I was wondering what is the best/quickest way to transfer vinyl tracks into wav/mp3 files? I'm just getting started to trance and I see some tunes that are only on vinyl so before getting a record player/turntable (which should I get? -_-), I wanted to make sure it is worth the trouble/money to go out and buy and transfer the tracks.

I tried using Google, but most of the webpages were not very helpful and often too confusing to read because of popups and ads.

Thanks!

You have to record somehow from your mixer to your computer. Then record it with something like Audacity (its for free).

The solution I'm using right now involves a phono cable going from my mixer to a phono-to-microphone adapter, which is plugged into the microphone plug on my PC. Cool Edit Pro records the signal just fine. The phono cable cost about $15 from Radioshack and the adapter is around $6. For better sound quality you might want to spend a bit more money on an external soundcard or some other way to record besides running through a mono microphone channel.

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quote:

Originally posted by Dojomaster26 spend a bit more money on an external soundcard or some other way to record besides running through a mono microphone channel.

well you could just save money and use the line in, on your average sound card... youd get better sound out of that then the mic in...

but you can find the phono to 1/8 input really cheap at radio shack like said before...

What these guys have said is a solid solution, unless you're intending on converting your entire vinyl collection to CDs or WAVs for digital programs! Cause you may have a problem with quality if you just route it through a mixer.

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quote:

Originally posted by ballmouse ...so before getting a record player/turntable (which should I get? -_-),

I assume from that part of the post that you're wondering whether to get a 'record player' that just plays the records at 33 or 45 - with no pitch control etc - or get a DJ turntable, with pitch control, removable headshells etc?

If you have the money - I'd get the DJ turntable. That way, you don't HAVE to transfer the vinyl to CD before you can use it. Say you've just gone on a monster shopping spree, and bought 30 tracks - of which each of them has at leasst 2 mixes you want to put onto CD - that's 60 tunes. Even if they average only 5 minutes each (and, as you said it's trance you're going for, it's more likely to be between 8 and 10 minutes per track) - you're looking at a *minimum of 5 hours transfer time for all those tracks - and more likely 10 hours (!!!!!!) transfer time before you can use the tunes you want.

So, if you've got a DJ turntable, with pitch control etc, you can instantly use these tracks in the mix, and take your time transferring them to CD. Sure, you'll want them on CD as quick as possible, so you can utilise the functions on your CD deck - but at the same time, you'll really want to use those tunes in the mix ASAP - so get a DJ deck (with a good needle, so the music still sounds great when you DO eventually do the transfer) and have the best of both worlds.

And this doesn't even account for the fact that using a turntable will give you another string to your DJing bow. There's no need to know ONLY how to mix on CD or ONLY how to use vinyl - get to grips with both, and you'll be a more well-rounded DJ than the guys who only know one format.

For what it's worth, I've got a Roland Edirol RCA to USB convertor for when I transfer vinyl (or record mixes) into my laptop. That's only because I don't have a LINE IN on my laptop - if your soundcard has LINE IN - then you can just get a 2 x RCA to (whatever the LINE IN input is) cable - and take it from there.

Good luck.

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Well I'm actually in no rush to transfer songs and I've just gotten started with trance, so I'm not really sure if I want to DJ.

And to transfer the vinyl to CD, all I need is a turntable/record player and some cables(are these really necessary?)?

Thanks.

Creative Audio Player :P

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Well, the first thing I'd say if you're unsure about if you want to DJ or not, is not to bang out and buy stuff - then realise you don't want to do - try to re-sell everything, and find out you're out of pocket by £300, (or whatever) because of depreciation.

For the time being, get some software, like Traktor/ PCDJ/ BPM Studop - anything which'll let you mix on computer first, and hopefully be the 'toe in the water' you'll need, just to know if you have the patience, the timing, and hopefully, the love and desire to spend all the time (and money) you need to in order to be a good DJ.

As for the transfer thing - unless you buy a convertor that'll turn the PHONO signal from the turntable into a LINE signal (to go into the computer's soundcard) - you'll need to put the turntable through a mixer first. Sure, going through a mixer sometimes puts in another level of signal processing that'll change the quality (imperceptibly to most) of the music - but it's probably easier than trying to find a phono-line convertor - and if you're going to buy the kit anyway - your mixer will be part of it.

Let me know if I've raced through this too fast, or missed something out. I'm hungover to hell, and my mind sure ain't working right...

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C.ya
Recess
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http://www.recess.co.uk

If you just want a way to get vinyl tracks onto CD as the others have said, just get a lead from Maplins/Radio Shack whatever with RCA plugs at one end & a standard single plug jack at the other.

The RCA plugs into the mixer - mine is plugged into the "booth/session out" connection & the other end goes in the PC sound card socket. There's usually 3 colours, green, pink & blue (I think this is standard on sound cards mines plugged into the blue one).

Next up you need a turntable. Just for transfering vinyl anything with a decent needle will do the job. Yes you can spend money on an SL1200 but you don't need to break the bank If you use a "proper" DJ turntable, set all the pitch etc to normal so the track is being recorded correctly. Plug it into the standard "phono/line" connection & switch your mixer to LINE - I've forgotten to do this & spent ages testing all the connections "well it was all working a minute ago..." LOL

Next up you need software. I use Soundforge but I think Audacity is free & its always mentioned as being good software. You'll probably need to play around with your sound card & recording software settings to get a good balance for recording. Find a loud point in the track & adjust the settings so that it doesn't clip (ie it should be just below or at maximum. If it's constantly above maximum it'll sound shit when you play it back.

It's a long winded job though you'll probably only want to do a couple of tracks each day.

It's a piece of cake mate, let us know how you get on. I record all my mixes this way & the results are as good as gold

quote:

Originally posted by ballmouse Well I'm actually in no rush to transfer songs and I've just gotten started with trance, so I'm not really sure if I want to DJ. And to transfer the vinyl to CD, all I need is a turntable/record player and some cables(are these really necessary?)? Thanks.

haha nice avatar.... "Im not gonna shoot you between the eyes Matrix, Im Gonna shoot you between the balls!!" such a great movie

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Haha, I loved Commando too. All that unrealistic mass killing by Matrix.

Anyway, I'm starting to just consider to try to buy mostly mp3s and try to actually do some DJ mixing. So what should I do to get started? (I have a decent collection of songs, so what programs, etc. do I need?)

Thanks!