RAPPAR
Kingston, ON Canada
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Joined: 10/12/2003
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I have a number of LP's I'd like to convert to digital using my Mac in my motorhome and at home. Two programs I can use are Toast 9 and Audacity. Toast, here in Canada, is going to run me about $80 after a rebate. Audacity is free. Toast's learning curve and ability with 'CD Spin Doctor' to break up files into individual tracks seems to be easier than Audacity.
What would you use?
Thanks
Ron
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clockwork oranjaboom
Mountains of GA
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Joined: 11/25/2006
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I've used Audacity and Nero 8 SoundTracks- Nero is easier to use but pricey. Will you be using a usb turntable or a line input through an amp? Audacity was buggy using a usb input turntable, but worked fine using a line input. Audacity user forum is a big help.
dave
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ReadyToGo
Minnesota
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Joined: 11/17/2002
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Audacity is the program of choice that comes with some turntable hardware and software. It is really easy to select out each song after is it played and Audacity captures the music.
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init6
Near Fredericksburg, VA
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Joined: 12/23/2004
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I use Audacity and have had GOOD results.
2005 Pace Arrow 37c
Workhorse W-24 Chassis
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Rick Jay
Greater Springfield area, MA
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Joined: 02/02/2003
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Hi,
Didn't your Macs come with GarageBand? All of the newer ones do. I've used GarageBand with good results and it's pretty easy to learn.
Anyone needing a turntable to do the whole process might be interested in something like this. I've never used anything like this but it looks like an interesting concept. Recording directly to the iPod looks like a neat feature. However, I still think you need to manually tell it when one track ends and another begins.
For those with "older" type turntables, remember that the "phono output" of these is not "line-level" line CD/MP3 players. Your amplifier should have a special "Phono Input" to be able to capture the audio properly. (Remember the old receivers used to have a "Phono Input"?) Connecting the output of such a turntable directly to your the input of your soundcard may have less than ideal results.
There are also USB Turntables available that produce a digital output directly, which can be convenient.
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22 (Class A)
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (12-Angel), 1 girl (7), 2 boys (8 & 5), 1 plump Golden Retriever.
2001 Honda Odyssey with Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
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JimAndCat
Melrose, Florida
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Joined: 11/03/2004
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There are multiple adapters on the market - not too expensive - that will match the turntable output to your PCs soundcard stereo input.
Spin Doctor does an okay job of filtering scratch and hiss noises.
Suggest you capture each track as full quality .wav. You can always dumb down the quality to mp3 or some other highly compressed file type.
You can capture entire side of LP as one long file and then use a lot of programs - like Roxio sound editor - to carve out each individual track.
Better quality turntable cartridge and etc will determine quality of your captured LP tracks.
Easy stuff to do - enjoy.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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Audiity is also a bit cheaper than Toast... How much did you say Toast cost.. Well Audicity is that much cheaper than Toast
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
John is Near Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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az99
N.Y.
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Joined: 12/26/2006
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I used Vinyl Studio to convert mine. Works well, has filters and is easy to use. I believe it is also available for Mac. It was like $29.00.
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mikew9
Texas
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Joined: 09/03/2007
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Garage Band + connect to headphone jack --- works well, great editing tools.
Also with GB you can create soundtracks for home movies & slideshows.
(If you need an adapter for the phono player/amplifier try Radio Shack or even Target)
good luck with it
Mike in Texas
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Rick Jay
Greater Springfield area, MA
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If I can add a footnote to my previous post:
"For those with "older" type turntables, remember that the "phono output" of these is not "line-level" line CD/MP3 players."
The "phono input" of receivers includes a special equalization circuit to compensate for the pre-EQ (RIAA equalization) used to record phonographs. (Records were recorded with the high frequencies boosted to help overcome noise issues.) If you use a passive adapter to just convert the low-level signal from the RCA phono plugs to 1/8" or 1/4" or XLR or whatever, you will not have the proper equalization applied. Of course this can be adjusted after the digital conversion process as well.
Here's a Wikipedia link that supplies some additional info.
~Rick
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