LPs to Mp3

[admin_exported]

Hi

Since buying my new hifi system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXtgth_xPG0

I have been very happy with the sound from the USB memory stick!

This can play mp3 or wma.

OK, here is my task.

To transfer a fair collection of LPs (say 40) to mp3 so we can play them on the new system.

I understand that the least compression I use the better but what I would like to know is the actual best settings I can use for mp3.

I have Nero 8 that has many options for bit rate etc.

Now, the idea is to use the record deck from the old stereo system into a mixing desk and then into the computer, I use this already for other inputs.

If the old deck seems poor, what is the best way forward, I see Maplin sell a deck to USB and I am sure there must be others.

Any advice would be great

Kind regards

Mike

 

[professorhat]

I'm pretty sure 320 Kbps is the highest compression rate MP3 offers. Not really up on my turntables, but I remember WHF did a review of the Pro-Ject Debut III USB back in December 2007 which got 5 stars priced at £210. A quick Google search shows it's still available but the price seems to have gone up (around the £250 - £300 price nowadays).

 

[Anonymous]

I have a Pro-Ject Phono Box USB and it doesn't work that well.

If I were going to digitise a lot of vinyl I would buy a nice ADC and then resell it once the archiving is complete.

The ADC is the opposite of a DAC. Feed the analogue outputs of a turntable into the ADC and it will digitise them.

Record the music as a WAV in Audacity and then experiment with compression. Vinyl is poor so I found that nothing was lost by compressing the WAVs to 256kbps AAC.

 

[The_Lhc]

Eddie Pound:
I have a Pro-Ject Phono Box USB and it doesn't work that well.

Curious, mine works perfectly, every time. I occasionally have trouble with the software I'm using but that's nothing to do with the Phono Box.

If I were going to digitise a lot of vinyl I would buy a nice ADC and then resell it once the archiving is complete.

The ADC is the opposite of a DAC. Feed the analogue outputs of a turntable into the ADC and it will digitise them.

Err, yeah, that's what the phono box is doing.

Record the music as a WAV in Audacity and then experiment with compression. Vinyl is poor

Yours might be, but mine's chuffing marvellous!

I rip straight to FLAC using DbPowerAmp, I've only ever had quality problems with one disc, which is just a bad pressing, everything else works fine.

 

[Anonymous]

So I set up the old Aiwa record deck, still got the original AN11 stylus.

Using my mixing desk I transfered at CD quality to my computer, saved as wav and then ran a very light pop/click filter thats all.

I'd like you to take a listen to one of the tracks this produced please and let me know what you think?

The output file is a good quality Mp3 (if there is such a thing LOL)

I want to know what distortion you can hear and I'd like you to guess at the source.

The LP was hardly ever played so that should be ok.

Clearly I suspect the AN11 and may need to get a new one, but then would I have the basis of a good A-D set up?

Thanks in advance, here is the link to download the 8Mb zip file.

www.mikeandsniffy.co.uk/Temp/Track1.zip

 

[up the music]

I can't find my Eric Clapton - Cocaine. Maybe I only have it on vinyl myself. Anyway I did a quick AB comparison with the Spotify version.

In comparison yours loses in all areas I'm afraid. However I'm not sure if they are the same version (ie whether one version is a remaster of the same album track).

The Spotify vesion has a better soundstage, there's something faster about the start stop of bass and hi hat. Your bass a warm bloom to it, sort of big slow and rounded. The Spotify bass is warm sounding like it's been slightly processed but is not as bloated.

That said, your version still got me tapping my feet and thinking 'I've not heard this for a while'. I'm also quite impressed. I was expecting worse.

You say you're using a mixer for the turntable. Is this a DJ mixer type thing?
If you can borrow a better turntable and seperate EQ you may have better results.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi and thanks

The mixer is just a MPX-55 gives me variable gain to pump into the computer via a slider for each input, very simple no other controls.

I use Goldwave on the PC and this can do EQ etc but I wanted to hear what the raw output from the deck was like.

I guess any deck would work in this way?

Do you think the stylus could be worn out? well I think it should be it is after all 20+years old LOL

Thanks again