Convert Vinyl LP to Memory Stick

[Eric1949]

Hello everyone.  Does anyone convert vinyl LP's to Memory stick? Udon Thani area.

[RichCor]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in the world who does this for a living (and then doesn't charge megabucks for the service). Converting media is very time consuming, usually has to be done in 'real time', playing back the source media at normal speed while a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) does its thing and the target is rendered as a digital file.

 

Paradoxically, you can do it yourself for not much money.

 

You just need the turntable analog 'line level' audio output connected to your computer audio input (instead of your stereo), and sound recording/mix/editing software. Set the software to record, place needle to album, and verify the computer recording sound good (audio is good without distortion or level peaking). Then stop and save the file as each track is played.

 

Much easier process with CD's or DVD's as those are already digital files and software has been written to not only copy and convert the source, but also compare the output to an online master database and pretty accurately determine the Album and Track content to autoname the folder and track files. The process is known as 'ripping'. But if you create your own analog to digital saved files this autoname process isn't available as the resulting 'digital signature'  of the file will be unique to that recording session so no stored comparison would be available for digital matching. You have to recognize and name the saved file on your own.

[Eric1949]

Thanks, but the vinyl LP has nostalgia value only.  Turntable capable of playing it has long since gone.

[KittenKong]

I digitised about 200 LPs a few years ago before disposing of them via a charity shop. I actually had many more but I only digitised the ones that weren't available on CD. I suspect that for some of them mine may have been the only recordings still in existence as they were unreleased studio samplers from the 70s, and some of those bands/performers never did get a record contract.

 

I did it all using Audacity, a free cross-platform sound editing programme. I connected the tape output of my hifi amp (fed from a very expensive Audio Technica cartridge on my turntable) to the line input of my PC. Audacity then recorded the sound as a wav file (in real time of course, so that was an interesting month of needle dropping).

 

The nice thing about Audacity is that it has built in filters for de-popping and de-clicking, and also for hiss removal. I found it worth spending an hour or so getting to know how the filters worked and playing with the settings so as not to remove too much top-end along with the pops and hiss.The final result was little short of excellent and I find my digitised recordings are much nicer to listen to than the original LPs ever were. Certainly good enough for my 60-year-old ears.

 

After editing and processing, Audacity saved the file in FLAC format at about 200-250Mb per disk. Once the settings are correct the entire process can be automated via macros. I also actually saved the unprocessed wav recording in FLAC format, just in case.

 

http://www.audacityteam.org/download/

[partington]

1 hour ago, Eric1949 said:

Thanks, but the vinyl LP has nostalgia value only.  Turntable capable of playing it has long since gone.

You are very out of touch: turntable players are a current youth fad and on sale everywhere. I have three nephews/nieces in their twenties and two have turntables, bought or given as a gift within the last two years.

 

Current Amazon page:

 

 

 

Edited September 3, 2017 by partington

[KhunBENQ]

41 minutes ago, partington said:

You are very out of touch: turntable players are a current youth fad and on sale everywhere. I have three nephews/nieces in their twenties and two have turntables, bought or given as a gift within the last two years.

Just didn't notice for Thailand.

In the west there is indeed a growing interest in the black gold.

Maybe after having spoiled their ears with miserable MP3s they feel enlightened

 

I tried to find an answer to the OP to no avail.

There are a few enthusiasts/companies that deal with vinyl, also explicitly offering digitizing.

But obviously not in the northeast.

Peer to peer (another foreigner with equipment) could help.

 

I first came to Isan in 1994 and can not remember ever having seen a vinyl or a turntable at all since then.

[partington]

22 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Just didn't notice for Thailand.

In the west there is indeed a growing interest in the black gold.

Maybe after having spoiled their ears with miserable MP3s they feel enlightened

 

I tried to find an answer to the OP to no avail.

There are a few enthusiasts/companies that deal with vinyl, also explicitly offering digitizing.

But obviously not in the northeast.

Peer to peer (another foreigner with equipment) could help.

 

I first came to Isan in 1994 and can not remember ever having seen a vinyl or a turntable at all since then.

Actually saw a few on sale in B2S/ Central, and also Fortune Town -  in Bangkok, though, not in the sticks. Some also on Lazada for online ordering.

[Meljames]

3 hours ago, Eric1949 said:

Hello everyone.  Does anyone convert vinyl LP's to Memory stick? Udon Thani area.

Might be easier/cheaper to find a download from the internet.

[ubonjoe]

Here is a solution for 1300 baht from Lazada if you have a computer to plug it into.

http://www.lazada.co.th/usb-new-hifi-record-player-turntable-usb-turntable-mp3-encodingconverter-4283731.html?spm=a2o4l.category-030100000000.0.0.E2nY4o&ff=1&sc=ERsR

 

[Eric1949]

Thanks for your input everyone, much appreciated.

[RichCor]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

Here is a solution for 1300 baht from Lazada if you have a computer to plug it into.

http://www.lazada.co.th/usb-new-hifi-record-player-turntable-usb-turntable-mp3-encodingconverter-4283731.html?spm=a2o4l.category-030100000000.0.0.E2nY4o&ff=1&sc=ERsR

 

Yea, was just going to mention you can purchase turntables with built-in USB interface.

 

Going to that link showed the 1300 and a 1138 baht model.

Not a bad price to get access to the pressed audio. Then do the process KittenKong described.

[jkinbkk]

Your best bet is to find the music/album you want on YouTube. Copy the link and paste it into an app such as this http://convert2mp3.net/en/index.php

You can then convert it into an mp3, download and add to your thumb drive.

[Denim]

Depending on the band an easy way to do it would look for the album on You Tube then download it straight onto a stick from there. Unfortunately , it is with video so no good for the car. You might also find the album ( music only ) on the net and download it for free.

[jkinbkk]

1 hour ago, Denim said:

Depending on the band an easy way to do it would look for the album on You Tube then download it straight onto a stick from there. Unfortunately , it is with video so no good for the car. You might also find the album ( music only ) on the net and download it for free.

Actually, with the app I mentioned you can choose the format you want to download. Yes indeed YouTube only offers videos, but within the choices in the app you can record only the sound as an mp3.

[craftyhen]

it's easier to just download each track in MP3 form via the Soulseek software program

 

i've been using it for nearly 15 years and never had any issues

 

[Tagaa]

If you want a turntable, go to Lazada. They have TEAC, Denon, Marantz, Audio Tecnica, etc. They are not cheap, as shipping from farangland, duty & VAT are included in the price, but you can get them. Most units have analog & digital outs now, so transferring LP's to digital is a no brainer.

 

http://www.lazada.co.th/shop-turntables-home-audio/?searchredirect=turntable

 

By the way, stay away from a 1300 player, this is for kids, quality is worse than crap. If you have a vinyl collection, make sure you get one that has adjustable tone arm balance/weight & anti skate adjustment. This won't be a cheap option, but as always, you get what you pay for.

 

I brought my turntable & a downsized collection of LP's with me when I moved here. I use it 4 or 5 days a week. I had to get a voltage converter (again, look in Lazada) for about 400 Bt, IIRC.

[Rc2702]

https://www.ionaudio.com/products/details/quick-play-flash

[impulse]

On 9/9/2017 at 9:54 AM, Tagaa said:

By the way, stay away from a 1300 player, this is for kids, quality is worse than crap. If you have a vinyl collection, make sure you get one that has adjustable tone arm balance/weight & anti skate adjustment. This won't be a cheap option, but as always, you get what you pay for.

 

I brought my turntable & a downsized collection of LP's with me when I moved here. I use it 4 or 5 days a week. I had to get a voltage converter (again, look in Lazada) for about 400 Bt, IIRC.

 

Yeah, as I recall, just the elliptical cartridge for my first '70's vintage turntable cost well over 1300 baht in 1970's dollars.   I can't imagine what they cost today now that they're not a mainstream item. As I recall, tracking force was in the fraction of a gram, and that kept from wearing out the grooves in a few weeks like the HiFi console my parents owned.

 

[Tagaa]

The turntable I bought in the mid 80's was about $90 dollars. The cartridge cost $135....worth every penny.

 

Tone arm weight is set as a minimum/maximum by the manufacturer. Most went from 1.7 grams to 2.5. This is readily available on the www. Just search by cartridge manufacturer & model. Also don't forget to adjust the anti-skate.

 

Then there's the position of the cartridge in the slots of the tone arm. There are printable protractors available that are set to print full size. Again, everything you need to know is available...you just have to let your fingers do the walking, as we used to say.

Edited September 19, 2017 by Tagaa

[Eric1949]

For everyone's help, I thank.  But it still remains that I only have one vinyl LP, so it makes no sense to purchase a turntable.

[basatop]

You have to ask somebody for a favour!may be local DJ could help?go to disco!

[adammike]

On 03/09/2017 at 6:37 AM, RichCor said:

I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in the world who does this for a living (and then doesn't charge megabucks for the service). Converting media is very time consuming, usually has to be done in 'real time', playing back the source media at normal speed while a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) does its thing and the target is rendered as a digital file.

 

Paradoxically, you can do it yourself for not much money.

 

You just need the turntable analog 'line level' audio output connected to your computer audio input (instead of your stereo), and sound recording/mix/editing software. Set the software to record, place needle to album, and verify the computer recording sound good (audio is good without distortion or level peaking). Then stop and save the file as each track is played.

 

Much easier process with CD's or DVD's as those are already digital files and software has been written to not only copy and convert the source, but also compare the output to an online master database and pretty accurately determine the Album and Track content to autoname the folder and track files. The process is known as 'ripping'. But if you create your own analog to digital saved files this autoname process isn't available as the resulting 'digital signature'  of the file will be unique to that recording session so no stored comparison would be available for digital matching. You have to recognize and name the saved file on your own.

You could check if it's available online,like on Spotify.