Arts >> Music >> Recording Music

How to Change an LP to a CD

The long-playing or LP record format ceased to be the standard in recording years ago, but many music lovers still cherish their vinyl. Sadly, repeated listening can deepen an LP's grooves, damaging the record and negatively impacting the audio quality. Also, the LP does not lend itself to portable listening. You can convert your LPs to CD format to create a permanent, highly portable recording of the original record.

Things You'll Need

  • LP
  • Turntable
  • 2 RCA audio cables
  • Mixer
  • RCA-to-1/8-inch audio cable
  • Audio recording software
  • CD-R
Show More

Instructions

  1. Audio Capture

    • 1

      Plug one end of an RCA audio cable into the RCA audio outputs of a turntable.

    • 2

      Plug the opposite end of the RCA audio cable into a free RCA audio input on a mixer.

    • 3

      Insert the RCA end of an RCA-to-1/8th-inch audio cable into the audio outputs of the mixer.

    • 4

      Insert the 1/8th-inch end of the RCA-to-1/8th-inch audio cable into the line in input of your computer's sound card.

    • 5

      Open the recording software of your choice on your computer.

    • 6

      Play the LP you wish to record.

    • 7

      Click the "Record" button in the audio recording software.

    • 8

      Set the level on the turntable, mixer and in the audio recording software to the desired level.

    • 9

      Click the "Stop" button on the audio recording software and delete the current project file.

    • 10

      Stop the LP and cue it back to the desired starting point.

    • 11

      Click the "Record" button in the audio recording software and begin playing the LP at the desired starting point.

    • 12

      Click the "Stop" button in the audio recording software when you have reached the desired stopping point. Save the project file under your desired file name. Repeat this process with the remaining side of the LP you wish to record.

    Conversion and Separation

    • 13

      Open the project file in your audio recording software.

    • 14

      Click on the "File" menu and select "Export."

    • 15

      Enter your desired file name and select "WAV" as the audio format for the file.

    • 16

      Open the converted WAV file with your audio recording software.

    • 17

      Select the portion of the file that contains the first track first track by clicking and dragging over the time line.

    • 18

      Click "Export Selection As." Enter the desired file name for that track and save the file. Repeat this process until you have saved each track as a separate WAV file.

    Burning to CD

    • 19

      Select all the WAV files you wish to record to CD and insert them into a folder on your computer's desktop.

    • 20

      Insert a blank CD-R into your computer's disc drive.

    • 21

      Open the folder containing the files you wish to burn to CD.

    • 22

      Right-click the files, select "Send" and select the drive containing the CD-R.

    • 23

      Remove the burned CD from the disc drive.

Recording Music

Related Categories