# Turning LPs into MP3s: anybody got a reasonably cheap, easy way there? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 15, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898 "2009-02-15T02:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/1 "2009-02-15T02:14:26Z")
I’ve got a few hundred LPs sitting in my stereo cabinet that, a few albums at a time, I’d like to turn into electronic files (MP3 or whatever) of the individual tracks on each album. I’m looking for a method that’s relatively cheap (under $200, say) and as easy as possible in terms of having things like division of an album side into individual tracks being automated as possible, ditto removal of extraneous noises. What I’ve got, besides the LPs: turntable, stereo, assorted PCs running XP, cables to connect the stereo output to the computer’s audio input. What I need: just the software. The last time I investigated this was back in the early part of the decade, when things were pretty primitive: your choices about tracks were to either record each song to the computer individually, or have a whole album side recorded as a single track. Needless to say, I’m hoping that the state of the art has improved. But my Googling has turned up advice on the subject that’s mostly several years old, or of indeterminate age. Or I find sites that want to sell me a turntable, which I’ve already got. So what’s out there these days? What have Dopers tried? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/2 "2009-02-15T02:24:48Z")
Here’s a [relevant thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=272361). ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/3 "2009-02-15T02:33:22Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Here’s a [relevant thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=272361). Reading the 2004-vintage OP, I must say that’s exactly the degree of complexity that I would hope had been automated in the past five years. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/4 "2009-02-15T02:56:25Z")
[Give this a try.](http://www.nch.com.au/golden/index.html) I’ve used other audio products from this company - all of them worked flawlessly. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/5 "2009-02-15T03:12:29Z")
I bought a turntable at Costco–on for $149 or so. Maybe $129. It works! There is a little confusion on my end with a step through Itunes, but I’ve made mp3s successfully from vinyl. If I can do it, anyone can. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ea5d25/32.png) [@Happy\_Scrappy\_Hero\_Pup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Scrappy_Hero_Pup)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/6 "2009-02-15T03:22:08Z")
I got your $149 BEAT! > **[Amazon.com: Ion TTUSB Turntable with USB Record (Discontinued by Manufacturer) :...](https://www.amazon.com/Ion-Turntable-Record-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B000BUEMOO)** > > Product Description ION has created the world's first USB turntable allowing you to convert your old vinyl collection directly to CD or MP3 with the included recording software. (NO SPECIAL DRIVERS NEEDED) The ION USB turntable includes... ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/7 "2009-02-15T03:26:49Z")
Um, he already has a turntable. So buying a piece of software for $36 beats everything so far. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/8 "2009-02-15T04:09:50Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > [Give this a try.](http://www.nch.com.au/golden/index.html) > > I’ve used other audio products from this company - all of them worked flawlessly. Interesting. You don’t need a turntable preamp–you plug the turntable straight into the line-in jack on the computer–and you can play back 33’s at 45 to speed up recording. I may get this program. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/9 "2009-02-15T06:58:43Z")
Have you tried Goldwave? There is a free edition. Now it won’t individually record the tracks (or wouldn’t last time I looked) but it can remove noise etc. ---
**Author:** ![Capa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Capa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capa)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/10 "2009-02-15T07:40:37Z")
The ION USB turntable linked above is nice because it eliminates the TT specific input needed by most software. I’ve used it to rip a few records as a test run for when I make the move completely to digital (between myself and 2 best friends, we have about 4,000 records to rip…we are all DJs, so most of them only have 1-2 songs per side, but it’s still a massive undertaking)…I’ve also used a small USB interface, that required the turntable out put to run through a tuner or mixer (not a problem for us, but may be for others)…this little device cost me only 30 bucks or so at CompUSA, and the software included could separate tracks on each side. Once you start doing this, that ability of the software to do that is going to be a HUGE bonus, and this is something you MUST have. Being able to put the needle down, hit record, and walk away until the entire side is done makes the entire project much more user friendly…I can’t give you the name of the product right now because it’s in my friend’s studio, but I"ll get it tomorrow and post it, and the name of the software bundled with it. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/11 "2009-02-15T08:39:37Z")
Thanks Capa- that sounds a far more sophisticated and easy system than the one I used. I am not quite sure I understand it fully (spent all afternoon in 40 degree heat (celsius) working in the garden and had a few ales) but will look again tomorrow. And if you could post the name of the interface it would be great. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/12 "2009-02-15T09:06:02Z")
> [@Capa](#): > > …I’ve also used a small USB interface, that required the turntable out put to run through a tuner or mixer . It seems to me that the impedance was different between magnetic and ceramic cartridges and that you might be able to use a ceramic cartridge directly. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/13 "2009-02-15T10:27:28Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > [Give this a try.](http://www.nch.com.au/golden/index.html) > > I’ve used other audio products from this company - all of them worked flawlessly. That sounds like it’s _exactly_ what I’m looking for!! Thanks a bunch! Do you use [the ‘plus’ versions of any of the software that can be bundled along with](https://secure.nch.com.au/cgi-bin/register.exe?software=golden), or does the basic Golden Records license, plus the free versions of their other products, do the job for you? ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/14 "2009-02-15T13:28:40Z")
My parents have a huge collection of jazz LPs, and sounded interested when I mentioned getting them something like the Ion to convert everything to digital. Can the Ion separate the individual tracks, or will each side be recorded as one long track? Also, my parents are semi- tech-savvy 70-somethings, so keeping components and complexity to a minimum would be a definite plus. Anyone know if the Ion is as simple as the Amazon link hypes it as? ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/15 "2009-02-15T15:46:03Z")
When I converted some of my LP’s, I needed a pre-amp to boost the signal strength. RadioShack stores don’t carry them, but you can find them on-line. One thing to watch out for is that the cheaper ones can get RFI-noise. I countered that by finding a steel outlet box to encase the pre-amp and grounding the box. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/16 "2009-02-15T23:09:46Z")
> [@Sublight](#): > > My parents have a huge collection of jazz LPs, and sounded interested when I mentioned getting them something like the Ion to convert everything to digital. Can the Ion separate the individual tracks, or will each side be recorded as one long track? > > Also, my parents are semi- tech-savvy 70-somethings, so keeping components and complexity to a minimum would be a definite plus. Anyone know if the Ion is as simple as the Amazon link hypes it as? The Ion I have (about a year old) requires manual separation of tracks. It’s a simple process, but you do have to watch it and do it by hand. However, the whole thing is simple enough that I can do it, and that probably means anybody can. ---
**Author:** ![Capa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Capa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capa)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/17 "2009-02-16T03:13:53Z")
Ok, the device is called “Instant Music” by ADS tech…there are a few different models, again, I paid around $30 for mine. It comes with software called “spin it again” which allows you to hit play, and walk away. When the record is over, the entire recording is shown as one long file on a frequency graph, with breaks where the software thinks the songs are. It’s very accurate. You can then drag the beginning or ending either direction, and then export the files (this is handy for records with a long intro of dead space) you can slide the beginning of the file forward to just before the first beat (very useful for djs, since you don’t have to search through a ton of silence to find the first beat to set a cue point on). This is a link to one similar, but not quite identical, to mine: > **[What is the main difference between FireWire and USB?](https://www.usb-ware.com/)** > > USB, FireWire or Thunderbolt: Which is better? Read the comparison provided in the article and decide which one to choose for your purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/18 "2009-02-16T03:28:02Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > That sounds like it’s _exactly_ what I’m looking for!! Thanks a bunch! > > Do you use [the ‘plus’ versions of any of the software that can be bundled along with](https://secure.nch.com.au/cgi-bin/register.exe?software=golden), or does the basic Golden Records license, plus the free versions of their other products, do the job for you? I haven’t used Golden Records, though I do intend to buy it soon. I recommend it solely on the strength of Switch, which works like a dream every time even in its free version. I figure these guys know what they’re doing. ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/turning-lps-into-mp3s-anybody-got-a-reasonably-cheap-easy-way-there/485898/19 "2009-02-16T07:09:07Z")
As an alternative, I’ve used various versions of Rogue Amoeba’s [Audio Hijack Pro](http://www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijackpro/) for years and can say without hesitation that it’s been letter-perfect. And [Fission](http://www.rogueamoeba.com/fission/) to chop it up. The pair bundle for $50. Best 50 clams I’ve ever spent on software, and FTR, I have no financial connection with Rogue Amoeba other than a well-satisfied customer.