Converting vinyl records to CDs

**Blackbird** · 14th December 2006, 11:47

Like a lot of other people I suspect, we have some pretty good LP's from yesteryear which would be good to play in the car as CD's. I'm not a tightarse and have bought a lot of CD versions wherever possible. However, there's one LP we have which I simply can't find as a CD and wondered if there are any commercial companies around who could convert our LP (which is in good nick) to a CD. Does anyone know of such a service? I don't even own a turntable these days!

For interest, the LP is Mike Batt's "Hunting of the Snark", starring such greats as Roger Daltrey and Art Garfunkel, to name just two. It must be scarce as I saw a second hand Snark LP in the UK for sale for 30 quid!

Cheers,

Geoff

**sunhuntin** · 14th December 2006, 12:00

there is a program that does this. one of my dads workmates has it, and is meant to be giving me the program. it also does cassette to cd.

i think theres been similar threads here in the past with guys that can do it, so hopefully one will come along soon! good luck!!

**Magua** · 14th December 2006, 12:04

Since you already own the LP, just download the songs from the net to a cd.

**MSTRS:Me** · 14th December 2006, 12:12

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

there is a program that does this. one of my dads workmates has it, and is meant to be giving me the program. it also does cassette to cd.

i think theres been similar threads here in the past with guys that can do it, so hopefully one will come along soon! good luck!!

But he doesn't have a turntable anymore....also need a sound card (or at least 'audio in' socket on your hard drive), a cable with a large male jack for stereo headphone socket (output) and a small male jack for the hard-drive end (input), and a program like Nero 6. I've done it and it works, but not all that well. Better to simply download the tracks as mp3 or wma (whatever).

**Blackbird** · 14th December 2006, 12:24

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Haven't been able to find any download sources as yet or that's what I'd do. The quality aspects that MSTRS alludes to have stopped me trying to jury rig anything with a borrowed turntable. I shall keep plugging away to find a solution!

Cheers

Geoff

**xwhatsit** · 14th December 2006, 12:32

I have a source for a digital copy of `Hunting of the Snark', by Mike Batt. What sort of quality are you looking for? Is MP3 OK?

Plus, I take it you have broadband? Once I've acquired it I'll set up a link you can download it from me from.

Edit: I can have it available in 256Kbps EAC MP3, which is reasonable quality if you're not too fussy, or lossless as well... but the lossless will take longer for me to get hold of.

**Blackbird** · 14th December 2006, 13:25

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

I have a source for a digital copy of `Hunting of the Snark', by Mike Batt. What sort of quality are you looking for? Is MP3 OK?

Plus, I take it you have broadband? Once I've acquired it I'll set up a link you can download it from me from.

Edit: I can have it available in 256Kbps EAC MP3, which is reasonable quality if you're not too fussy, or lossless as well... but the lossless will take longer for me to get hold of.

Sir, you are a gentleman and a scholar

Normal MP3 type quality would be just superb thanks. I really appreciate your help and will PM you in due course to sort out how I might be able return the favour.

Thanks again

Geoff

**Maha** · 14th December 2006, 13:35

Originally Posted by Blackbird

For interest, the LP is Mike Batt's "

Ya know Geoff, a few years ago, met my lovely lady Anne, i told her about some of the music i was into, some of the more....obscure bands if you like. One of the CD's i had was 'Tarot Suite' Mike batt and friends. Anne said she had it on Vinyl....the 4th person i had ever known that had that LP...

**Hillbilly** · 14th December 2006, 13:36

If you're really serious, Yamaha make a PC sound card sepceailly designed standard with audio (RSA) inputs in the front for both left and right channels. However, this sound card is not compatible with gaming, and is basically for recording purposes.

**Blackbird** · 14th December 2006, 14:07

Originally Posted by maha man

Ya know Geoff, a few years ago, met my lovely lady Anne, i told her about some of the music i was into, some of the more....obscure bands if you like. One of the CD's i had was 'Tarot Suite' Mike batt and friends. Anne said she had it on Vinyl....the 4th person i had ever known that had that LP...

I have Tarot Suite on vinyl AND on CD. I also have another rare Mike Batt CD on order and expect it any day from Amazon UK. Nice that someone else appreciates his work!

**xwhatsit** · 14th December 2006, 14:16

Cheers Blackbird, not a problem at all. I ask for enough bloody help on this forum so might as well contribute something of my own (my damned geekiness

) back.

I've never heard of Mike Batt, and I'm sure that I'll probably find the music bizarre, but I too am familiar with the land of basement LP shops and obscure artists that you can't find recordings of for love or money. My personal weakness is 1950s-60s bebop and modal jazz. If I'd been born 10 years ago, before the net became mainstream, I never would've been able to listen to all the cool stuff I get to listen to.

**Motu** · 14th December 2006, 14:22

I have been wanting to do this for sometime - I've got a turntable with preamp,the wiring,soundcard and Nero.But it takes time - not load and rip like a CD.You have to twiddle knobs to get the levels correct for sound in,then you have to play with the Nero graphic equaliser to get the sound you want.Every track and album has to be manualy entered for labeling.It's a shit load of work for a non geek like me,I have better things not to do with my time.And you can't just get it off the net,the very fact I've kept my vast vinyl collection is because a lot of rare stuff is in there.Not a problem if you want Machine Head,but if you want Jon Lord's Saraband it's a bit harder to find.

**Blackbird** · 14th December 2006, 14:26

Originally Posted by xerxesdaphat

Cheers Blackbird, not a problem at all. I ask for enough bloody help on this forum so might as well contribute something of my own (my damned geekiness

) back.

I've never heard of Mike Batt, and I'm sure that I'll probably find the music bizarre, but I too am familiar with the land of basement LP shops and obscure artists that you can't find recordings of for love or money. My personal weakness is 1950s-60s bebop and modal jazz. If I'd been born 10 years ago, before the net became mainstream, I never would've been able to listen to all the cool stuff I get to listen to.

Hahaha - we all have a cross to bear! The original Hunting of the Snark was penned by none other than Lewis Carroll (don't you dare ask...). Mike Batt put it to music. All this knowledge from someone who abandoned English Lit for another science subject when he was 16, hehe!