Thanks Jenny.

Maybe try getting this post moved to the tech section? It's likely to get more answers :)

It'd help if a question was asked!

At a guess, you'll be after one of these:

http://www.firebox.com/product/1401/USB-Turntable

Do you have your own turntable? I have and a friend has just bought some software (to share) which, when loaded onto my laptop and connected to the t/table will convert the signal for burning onto cd, there are also tools for reducing surface noise etc. If no turntable then there are now available such turntables as recommended by Slimrick and in other local stores.

It'd help if a question was asked!

The question's in the title! :loopy:

I understand that a lot of information is lost when reducing vynil to MP3, is there a better format available ?
Large capacity external HD's are cheap, so storage would not be an issue, merely interested in retaining as much of the original sound as possible and avoiding the "empty" CD, MP3, effect.

I understand that a lot of information is lost when reducing vynil to MP3, is there a better format available ?
Large capacity external HD's are cheap, so storage would not be an issue, merely interested in retaining as much of the original sound as possible and avoiding the "empty" CD, MP3, effect.
but not if you convert to flac or wav, i personally have seperates on my hifi system including a sony cd recorder so i record stuff straight to cd

A MiniDisc recorder is the easiest way to achieve good results, although you then need a compatible CD recorder (like the one Mel uses) to copy across with any sort of ease.

The sound off the cheap USB turntables around these days is dire, and that's overstating their performance. Best of all, stick with the vinyl. :)

At a guess, you'll be after one of these:

http://www.firebox.com/product/1401/USB-Turntable
You don't need one of those if you've already got a record player, you simply need a £1 phono to 3.5mm cable which you plug into the line in on your PC's soundcard.

If you've got nero you can use the wav editor to record if not there are lots of freeware programs which can record audio out there.

Thanks all for the advice. I do have a Thorens turn table which I'm sure will give better results than the cheap plastic ones.

The advice then is record from the turn table on to the HD, using Wav., via Audacity or Nero (have both of these, but they look quite complex) ? I'm going to have a go at this when I get time and come back to the SF., if I get stuck.

Yep, and then compress it using flac, which won't lose you any sound quality.

Yep, and then compress it using flac, which won't lose you any sound quality.
the whole point is....flac isnt a compression :P
thats why its lossless

</pedant mode off>

the whole point is....flac isnt a compression :P
thats why its lossless

</pedant mode off>

</pedant mode on>

Yes it is, try looking up lossless data compression (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lossless_data_compression) on t'interwebs! ;) "Compression" just means that it makes the data smaller, regardless of whether it's lossy or lossless. Flac, zip and rar are all examples of lossless compression.

At a guess, you'll be after one of these:

http://www.firebox.com/product/1401/USB-Turntable

That's a great idea, never heard of that before :cool:

Now only £59.99 at Maplin electrical. ION USB Turntable (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98232&source=1)