You can preserve your old 45 RPM records digitally using audio recording software.
If you've been keeping a treasured collection of old 45 RPM records in a box for years, you can transfer those old platters to a digital format, such as MP3, and continue to enjoy them for many years to come.
Archiving your 45 RPM collection requires some audio recording/editing software. Free programs, such as Audacity and WavePad, work fine for most basic transfers. If you're looking for more advanced editing features, you may want to invest in a program such as Golden Records or Spin It Again (see Resources).
Instructions
1. Download and install the sound recording/editing software program of your choice (see Resources). In this tutorial, we will be using WavePad as an example. However, the essential functions of all audio software are alike, regardless of which program you choose.
2. Plug a stereo 1/8-inch mini jack-to-RCA "Y" adapter audio cable into the "Line In" port on your computer. Plug the RCA end of the cable into the left and right channel stereo outputs on the back of your turntable.
If your computer doesn't have a "Line In" jack, use an RCA-to-USB adapter instead and plug it into your USB port.
3. Connect your stereo receiver's Aux, Phono or other line-out stereo outputs to the line-in jack on your sound card using the "Y" adapter mentioned in Step 2 if your turntable is already connected to your stereo receiver.
If using a separate preamp, run a standard RCA "phono to phono" cable from your turntable output to the input of the preamp box. Then use the RCA "Y" adapter cable to run from the preamp's output to the "Line In" jack on your computer.
4. Clean the 45 RPM disc you want to convert to MP3. A soft, lint-free cloth dampened with a solution of distilled water and rubbing alcohol works fine, or you can use a professional record-cleaning brush.
5. Check the turntable's stylus for dirt and debris buildup. If any is visible, gently wipe it off the needle with your fingertip.
6. Open your audio recording software (in this case, WavePad) and press the red "Record" button. Choose the input source ("Line In") when prompted by the record dialog box and set the sample rate at 44100 and Stereo. The software goes into standby mode and will automatically start recording when a sound source is detected.
7. Test your recording levels by playing the loudest portion of the 45 RPM record. Watch the record level meter in the bottom right corner of the WavePad screen and bump the volume down if you see it peaking into the red zone. Press "Stop" when you are done testing.
8. Press the red "Re-take" record button in the record dialog window. This erases your test recording and places the software back in standby mode.
9. Re-cue and play the 45 RPM record. You are now recording. Press "Stop" when recording is complete. Flip the record over and repeat for side two.
10. Use your audio recording software's editing features to split the track (sides one and two of the 45 RPM) into two separate files. Place the cursor at the beginning of side two and click "Select to End" from the "Edit" menu. Once the entire song is selected, click "Copy To New" in the edit menu; this pastes side two of your record into a new file. You will now see two open windows in the editing screen: side one and side two.
11. Apply effects to each sound file as desired. You can use Noise Reduction to eliminate pops and scratches, normalize and EQ the audio, and adjust the pitch/speed (very helpful if your turntable runs a bit fast or slow).
12. Trim silence from the beginning and end of each record side by highlighting the silent portion of the file and pressing the "Delete" key. If you make a mistake, don't worry -- that's what the "Undo" button is for.
13. Save both sound files (sides one and two), assigning each a name and location on your hard drive. In the "Save" dialog box, select MP3 as the output format.
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