Albums may be a joy for listening, but they're a pain to store. Plus, you always worry about when it's time to change the needle. Playing any rare singles? Don't they deteriorate each time they're played?
Converting albums to MP3 combats these problems and adds an advantage: Because the sounds originated from an album, the MP3 still holds some of that warm vinyl feel - none of that sterile CD feeling. Any of today's portable MP3 players will easily hold a full album - some, like Apple's iPod mini, can store 1,000 songs.
Most all-in-one MP3 ripping software records albums and converts them to MP3s on the fly, but that skips the WAV stage. Without this intermediate stage, you have no way to remove any recording flaws before the final encoding.
These steps show how to record songs from an album and save them as WAV files (where you can touch them up before turning them into MP3s):
1. Clean the album.
The cleaner the album, the cleaner the sound. Try these cleaning tips:
• Wash both sides of the album with a lint-free cloth. Most music stores sell record-cleaning brushes designed expressly for removing dust.
• To remove extra-stubborn goo from the grooves, try a mixture of 50/50 rubbing alcohol and distilled water. Lacking that, small amounts of baby shampoo can do the trick. Be sure to rinse well.
• Always wash the record with a circular motion; don't scrub "across grain" because it might scratch the grooves. When you finish cleaning, dry the album and touch it only by the edges.
• If it's an important album - a rare import, or an old 78 - check the phone directory for professional record-cleaning services found in many big cities. They can often remove any extra-persistent grunge from the vinyl.
2. Clean the turntable's needle.
Wipe it off with the little brush that comes with the turntable. Lost yours? Pick one up at the music or stereo store. They're cheap.
3. Connect the turntable's output cables to your sound card.
4. Adjust your recording level.
Your recording program will have a recording monitor display, which flashes according to the incoming volume levels.
Start playing your album and watch the monitor. If it flashes too close to the right end (or the red), turn down the volume going into the sound card, or use the sound card's mixer program to turn down the incoming sound.
If the level's too high, it will distort; if it's too low, you'll hear background noise. Take your time to find the right level before recording. Be patient.
5. Start the recording software.
Begin recording using Adobe Audition, Roxio Capture, or another recording-and-editing package.
6. Play the album.
Be sure to press the Record button on your recording software before playing the album. Don't worry about the initial plop when the needle falls onto the record or the empty space before the first song. You can easily edit out those sounds later.
As you convert album songs into WAV files, keep the following points in mind:
* Hear a persistent humming sound in the background? Plug your turntable into the "unswitched AC adapter" on your receiver or amplifier. If you can't find the unswitched adapter, try plugging your computer and turntable into the same wall outlet. (Use an adapter, if needed.) The two devices then share a common ground.
* Remember to record at a level that's very close to the 0 on the recording level - but never too close. Otherwise, the recording won't sound loud compared to others, like MP3s created from CDs.
* Recording an old mono album? You might only hear the sound on one speaker. You can correct this with sound-editing software.
* Record the entire album's first side and save that as a single WAV file. Then do the same with the flip side. You can easily separate the tracks into separate files later with sound-editing software.
* In the eyes of the law, converting albums to MP3 files isn't any different from copying CDs. You can keep the file for your own personal use, but don't give it away or sell it, or you might be violating copyrights.
http://tech.yahoo.com/gd/recording-songs-from-albums/153231;_ylt=ArqQGtiLnVGbRCbb4mQv9IoSLpA5
