Audacity Forum

I have downloaded Audacity software for Windows and also downloaded an MP3 encoder programme.

I want to record the vinyl in Lossless. Is this possible? If so, where can I get a copy of the relevant encoder and is this capatible with iTunes/Audacity?

Thank you for your help.

rfpdf1

I don't think that you can export to Apple lossless - but what you can do is export a set of WAVS, burn a music CD (at 44.1kHz Stereo 16-bit PCM) - and then rip this CD into iTunes in the normal way with your import set to Apple lossless.

WC

If you just want to record the vinyl to a "perfect" audio format, Microsoft Wave (WAV) is just the ticket. The files are large, but it's an uncompressed format and you can do production with it and expect no damage from the production tools, unlike the compressed formats like MP3, Dolby, and Apple AAC, which decompose pretty rapidly under the stress of editing.

If you really do want Apple Lossless®, why? We may be able to get there in a different way.

Koz

Another option is to export as FLAC (about half the size of a WAV, and lossless).

Thank you to those who have replied.

Can I get a free copy of a WAV ir FLAC encoder from the net?

rfpdf1

you can do it with Audacity - but you will need to upgrade to the Beta version 1.3.5. Don't worry too much about it being Beta - 1.3 is fairly stable now - I've used only 1.3 fron v1.3.3 onwards and it has proved emminently stable.

If you have an Audacity project you don't need to convert to WAV - just Export directly to FLAC.

If you have WAV files to convert, just import them into Audacity and Export as FLAC.

WC

Thank you again to those who have replied.

I have now recorded a few LPs to Audacity. At present I have recorded each LP as a single track. I am aware that I can create separate tracks by pressing stop each time a track ends, but that involves me constantly being present whilst recording. Is it possible to chop the final track into separate tracks so these can be sent to iTunes as a CD would be? Also, does anyone know whether once the LP is converted into iTunes it is possible to get the Artwork. Usually, but not always, this is loaded when I rip CDs into iTunes

Thank you.

rfpdf1

All you need to do is to place a label at each track break - use the Ctrl-B shortcut - and don't forget to place a label right at the beginning for the first track.

Then use Audacity's Export Multiple command (available from the File drop-down) to export a multiple set of WAVs, MP3s or whatever.

The Audacity Wiki, Documentation and Tutorials have much useful information on how to do this - a recommended read - http://audacityteam.org/help/

WC

rfpdf1 wrote: Also, does anyone know whether once the LP is converted into iTunes it is possible to get the Artwork. Usually, but not always, this is loaded when I rip CDs into iTunes

rfpdf1

For the "CD's" that iTunes does not have artwork for you may find examples of the artwork by searching t'Interweb (Google is your friend ....). Amazon is also a good source for artwork. Just right-click on the image in a webpage and use Save Picture As.. to store the image in you My Pictures folder say. Then in iTunes select the album in question, select the first track, right-click it, use Get Info from the drop-down, select the Artwork tab, use the Add button to get the artwork from you MyPictures folder, and click the OK..

If you can't find artwok you can photograph the album cover with a digital camera and upload the image similarly - but use a low resolution output or the file will be too big for iTunes.

Just note that this can be time consuming - I once spent a whole long day finding and posting artwork for all my image-free CDs and digitized LPs (and I've still got more to do - my whole classical digitized LP collection).

Have fun,
WC