LP to MP3 converter

Ray

I came across this product in an Incredible Connection flyer. And really it could be a heck of a thing to have at 500 bucks only for me. I've got quite a few lp's but i dont know what condition they're in. But anyway, I'm thinking I'll get it and maybe sell it in a few months when I'm done with my LP's. Any thoughts on this kind of product? Anyone used something like this?

http://www.incredible.co.za/ProductDescription.aspx?SKU=76314

Bob-Dubery

1) At that price the cartridge and stylus probably aren't up to much
2) If the LPs aren't in great shape, or this turntable is not so hot, you're going to record some background noise.

There are shops that do this (they usually want money!). I've got one album - not re-released on CD - that I've been meaning to have converted. If I get off my heinie and get to the shop on the weekend I'll be able to report back to you at some stage. It's in Northcliff - might be a bit far for you.

Squonk

I would rather buy a turntable and a decent amp than convert LP to MP3.

At the SABC we did a bit of an experiment. We took some older albums on CD and LP and put it to the test.
The first one we tested was the first Dire Straits Album;

I was shocked to discover that the LP version sounded a lot warmer, and the instrument distinction was a lot more evident.

Look I know my wife most probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference, but I could.

And you get to have a retro piece of equipment and there are plenty of LP's floating around courtesy of wombats like me who just gave them away.

Bob-Dubery

Squonk wrote: I would rather buy a turntable and a decent amp than convert LP to MP3.

At the SABC we did a bit of an experiment. We took some older albums on CD and LP and put it to the test.
The first one we tested was the first Dire Straits Album;

I was shocked to discover that the LP version sounded a lot warmer, and the instrument distinction was a lot more evident.

I think they tend to go for compression and thus loudness when mastering for CD, simply because they can, because CDs don't have the physical constraints that LPs do.

It's not much CDs as what people do with them.

I also think that in the 'cusp years' when CD was new and LP was still selling a lot they'd take the LP master and whack it straight onto CD. There's a lot of 80s albums originally issued on LP and then released on CD (or released simultaneously on both mediums) that sound really bad on CD.

With reference to Dire Straits, there's an interesting reverse test that you can do, which is to compare Brothers In Arms on DVD and Vinyl. That was the first big selling CD and one of the first to have an entirely digital chain from recording to mastering.

AlanRatcliffe

I certainly wouldn't trust the turntable side of things. It's still pretty easy to find a decent turntable and cartridge and you can get an interface with RIAA inputs (or an amp with recording out) and do it yourself. There is a lot of audiophile level stereo stuff selling fairly cheap, since the mass market moved to surround. I still kick myself for not buying a Linn Sonndeck for nearly nothing when I could.

I've done a few of my LPs that I can't get anywhere else, but mostly I just sourced them from sites specialising in high quality vinyl conversions (as I own them already, it's legal - falls under fair use). I'm so anal about the sound that it takes me hours for each when I do them myself. Meanwhile there are guys out there who are recording from Garrond Reference and other top TTs into studio quality A/D converters and sharing in Flac, Ape or other non-lossy formats - even high res wavs.

Yes the recording industry put out a lot of LP masters on CD. Much of the good stuff has since been remastered properly though (which in many cases means they got to sell them to us all over again >☹).