Transfer and Convert Vinyl Records To CD

Vinyl records have an inescapable nostalgia that surrounds them. They survived the launch of cassette tapes. But, as CDs became commonplace, the vinyl records of a past generation began their quick descent into the annuls of history. If you have a sizable collection of music on vinyl, you can transfer the vinyl records to CD, thereby preserving your favorite songs. In this quick tutorial, I’ll provide you with a list of the materials you’ll need and the steps required for copying vinyl records.

Solutions In A Box

First, if you have the budget, you can purchase an “out of the box” solution such as the Teac LP-U200. The system includes a 3-speed turntable and programmable CD player. Of course, priced at $300, it’s not cheap. Audio-Technica has a less-robust system (the AT-LP2DA) that you can often find for under $150. While these systems are worth mentioning, the rest of this tutorial assumes that you’d prefer a less-expensive route for converting your records to CD.

Necessary Hardware And Software

Before we get started with the tutorial, let’s talk about hardware and software. You’re going to need a computer with a sound card. Any laptop or desktop is sufficient as long as it as a CD-RW drive. You’ll also need a turntable, a pre-amplifier and cables to connect the components to your computer. Lastly, you’ll want to use sound-editing software to refine the recordings once they’re in a digital format. I recommend using Audacity. It’s powerful and free.

Step #1: Make The Connections

Connect your pre-amplifier and turntable. Then, connect your pre-amp to your computer’s sound card. Your pre-amp should have 2 (or more) auxiliary outputs. Use an RCA to RCA cable to connect from your pre-amp’s auxiliary outputs to your computer.

Step #2: Grab A Copy Of Audacity

I always recommend using Audacity for editing the sound of your files once you’ve transferred them from your vinyl records. Not only is it free, but the software comes with a plethora of powerful features and effects. It’s a valuable tool that you should use to clean up your recordings before converting them to CDs. Vinyl has natural pops and other noises. Audacity can eliminate them. You can download Audacity free at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/.

Step #3: Start Recording

You’ve connected your components. You’ve grabbed a copy of Audacity. Now, click the “Record” button in Audacity and slip your turntable’s needle onto your record. Once you’ve finished recording, click the “Stop” button in Audacity. At this point, you can choose to clean the recording (I suggest doing this) or leaving it “as is” to preserve the vinyl sound.

Step #4: Transfer To CD

After you’ve recorded your record in Audacity, export it to your hard drive as a .WAV file. Then, use iTunes (download it for free at http://apple.com) to convert the .WAV file into an MP3. Once you’ve completed the conversion, you can burn the MP3 onto your CD.

Preserving Your Tunes

Just because the age of vinyl has ended doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your music collection. With a few pieces of low-cost hardware and the free Audacity and iTunes, you can easily convert your music from vinyl records to CD. Chances are, your record collection includes songs that aren’t available anymore. Transfer the records to CDs and retire your vinyl collection. You’ll preserve the music you’ve come to treasure and protect your records at the same time.