Vinyl to MP3 Converting Service

Brush Master · 31/12/10 - 09:46

Just stumbled across a couple of old LP albums, and wonder if anyone can recommend a good and affordable vinyl to MP3 conversion service?

I have made conversions myself in the past, and am aware of the steps involved. Trouble is that this takes time and a good amount of fiddle until all tracks are isolated nicely, matched with CDDB for good tag data, etc. Subject to pricing, I might prefer paying a professional service for the trouble.

Suggestions, anyone?

radioman2 · 31/12/10 - 10:53

If you already have the hardware available then you could simply download a trial version of a Dutch bit of software called Polderbits which is easy to use and comes with a sound editor making it very easy to divide/edit tracks and title them.Also has filters and a graphic equaliser.Free to use for 7 days as a trial and the trial version is the same as the paid for version so everything works.If you want to use it after that simply buy a licence,doesn't use much processor power either.I've used it for over 5 years and it's never given me any hassle.If you were local to me I'd gladly transfer the material in my studio for nothing but I guess you aren't.

You'll find it here
http://www.polderbits.com/lp-to-cd.html

DJW13 · 31/12/10 - 10:57

I've just got round to transferring all of my vinyl albums to my PC by using a free program called Audacity.

They can then be downloaded onto your MP3 player.

scottie55 · 31/12/10 - 11:54

DJW13 wrote: »

I've just got round to transferring all of my vinyl albums to my PC by using a free program called Audacity.

I've just done similar using Audacity, which I can thoroughly recommend. It has a sound finder function which divides up the album into tracks very easily.

Brush Master · 31/12/10 - 17:03

That's all great, and thanks for the responses. As you can see from the original post, however, I've done the D.I.Y. transfer on many albums, and am well aware of processes, tools and time involved.

The question, if I may remind the forum, was for recommendation of professional services. Anyone?

DJW13 · 31/12/10 - 17:31

Brush Master wrote: »

That's all great, and thanks for the responses. As you can see from the original post, however, I've done the D.I.Y. transfer on many albums, and am well aware of processes, tools and time involved.

The question, if I may remind the forum, was for recommendation of professional services. Anyone?

Sorry, you are quite right that we have not answered your question.

The LPs must be very special to you that you want to pay to have them converted rather than spending an hour doing them yourself. I suspect that it would be cheaper to buy CDs rather than having a specialist firm convert them, but I assume that the LPs are not available on CD.

Nigel Goodwin · 31/12/10 - 20:18

Brush Master wrote: »

That's all great, and thanks for the responses. As you can see from the original post, however, I've done the D.I.Y. transfer on many albums, and am well aware of processes, tools and time involved.

The question, if I may remind the forum, was for recommendation of professional services. Anyone?

I agree with the others, it sounds an expensive idea - if anyone does even offer such a service?. Can't you just buy them on CD?, or even just download MP3's off the net? - I signed up for a low cost MP3 service (where you only pay for tracks you download) specifically to get some albums that weren't available on CD, rather than convert them.

So what are the albums?.

radioman2 · 31/12/10 - 20:35

Yes there are numerous firms that will transfer material from vinyl to CD although many claim not to deal with with commercially released material due to copyright constraints although I suspect they probably would if offered enough money.

Nigel Goodwin wrote: »

I agree with the others, it sounds an expensive idea - if anyone does even offer such a service?. Can't you just buy them on CD?, or even just download MP3's off the net? - I signed up for a low cost MP3 service (where you only pay for tracks you download) specifically to get some albums that weren't available on CD, rather than convert them.

So what are the albums?.

grahamcrowden · 31/12/10 - 21:26

I spent £120 on a unit before Xmas that plays vinyl and cassettes .
It has a USB socket and a memory card socket .
You simply press record when playback starts and it transfers to either USB stick or memory card .

It also has one button on the remote that splits the tracks but you have to be there during playback.

I found it easier to record one side at a time then use a free program called Wavepad Sound Editor.

Insert the USB into your PC then WSE will split the single track into individual ones in a few seconds.

All you then do is manually enter artists etc.

I found this better than buying a unit with a burner as I rarely burn to cd.

Once the tracks are on the USB in single track form I copy to PS3 or Ipod.

Burning to cd is of course simple too using the PC.

I've spent the last few weeks buying up albums that I've never been able to find on cd or from download sites including quite a few 7" B-sides I wanted .

I used to have a friend who did it on the PC and it took him ages , he said it was fiddly and everything came out in mono

grahamcrowden · 31/12/10 - 21:29

Brush Master wrote: »

That's all great, and thanks for the responses. As you can see from the original post, however, I've done the D.I.Y. transfer on many albums, and am well aware of processes, tools and time involved.

The question, if I may remind the forum, was for recommendation of professional services. Anyone?

I'll do them for you.
Let me know what you want from a professional outfit that I won't be able to do.
You can have them in any sound format you want or on a cd complete with cd sized album art

I've not bothered with anything that prints artwork on cd's as my experience shows that discs with printable tops are more prone to playback issues over a shorter time

Chris Frost · 31/12/10 - 22:56

grahamcrowden wrote: »

I'll do them for you.

I'd be fascinated to know if Brush Master takes you up on your offer.

I've offered to help people out with products and services - often at well below market rate - on this and other forum sites on loads of occasions and never once had the a positive response.

I do wonder who gets the benefit of the business from all the advice offered here, and why those looking for advice are so reluctant to take up a good deal when offered?

Happy New Year everyone

grahamcrowden · 31/12/10 - 22:59

Chris Frost wrote: »

I'd be fascinated to know if Brush Master takes you up on your offer.

I've offered to help people out with products and services - often at well below market rate - on this and other forum sites on loads of occasions and never once had the a positive response.

I do wonder who gets the benefit of the business from all the advice offered here, and why those looking for advice are so reluctant to take up a good deal when offered?

Happy New Year everyone

Me too.
I'm keen to see what the "professionals" can offer over and above what we can do.
Same with the tape to dvd converters .
Money for old rope I think

Brush Master · 01/01/11 - 11:35

Thanks again for suggestions and even offers. I found two commercial offers, one priced GBP 20, the other 5. I think even the 5 quid offer is unappealing if the material can be bought new for little more, and in higher quality.

The point is that the albums in question aren't special enough to me to justify the expense, or the effort. I shall spend some time searching for the CD or MP3 online before considering other steps.

Happy New Year.

Nigel Goodwin · 01/01/11 - 14:33

Brush Master wrote: »

Thanks again for suggestions and even offers. I found two commercial offers, one priced GBP 20, the other 5. I think even the 5 quid offer is unappealing if the material can be bought new for little more, and in higher quality.

The point is that the albums in question aren't special enough to me to justify the expense, or the effort. I shall spend some time searching for the CD or MP3 online before considering other steps.

As I said earlier, what albums are you wanting? - it's quite possible that others here already have MP3 versions - so it's worth mentioning.

[Deleted User] · 02/01/11 - 02:28

Brush,

In order to get those records playing again, you might consider buying an entry level turntable - say a Pro-Ject Essential turntable.

You can then plug that (via a £20 pre-amp) either into the back of your stereo, or even the line-in on your computer.

Why bother transferring them to anything else, they aren't going to sound any better than straight off the vinyl, unless you buy loads of CD replacements.

These low end Pro-ject and similar Rega turntables are great value for money and come with the arm and cartridge/stylus already installed and calibrated. Spend a few more bob and you can even get versions with the phono pre-amp built in.

DONT spend good money on a plastic ION type or similar deck, whatever you do - because you might as well set a lathe loose on your precious records.

pocatello · 02/01/11 - 03:30

I'd go with a commercial service that specifies what equipment they use. Should be quality gear.
As said, cheap ion decks and such have sh** cartridges, sound quality suffers, you might as well not bother considering the result. It is a lot of effort/time, you should do it right, or not at all.

Hey there!

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