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How to Transfer Music From Vinyl Disks to CDs

So, you just got a brand new MP3 player with more storage space than your very first PC had. You've got quite the CD collection to rip onto it, but what about your extensive, rarely played (to prevent scratching) record collection? Vinyl has been an enduring format: It never really went away and has even seen an increase in sales in the last five years. Turntable manufacturers have at last started putting out devices that easily allow you to digitize your record collection to burn onto a CD, and you don't have to break the bank to do it.

Things You'll Need

  • Vinyl Records
  • Turntable with USB Input or CD Recorder
  • Computer
  • Blank CDs
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Instructions

  1. Transferring Music via USB turntable

    • 1

      Set up your turntable. If you don't own a turntable or are still using a classic model, it may be time for an upgrade. Luckily, brand new turntables with USB capabilities have come down drastically in price: You can get a basic turntable for around $100. More elaborate models with certain features, such as built-in speakers, AM/FM radios, CD players and even tape decks, are also available at a reasonable price.

      Your USB turntable may come with software for transferring music. Install this on your computer by inserting the CD into your computer's CD drive and following the instructions on-screen. Connect your turntable to your computer with the provided USB cables. Put a record on the turntable and get ready to record.

    • 2

      Record your music. Open the software that came with your turntable and follow its directions. Depending on the brand and model of turntable, your software will be different, but most work in a similar way. Follow the instructions to create a new recording. Be sure to save each track as a new audio file so your CD-writing software can read each individual track properly. Make sure you remember where you save the recorded files.

    • 3

      Burn a CD. Launch your CD-burning program and insert a blank disk into your CD drive. Create a new CD project and add the files you just ripped from the vinyl. Make sure the track listing is correct, and all songs have the right titles. Select "burn CD" to begin recording the CD.

    • 4

      Repeat steps 1 through 3 for each record your want to rip.

    Recording directly to CD

    • 5

      Set up your turntable. For this method, you will need a model with a built-in CD recorder. Models with this capability are becoming more and more common and, as a result, more and more reasonably priced.

    • 6

      Insert a blank CD into the CD tray and close it. Place a record on the turntable and carefully place the needle over the edge, before the first track begins.

    • 7

      Record your CD. On the front, next to the usual "Play/Pause," "Stop," "Forward" and "Back" buttons to control the CD player, you will find a "Record CD" button. When the record starts playing, press this to record the audio directly onto the CD.

    • 8

      Repeat for each LP you want to record, using a new CD each time. Remember to carefully label your recorded CDs!

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