Setup for Windows 7

[Teddy357]

Hi,
I have an Older Turn Table and Windows 7. How can I set it all up and record L.P.s to C.D.s? I also have a Stereo Adapter what else do I need to make it all work? Please let me know. Thank you in advance.
Ted+
P.S. What version of Audacity do I use for Windows 7 ?

[steve]

Most old turntables require a "phono pre-amp". Some hi-fi amplifiers (mostly older ones) have these built in. You can also buy USB phono pre-amps - these can be good because they bypass the (usually low quality) sound card in the computer. If you go for a USB sound card, check that it is compatible with Windows 7 before you buy.
There is a tutorial about transfering vinyl here: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Trans ... uter_or_CD

P.S. What version of Audacity do I use for Windows 7 ?

The latest 1.3 version (currently 1.3.11)

[Teddy357]

Hi,
I guess I need to use amplifier where the turn table is connected to right now. My sound card as a Sound blaster top of the line one so it should work and I guess I need version 1.3.11 do I also need to download anything else or add ons with it?Please let me know and Thank you.
Ted+

[steve]

I guess I need to use amplifier where the turn table is connected to right now.

If you're already connected up to an amp that's great. Does your amp have a "Record Out" (may be called "AUX Out")?

My sound card as a Sound blaster top of the line one so it should work

Sounds like it's good for the job - you will be using the "Line In" socket on the sound card.

You have a lead to go from the amp to the sound card?

and I guess I need version 1.3.11

Absolutely.

do I also need to download anything else or add ons with it?

Not initially, though it depends on what you want to do.

Audacity comes with a decent number of useful effects included, though others may be added later if you need them.

If you plan to burn the recorded tracks to CD then after recording you will need to Export the tracks in WAV format (16 bit PCM WAV)
If you want to use the tracks on an iPod, you can use iTunes to convert the WAV files into AAC format (a high quality compressed audio format)
If you want MP3 copies (for a portable MP3 player) you can either use a 3rd party encoder to convert the WAV files, or you can install the LAME plug-in for Audacity which allows Audacity to export MP3 files (stick with WAV if you're making CDs - the sound quality is better with WAV files).

You've also got the Tutorial, so that seems to be about everything. Good luck, and have fun. If you get stuck you know where to come.

[steve]

Almost forgot, one of the forum regulars (who has don a LOT of vinyl transfers) swears by the Click Repair program here: http://www.clickrepair.net/
It's not free, but it is quite inexpensive and is highly rated. See here for a comprehensive write-up http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 4&start=20

[Teddy357]

Hi,
This will be the first time I am doing this so I'm really new at this. I want to save these L.P.s to C.D.s and play them in the car or somewhere else like my mp3 player. What should I do use the wav file? The turn table is an old dual turn table and the amp. as a Magnum 400 receiver and it does have a Aux.Out female connection on the back of the receiver.The sound card is a sound blaster X-fi Elite Pro and the mother board is a Asus P7P55D Pro. So that should work I hope or should a get an USB turn table? Which will work better? Please do let me know. That other file that you sent along that would work I don't know anything about it as I said I am Very New at this. Thank you for all your help in advance.
Ted+

[steve]

Most of your questions are covered in the Tutorial I posted the link to.
Here it is again: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Trans ... uter_or_CD

How good is your turntable? Most of the USB ones are not that good (they're made to a price so that people will transfer their records, then put them up in the attic). If your existing turntable is half decent and the stylus and drive belts are in good condition, then it is likely to be better than a modern USB job.

For burning the recordings to CD you will need to use a CD burning program. It is possible to do this with Windows Media Player, but with the number of people that have problems doing that I would not recommend it. You may already have a suitable CD burning program (for example, Roxio or Nero) but if not, there is an excellent free CD burner for Windows called CDBurnerXP http://cdburnerxp.se/
The important thing with burning CDs to play in a CD player is that you must tell the software that you want to make an audio CD. ("data CDs" will play on computers but will not usually play on normal CD players).

The other program that I mentioned (Click Repair) is to help improve the quality of your recording (remove clicks and crackles). It is not essential and Audacity contains some tools of its own for cleaning up the sound, so you may want to leave that for now while you become familiar with Audacity.

[Teddy357]

Hi,
The Turn Table I have is a dual Turn table it's made in Germany and at that time was the top of the line turn Table and Yes it is Belt driven. See the receiver and the rest of my stuff from the last post and let me know if it's good enough to do the job. Thank you.
Ted+

[steve]

Looks good to me - a bit on the "Vintage" side, but nothing wrong with that. (I miss my beautiful old 1970's NAD amp )

[waxcylinder]

I am one of the forum posters that Steve refers to as "swearing by the ClickRepair software.

I started out my LP & 45s transcription project by buying a USB TT (the ION iTTUSB). Whilst the electronics were perfectly good it was, as Steve says, built to a budget. And one of the compromises was a very lightweight plastic platter. This gave me far too much noticeable wow&flutter - particularly noticeable on classical music recordings.

So that got junked to my attic - and out of the attic I resurrected my vintage Technics deck, its SME arm and my wife's old Technics pre-amp. I gave the technics TT a good home service (cleaning lubrication etc.) and I treated it to a new cartridge. I also bought an external USB soundcard (Edirol UA-1EX) - though if your PC's onboard soundcard is good enough this is not strictly necessary. As you have a belt drive TT you will need to check the condition of the belt (they get brittle and/or sticky over time and they can stretch) you may need to replace the belt. And also check that the belt has left no residues on it's drive spindle and where it drives the platter - and carefully clean both those.

I would certainly recommend sticking with your existing TT providing it runs well and reliably. I got much better results from my old Technics that with the ION.

WC