Anyone copied cassettes, radio progs and vinyl to an MP3 player?

Just wondering what kind of results you get before I go and buy the appropriate cables. I bought a Sony Mini Disc/MP3 recorder (MZ-RH710) the other day and have had good results copying cds to my PC (via the SonicStage software that came with the MD recorder)and then on to the MD. I now want to have a go at recording from other media sources like radio, cassettes and my vast collection of vinyl records. The handbook suggests two cables: an analog line cable and an optical one. I presume I need both? If anyone has already done this I'd appreciate your thoughts. Also, I fancy ripping a load of music off a friend's Apple Ipod - I presume that can be done as well? Anyone done it?

 

Yes, me.

But I copy the vinyl or tape to my PC first, then download them to MP3 after tagging them, otherwise I don't think the player would be able to identify them.

I use audiograbber, which is available free over the net, and you do not need any more cables / leads other than what you have now.

Results have been excellent, as far as vinyl quality goes. Tape is a bit more fiddly and can result in some hiss, but can never be perfect anyway.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for that but...

...how do you connect your hi-fi to the pc to get the vinyl tracks onto it? I don't have a cable to do that. I was planning to get something like the POC-L15AB Sony optical cable to use for connecting my micro hi-fi (tapes and radio) but the midi hi-fi with turntable is a much older model. What kind of cable are you talking about?

 

RE: Thanks for that but...

All you need is a simple audio cable from the output of your stereo player into the audio input of your PC.

Download audio grabber from the net.

Then play vinyl / tape records on your hi fi, and go into audio grabber and set the sound levels and follow the instructions for recording.

When you've done, go to "make mp3" on the menu and then convert the song file to mp3.

Then go into properties and "tag" the file with a title and artist.

Then plug in your mp3 to the pc via the USB connector.

Click on the music file you have recorded and transfer it across to your mp3.

Your mp3 should then pick up the song AND identify both its title and artist and place it into its filing system.

 

Oh and,

If you buy a little phono "adaptor" plug for the back of your hi-fi, you can keep the feed on standby to your PC, as well as still having a feed to your speakers, without constantly changing over when you want to copy. Couple of quid from Maplins is all the outlay you'll need.

You will have course need to swap the plugs from audio to tape slots at the back of your hi fi when transferring tape, but its a 30 second job.

What i do is have a big vinyl session for a couple of weeks, then swap the plugs over and do a big tape session.

It is far less complicated than it sounds, and is just a case of getting used to what to do, that's all.

 

RE: Oh and,

I've used the same method but I sometimes use audio cleaning lab to clean up dull tapes, remove hisses/crackles from vynil and fade tracks into one another.  It takes a bit longer than just using audiograbber but the results can be brilliant.  The Audio Cleaning Lab kit also contains the adapter you need for you pc.

 

Thanks to both - helpful advice there and much appreciated...

If I manage to successfully convert the best of my vinyl stuff I will then think about disposing of all the LPs and singles that have been sitting in boxes for years. Got some good stuff which is bound to be marketable - all in very good condition seeing as I always bought those plastic covers for my LPs. They are still "good as new"