Windows 2K Audio Recorder?

daino149 · July 26, 2004, 12:12am

I have an LP that I want to get onto a CD. My record player is too far from my computer to plug it in directly. My solution was to use my NET MD to record from the record and transfer the sound from the MD to my computer.

First, is it possible to transfer directly to my computer via MP3? I’ve tried, but I get transfer errors. Does my inability to transfer the music have something to do with copyright restrictions?

Second, I’ve tried to use the audio in on my computer to record the sound. This works, but windows audio recorder is limited to 1 min on Win 2K. Are there any other free programs that I could use? I’d like to transfer the file and have it coded directly to MP3, but it’s no biggie to have a wav.

Thanks,
Daniel

john_childs · July 26, 2004, 1:57pm

Software suggestions:
Audacity (freeware)
Audio Grabber (freeware) It is primarily a CD ripper, but I believe it can also record from line-in.
RIP Vinyl (shareware $7)

Audacity has an online help page where you can get links to the FAQ, tutorials, and even download the manual and quick reference guide. Audacity also supports plugins. There are plugins available to remove pops and clicks from vinyl recordings. You may be able to find a freeware plugin for Audacity that removes pops and clicks from vinyl recordings.

GramoFile is another option for removing pops and clicks. I believe the Windows version can remove the pops and clicks from a WAV file, but I haven’t tired it.

How far away is your record player from the computer? If it’s close enough you can use headphone extension cable to plug the headphone output of the record player directly into the soundcard on the computer. An alternative would be to beg or borrow a long RCA patch cable from somewhere. Maybe a music store (like a Guitar Center) will have long patch cables that you can rent.

I’m not familiar with the MiniDisk format. I don’t know if it’s doing anything to “copy protect” the recording. Going from MD to MP3 is also not ideal because you’re transcoding to a different type of compression. Transcoding relults in lower audio quality than if you stick with the same type of compression (or even better no compression) throughout the editing cycle.