Converting LP to CD

I use the Griffin iMic. Works great.
You can download Final Vinyl from Griffin, which is the software to get intot he computer.
When you load it, make sure to use the EQ.
Go to Filters at the bottom right & select the EQ.
Select Connected to turntable. This will takeinto account the differences between a line level inout and the turntable input.

I highly recommend you don't use the EQ for much more than that. It's very easy to mess up the sound.

The iMIc has a Line inout to a Mic (amplified) input.
The Mic input acts as the pre-amp so one is not needed for a turntable.

Also, the EQ setting for Turntable in Finyl Vinal amplifies it properly.

I've read the dialog in this thread and in another thread, but I'm frankly still a little confused.

I have the iMac Intel Duo Core, and am planning to transfer LPs and casettes through an output on our stereo receiver (RCA left and right channel), using an adapter to convert the RCA connectors to 2.5 mm mini plug and use the iMac's "Audio In" jack.

The iMac Help information and User Guide seem to say that this input can be used for audio from the stereo receiver, and yet a previous post suggested that an iMic from Griffin Technology is required. Which is correct, assuming I'm going to be feeding amplified audio from my stereo receiver?

Then the next issue is the software to create the CDs -- organizing the individual tracks, naming them, and titling the CD. Does one of the existing programs that's included on the iMac handle it (Garage Band or iDVD)? If not, it looks as though I could use Griffin's Final Vinyl, or (perhaps) one of the more widely found CD software products (like Roxio's).

Appreciate any clarification / enlightenment that the community has to offer.

Jerry

mrwheels -

The iMic is not required if you have an audio input on your Mac (sounds like you do), and amplifier (stereo receiver with phono input), which it also sounds like you have. What is needed that is not included is software to record the input. I would suggest 3 options:

1. Garageband can do this, as far as I know, although I have never used it for this purpose. Import into iTunes where you can name tracks and provide other info and collect the tracks into a playlist (album) and burn to CD.

2. Audacity is a free audio recording and editing program. Again, I've never used it, but have read many positive reviews from those who have. Once again, import resulting file into iTunes for tagging and burning.

3. SoundStudio is another piece of software that allows for recording and editing. This one, I use! A bit pricey now, but I've used it for 5 or more years, with great results, for a variety of audio recording and editing tasks. I record an album side as a single file and split it up into tracks, clean up big pops and clicks, save as AIFF, import those into iTunes and burn as a CD, then compress the AIFF into 160 kbps AAC and delete the AIFF from my hard drive.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Darth

15 Al PB 1.5 Ghz G4, Snow iMac 500 Mhz G3 Mac OS X (10.4.6) 1.25 GHz Powermac G4 MDD at work

I have done a transfer from my Turntable to my Intel I-Mac, I not good at typing or explaining using e-mail or using the post.

IMAC Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Darth & Alex73,

You had diametrically opposite opinions on the requirement for the iMic. I connected the left & right channel outputs from my stereo, and plugged directly into the iMac's "Audio In" jack. (I did need a "Y" cable adapter from RCA phono plugs L & R to the single 2.5 mm input for the iMac.)

And the iMac records just fine, receiving good audio levels from the stereo.

I've downloaded and installed Audacity (Garage Band seemed a bit too complicated, and not sure it would actually do what I needed).

I believe the only time you might need iMic is if you want to plug the output of the phono turntable directly into the computer, without benefit of a stereo preamp or receiver. Direct connection from the turntable to the iMac will not work, both because of levels and because of the RIAA compensation that happens inside a preamp or receiver, adjusting for the recording idiosyncracies of vinyl albums.

Darth -- I haven't figured out how to record entire side of an LP as a single file, and then split it up into separate tracks as you suggest. It may be that Audacity can do this -- I just haven't gotten far enough into it.

I'll update this thread when I get more info on Audacity.

Jerry

iMac Intel Core Duo 17" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Forgot about the y-cable, yep you need that. As to recording a whole side and splitting it, again, I haven't used Audacity, but in Sound Studio it is possible to place markers via Insert>Marker at the beginning of each track on the side, label each marker and then choose Edit>Split by Markers and the album side will be split at each marker and each track on the side will be labelled with the label you place on the marker. Really quite painless - let us know how you are getting on!

Darth

All of the above is helpful for someone like me who just starts thinking about transferring my LP's to CD's. But please tell me if the following scenario would work.

Suppose I connect my turntable to the "Audio IN" jack of my receiver's amplifier. Then connect the "Phones" outlet of my receiver to my Mac's "Audio In" jack (this would not require a "Y" cable adapter, a simple "universal" cable would do).

Then upgrade to the QuickTime Pro. QuickTime Pro tells me in their instructions that:

"To record audio or video with QuickTime Pro:
1. Connect the camera or microphone to the computer (unless you are using a built-in microphone).
2. In QuickTime Pro, choose File > New Movie Recording, or File > New Audio Recording.
A preview window appears, which you can use to adjust settings such as camera position, lighting, and audio level before you start recording."

If I can record from a microphone, which is analog input, shouldn't I be able to record from the turntable, also an analog input?

I went to the local Apple store and my local "Genii" couldn't give me an answer.

Any other users have tried the above method?

Any advice from the Apple Wizards?



desktop G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

desktop G4 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

That will work.
You'll should use a tape/aux output (which is line level ~1 VDC) of the receiver instead of the headphone out (which is ~ 300mAmps).

But you don't need QT Pro. Audactity (and other apps) are free.

I paid $9.99 for the iMic (Final Vinyl is free but only works with the iMic).
QT pro is $29.

Final Vinyl alone is worth the price of getting the iMic (even for ~$30) because of the EQ. It has an RIAA option for recording from a turntable, which boosts the correct freqs properly.