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Converting LP's to digital...

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by finnie

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Here's a bit of an oddball. A coworker of mine inherited a large amount of 78's (records). He would like to listen to them, but they are in such fine condition that he is afraid there worth would drop dramatically. Is there any way in which we may convert these to a digital format were we can just use REAL Player or Winamp to listen to them. Unfortunately we do not have access to any expensive recording equipment, but I have had several people ask me similar questions regarding converting LP's and I would like to give them SOME answer. As per usual, your help is greatly apreciated.

8 replies

by finnie

Also, seeing as how they are very, very old, does anyone know of a program I can use to remove the hisses and crackling noise?

by mtnsqs

Its quite simple to record them as WAV files- you need to have your turntable (that can play the 78's) hooked up (usually via a amplifier/mixer) to the INPUT of your sound card. The LINE IN is better than the Mic input . Most Sound cards have software with them to reocrd the inputs to a wav file - for 78's which are mono use a MONO 8 or 16 bit PCM format. Voila - you have WAV files that you can play on your computer as any other wav files - via the wav file player.

Even better, if you have a CD Writer you can then write an AUDIO disk of the WAV files and paly it on any normal CD palyer (you must select that you want an Audio CD not data).

I do this all the time as I am one of few people around my area who has a 78 RPM player!.Remember that for copyright reasons you need to retain the ownership of the origianl 78's along with the CD's you make, and you CANNOT sell or give away copies of the CD. It doesn't matter that the records are old - the copyright last until 25 years after the death of the last writer/composer/recording artist on the record.

by peyison

You might also get a copy of Easy CD Creator from Adaptec. Its Spin Doctor program will remove the hisses and pops from the recording.

by etoile

I have done exactly what you seek to do. My method was basically a combination of answers 1 and 2 above.

I connected my stereo equipment to my computer via the input jack on the sound card (be careful not to use cables which are TOO long - signal diminishes). Finding a 78 rpm turntable is usually the biggest problem.

I recorded them into .wav files and then cleaned up hisses and scratches, both by using Spin Doctor. Then I burnt the result to CD.

Re the software - Spin Doctor is part of Adaptec's Easy CD Creator DELUXE Edition (not the Standard Ed)

Good luck, and don't tell too many people when you succeed: I got heaps of requests from "friends" to copy their old favourite LPs for them ...

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