Trying to help a friend convert his old vinyl collection to audio CD's, playable in a standard CD player (not an mp3 player).

We have the following:
- a vinyl turntable
- plugged into a preamp
- which has stereo phono leads that converge & go into the laptops 3.5mm stereo mic jack

We can hear the vinyl records playing through the lappys speakers, and adjust all the volumes okay in 'volume control'

We have Windows Media Player 11, and I recall using it once to burn a load of mp3's as a 'normal' audio CD. But it doesn't seem to have a function to rip from the mic input - only from an inserted CD.

I thought about using the program 'Goldwave' to digitise the microphone input to mp3s, & then burn the resulting mp3 files to a CD using WMP & the relevant settings, to end up with a 'standard' CD.. but Goldwave is fairly complicated and not free.

Is there a more straightforward/freeware-based method of doing this?

Had a look at using Windows' built in 'sound recorder' but it doesn't seem very controllable in terms of bitrates etc, and seems to be limited to 60 seconds of recording? seems to only want to save as .wav too, despite having some mp3 settings somewhere.

not sure if this is what you want but been looking at it myself recently


http://www.download3k.com/MP3-Audio-Video/Rippers-Converters/Download-Golden-Records-Vinyl-to-CD-Converter.html


me and my brother are considering carrying all the old LP's from my mum and dads (he lives around the corner)  and giving it a go

Well for 26 dollars that's as good as freeware, wouldn't begrudge them that amount if it does what it says on the can..

Will go have a proper read 

Have you tried it out at all? Looks perfect from the description..

we haven't yet i'm afraid keep meaning too if i can kick my bro up the Arse and into action 

nay mind, I'll have a crack at it this evening.. will let you know how I get on with it

cheers may just inspire him 

I use a USB audio interface.........insted oif cooneting the master phonos to the power amp.....i connect the master phonos the the input on the USB interface then conect tPhonos to the output of the interface then into the power anp.................

So the audio passes clean thru the USB interface.......but it also outputs the signal via USB to  the PC for recording.....................

ANG ON A MO............

Heres the link to the program you need...................

http://www.behringer.com/05_support/u-control-downloads/u-control-downloads.cfm?lang=eng

The file is in the Windows XP section.......called....Free open source audio editor and multi-track recorder .....Audacity.zip...size 6718.....

Download save and unzip...........

Its simple to use....press record and play the source......save the file......then if you wish you can import the file back in so you can mees about and edit and save the results.....then whack it onto disc.............its all good fun.........

Its how i get music from any cd.....edit it......convert the file.then .........transfer it to my mobile for a ring tome......................
 

I'm with ya Quacks, yep it's just a simple right & left input / right & left output preamp he's got, just gives a tiny bit of boost to the phono cartridge, doesn't have any USB trickery on it.

Audacity.. have heard the name before & read glowing reports but never tried it.

It's important that the process is as simple as possible, because my buddy has limited interest in matters technical.. so it'll be handy to try both your and Cas' suggestions

When your done recording.........go into the file system of Audacity and......"Export it as WAV"....Then save the wav in your Documents ,Music etc........

That way its easyer to import ithe wav back to Audacity for editing or burn it to disc....

Updaete?......................

Been distracted with a cordless drill Quacks 

Suspect I'm in insomniac mode again so I'll prolly have a dabble with it all tonight 

GOOD MAN......I like your style...............

Bosch cordless drill battery £130 new.

Hmm.

Fish old battery pack from other nakkered drill, out of skip. Smash with hammer. Extract cells.

Cut open Bosch battery pack with dremel. Remove cells. Replace with 'skip brand' using red hot poker.

I call that, £130 in my arse pocket

Can't beat a good rummage in a skip 

RE-SPECT..........................