If you want to transfer your 45’s, EP’s, and LP’s to CD, reasonable results with cheap and even free software can be achieved. Not quite the standards of the professionals, but reasonable never the less. So here’s a guide on how you can proceed.

If your turntable is connected to a Hi-Fi amplifier with a dedicated phono turntable) input, then connect a stereo phono lead (sometimes referred to as RCA leads) from the ‘line out’ or ‘record out’ from your amplifier to the ‘line in’ on your computer. The socket on your computer should be labelled ‘Line In,’ very often colour coded Blue and may have a symbol by it which looks like four or five curves in a line and an arrow running through the middle pointing away from the smallest curve.

If however you have a turntable, but no amplifier or don’t have access to one (ie. beg, borrow, steal – well maybe not steal!) or your amplifier has no dedicated phono/turntable input, then you will need a ‘phono pre-amp’. This piece of kit amplifies the very small signal coming from the turntable to match the input of your soundcard (ie. the ‘line in’ on your computer) and also changes the frequency response of the signal so the sound is acceptable to listen to.

If you are going to use a pre-amp, then connect the phono (RCA) lead from your turntable to the input of the pre-amp and the output of the pre-amp to the ‘Line In’ on your computer soundcard, so you will need another stereo ‘phono to phono’ (RCA to RCA) lead to run from the pre-amp to your computer.

This pre-amp will work fine for LP’s EP’s and 45’s, but technically the match should be different for 78 rpm records, and even different ‘matches’ for different types/labels of 78’s – however unless you are wanting a professional result then a standard phono pre-amp should be fine. If you are going to use an audio editor, or dedicated software then you can use their built in graphic equalizer to ‘tweak’ the sound anyway.

Now you are connected, you need some software to record your audio. The first thing to do is decide what end result you would like. Here are some options:

If you just want a simple way to transfer your LP to CD with no restoration, splitting the audio into tracks isn’t a priority, and you have some software to burn the file to CD then try Audiotouch Lite. It has the simplest interface ever. Once a couple of settings are made it’s a ‘one button’ operation. You can also use this software to record any audio running through your PC, like Internet Radio or a microphone. Another piece of software is ‘Audacity’ which is a very good audio editor and is free. It’s rather more complicated to use though, so expect a bit of a learning curve to begin with.

The other option is a dedicated Software Package that will Record your LP, Restore, split your recording into tracks, and Burn to CD. You may even find you can save your audio in MP3 format so you can transfer your audio to a portable player. This is definitely the way to go especially if you have quite a few LP’s to transfer, and of course these packages include an option to clean up the audio to remove crackles, pops, and other unwanted noises. It is surprising how long it can take to transfer your LP’s so a small investment in dedicated software to begin with makes the process so much easier and quicker.

There are quite a few software packages to choose from. I’ve never come across free software in this category and some are quite good but some are awful! So beware. I’ve tried quite a number so here are a few which make a good job and don’t cost very much.

Steinberg Clean is very good, if you can get hold of a copy, but I think it has been dropped. Some suppliers were still advertising it at the time of writing this, plus of course there is always ebay.

Acondigital.com’s Acoustica 3.3 is very good as is Acoustica’s Software ‘Spin it again’ (Don’t be confused by the two ‘Acoustica’s – they are different companies). If you would like more information on these packages then visit our website where you can see the results of my tests on both packages.

Setting up the software is straight forward and ‘wizards’ take you through this process, so it doesn’t take long at all, plus it’s well explained in the ‘help’ files. All these software packages will burn your transferred audio file to CD in a format that will play both on your computer and a normal home CD player. The process is all included in the wizards and is very easy to do.

I hope this has given you an understanding on how you can transfer your LP’s to CD and you enjoy the end results.



By: David Grant

head misaligned, rubber parts deteriorated and motor speed erratic) and replaced the BSR turntable (arm was bust). Now the only visible damage is some slight knocks on the aluminium trim along the front top edge. It records and plays back surprisingly well considering its age! I especially like the blue back light like the silver Pioneer sets of the era. It even has its smoked-perspex lid intact! (not in video) … vintage stereo electrobrand 8-track cassette tape radio tuner record …

I have a bunch of 12′ and 7′ vinyl records and I don’t know the value of them, I was planning on putting them up on kijiji for someone else to enjoy. But I don’t know how much I should sell them for?

Anyone have any ideas ?
Thanks guys

Carrie Underwood came to Fresno on May 28, 2008, and had her valley fans in frenzy when she appeared on stage to promote her latest album.

I must admit, I only knew a few songs. One of them being the “cheater” athemn of the year. “I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped-up four wheel drive carved my name into his leather seat…” but with that I mind I really did not know what to expect.

I was pleased. Well, sort of. I cannot really complain. I did not pay for the tickets. For a free show, It was not too bad. The music was great and she has a wonderful voice. Hence, the reason she won American Idol. She was pleasant to the audience. She interacted with us and cheered everyone along as we sang with her. (Well only one song for me.) It was a great concert if the music is all you are going for. Miss Underwood is certainly not an entertainer. Even though there were costume changes and a cat -walk there was nothing to the show.

Sure there were bigger than life screens above the stage, but nothing to make you say “WOW”! Or even want to go see her again in the next town. It almost like watching a rock concrete but at least they have dancers or something a little more appealing. It was very hard for Miss Underwood to walk her heels. (Something that most artist learn the second they make it.) Her costumes were pretty plain. The first was a tank and jeans, a purple ballroom dress; that eventually turned into cocktail dress, another tank and jeans, and last, the same tank and jeans with a silver jacket over her tom.

The outfits were very plain. Something maybe should be kept in mind the next time she comes around. Maybe some dancers or even models that could walk the cat-walk when she sang “All-American Girl”. Or possibly little skits by her band mates that just stood there as the lazers made cool pictures in the back of the staduim.

All in all, for a free concert, for me, it was not that bad. Good family fun if you know her music and do not want much of a show. It is a good thing she has never claimed to be an entertainer.



By: Angela Turpin

Vinyl records are victims to many of the ailments of CDs, particularly scratches, and exposure to sunlight and heat. In addition, vinyl records also suffer from various other problems as well. To keep your vinyl in great condition, it is essential that your records are taken care of.

The first thing to consider when storing your vinyl is the direction. You should always store your vinyl records vertically. By storing them vertically, there is less stress on the record, ensuring that they don’t bend over time. Vinyl should not be stored horizontally, especially under a pile of other records. The weight causes damage to the grooves, degrading the sound quality. Vinyl should not be allowed to lean either. This can cause it to warp, and you can imagine the difficulties this causes. One other tip, don’t store records too tightly, even vertically, as this also puts pressure on the grooves, deforming them over time.

Vinyl should also be stored in a cooler portion of your house. Heat causes the records to get softer, and prone to bending and damage. You should never store your vinyl near a window or heater.

Also, take care to keep your vinyl away from humidity. Humidity eventually causes mold to grow, which can lead to damage to your record and cover sleeve. Treat your vinyl with respect! Don’t throw it in your basement or attic for 20 years and expect them to come out looking good.

Vinyl should not be stored outside of its liner or sleeve. This can cause the record to get dirty, and more prone to scratches. Dirt is one of the main things that scratches records. In addition to dirt causing damage, exposed vinyl can be damaged by the sun’s UV rays. This is another reason not to store your vinyl near a window or natural light source.

When handling your vinyl, the same rules apply as with CDs. Be careful to handle the record only by its edges. Don’t be careless with the record in hand, if it drops, you could cause a bad scratch, causing the record to skip.

If you don’t have an automatic turntable, be gentle with the stylus (needle). Don’t set it down too heavily. Be mindful while the record is playing: Try not to shake the turntable.

Lastly, when you’re done playing your record, you should return it to its sleeve.

How to clean your vinyl

Keeping your vinyl clean is one of the most effective ways to ensure that your record collection continues to sound good for many years. Here is what you can do to keep your records clean.

First of all, when finished listening to a record, give it a quick once-over with a carbon fiber brush designed for records. These brushes are great for removing small particles of dust and lint. In addition, they have a tendency to de-staticize a record, reducing the sound of pops and hiss. Most of the time, this is all you’ll have to do to keep your records in great shape.

When your records get dirty, it’s a good idea to clean them. Cleaning records doesn’t have to be done very often if you treat your records with care, but it’s not a bad idea once a year if you listen to a record more than a few times in that year. When you clean a record, the goal is to remove grease, dirt and other contaminants. You have to use some sort of cleaner. There are many products on the market that are designed for cleaning records, but many of them are expensive and hard to find. If you have some distilled water and isopropyl alcohol, you can do a great job cleaning your records.

Here’s what you do: Mix up one part 90%+ isopropyl alcohol and four parts distilled water. Add 5-6 drops of dishwashing (non-moisturizing) soap to the mixture. Next, apply the solution to a clean paper towel. Stroke the paper towel across the records, moving with the grooves. Repeat if necessary. Next, rinse the record with more distilled water. Dry with a clean towel. After the record has dried, place it in a brand new paper sleeve, and put it back in its cover. Paper sleeves can be purchased on the internet and ebay, as well as in local record and audio shops.

If you’re a baller, you can always buy a Nitty Gritty, which is a machine that sucks dust off your records. This system works very well, is very easy, and will help you clean a large vinyl collection. These machines are pretty expensive, but worth it if you have a large collection and listen to a lot of music.

Keeping your records clean will give you plenty of years of listening enjoyment. In addition, when they start to sound bad, you can just give them a quick wash, and they’re back to like new. Enjoy the music!



By: Alan Bayer

When conducting a raffle to raise money, the best raffle prize is often one which is donated. This allows all of the collected raffle money to be used by the organization.

But if no appropriate donations are forthcoming, another option is to buy an inexpensive raffle prize. The rationale of this approach is that your modest investment (i.e. buying the prize) will be handsomely rewarded in many raffle ticket sales. Your target market will be excited about winning the prize, and will therefore buy multiple raffle tickets.

If you’ve reached that point where you are looking to buy the prize, consider shopping (or at least monitoring) the Website Woot. Woot sells one product per day, and its prices are worth watching.

Here’s how Woot works:

Woot sells one product per day until it’s sold out, or until 11:59 PM central time when that item is replaced with a new product. If the featured daily item sells out, you must wait until midnight to learn about the new featured product.

Most of the prices (current as of August 2009) seem to be about 50% of what that same item might cost elsewhere.

* Philips 52? 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV: Woot sold at $1200; Amazon lists at $2115.

* Memorex 4GB Media Player: Woot sold for $30; various stores list at $60 to $150

* Ion Audio USB Turntable (This system enables you to play records and record directly into your MP3 player.): Woot sold for $50; Wal-mart lists at $115

* Dell Inspiron Dual Core 1.8 Ghz 14? Notebook: Woot sold for $439.

Here are some other reasons to enjoy Woot:

Shipping is an easy-to-calculate flat rate of $5.00. Regardless of whether you buy a $40 item or a $1000 item, or whether you buy one item or three items, the shipping is $5.00. Missed an item? Wait for a Woot-Off. During a Woot-Off, all of the items which didn’t sell out are offered for sale again (at the same price as before). So, if 40 routers and 125 weather stations didn’t sell, those items would be sold – one product after another – during the day of the Woot-Off. If you didn’t buy the product during its 24-hour window, you might be able to buy it during the Woot-Off. The site is fun to read because it’s cleverly written. The first person to buy each day is called the “First Sucker.” On the “What is Woot” page, the authors write, “We anticipate profitability by 2043.” The site allows you to see cool statistics. By clicking into the “comments” area of any product, you can see some interesting metrics about Woot’s sales. For instance, you’ll see that Woot is most popular in the Midwest, and you can review sales-by-hour to see when Woot sells the most product. Woot has an engaged user community with product feedback. If you like to read product opinions, you’ll find many useful comments from Woot’s buyers.

As a side, cameras (regular and video cameras) are good raffle items, and these items seem to come up for sale regularly on the site. Keep your eyes peeled – a good deal might be on sale today.



By: Sherry Truhlar

I want to make a purchase on turntables and i just wanted to know the diffrence between the two. pleasee hellp