.