Transfer my old record collection onto my computer, ready to burn onto a CD

Easy question, therefore easy answer please

.....Live without you! Boom boom boom boom.

Take the records out of your record boxes, and simply stack them (you'll probably find it easier if you lay them flat) on top of the PC.

Hey presto. All ready for burning. When you've finished, you can stack them in one big pile and put them away when you've finished, or put them back one at a time. It's up to you.

There are a couple of options.

1 Try This

2 Connect the output from your mixer to the audio input of your computer. Various software is available but I use Nero so I'll explain how that works. Open up WaveEditor and click on the record button at the bottom of the screen. Accept the default sampling rate and then a pop up window appears. Start playing your record and then adjust the slider so the input levels are just on the green/yellow split. When you're happy with the levels, put the needle back to the start of the record and then press record button. When the song finishes, press the pause button and then OK. Your song is now displayed and you can then use the edit facility to trim the start and finish of the song, then save it. When you have enough songs, use Nero Burning Rom to transfer them to an audio CD. Remember to select "Normalise all tracks" so all your songs will be at the same volume throughout the disc.

Quote:
"Remember to select "Normalise all tracks" so all your songs will be at the same volume throughout the disc."

Apologies for interjecting, but that doesn't always work. It will increase the highest peak to 0dB, but due do dynamic range compression the subjective volumes can still be different.

I've just about completed putting my vinyl onto CD-R, and it's surprising the difference in apparent volume.....
Just record as-is. and deal with severe differences by ear before finalising.

ADS, you'll need a record deck (duh!!), a decent hi-fi amp with phono input, and lead to go between the amp's 'record out' sockets and your soundcard's 'line in'.

Oh, and some decent software to do the job properly - I use Sound Forge 6.0.

With the time constraints you have Andy, I wouldn't even consider doing this little project. Not only do you work at normal speed but you have to turn the album half-way through. Employ somebody to do it for you, buy the CD's (if available) or just download the required tracks.

Digitising vinyl really is a complete pain in the backside.

How many individual tracks are you planning to record?

As I said, I've done it.
Just resign yourself to a slow process, ensure none of the kids slam doors during the record process.

Do only the recording first, naming each track correctly as it's recorded.
Only when you've done the lot do you consider burning the CDs.

I'll do it for you for a fiver a track.......