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Almost everything in the world we live in has changed because of developments in technology. Everything has had that chance to “move forward,” and this has helped shape the way we do things. From the cars that are being made to the hairstyles we wear, everything has evolved, and the way music is recorded and played is no exception.
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Through the years, there have been various methods of recording and playing music, but with time these technologies have become obsolete. Unless you are willing to spend huge sums of money on vintage turntables or cassette players, transferring your music to digitized format becomes quite a necessity in an age of CDs, MP3s, mini discs, and DVDs. Digitising your old music not only provides you with easy access to your music, but it is actually also able to improve the quality of its sound – something that was not possible in the older, “low-tech” mediums.
It may seem like an awfully tedious task, but transferring your music from your old vinyl records into digital format is actually very simple and can be really enjoyable. The whole process will basically call for a few key elements: a turntable (best to use amodern USB type – see later recommendations), a computer with a sound card, and recording software. If you really want to save money and use your old stereo, the usual problem most people face is the transfer of music from the stereo to the computer. Stereos send out audio through two connectors, yet a sound card will only need one. The solution? An adapter that can convert the two plug RCA type connectors on old stereos to single plug connectors for your computer’s line-in port.
When transferring music from LPs to digitised format you must make sure that you clean your records well. Any dust or dirt on the record can cause lower level noise, and cleaning them thoroughly will significantly reduce this problem. Use your turntable plus a record cleaning fluid and brush package to clean your records. Once you’re ready, connect your turntable or your stereo to your computer and open your recording software. It is recommended that you record at a sample rate and bit depth of44k, 16 bit for best quality. After you’ve finished recording the tracks or albums that you want, it is also recommended that you edit your files with some music editing software in order to enhance the sound quality, and eliminate unwanted noise. Some of the modern USB turntables come with free software for editing your recorded tracks and importing them to your iTunes library.
A good turntable is a key element in digitising your vinyl records. The better the turntable, the better your recordings will be. Some brands of turntables have stood out as the best ones for digitising music. The Drive ION ITTUSB Belt-Drive is one. It carries 2 speeds: 33.3 and 45 RPM with pitch ranges of +/- 8%. Another great brand is Numark, which offers a pitch range of up to +/- 10%. They’re not particularly expensive and the discounted prices available with Amazon make them even more affordable.
Equipment is also available that transfers your old vinyl records, tapes or radio, directly onto a CD.
Digitising your vinyl music is a great way of preserving all those tracks you love and will bring back a host of memories that are locked into the vinyl, just like looking through an old photo album. Invest some time, effort, and a little money and your payoff will be tremendous: music that is better than ever and alive for years and years to come.