CD Burners, etc.

[awiener]

Since posting inquiries about recording old LPs and tapes onto CDs, I have taken the “giant leap” of copying tracks for CDs onto my laptop hard drive using its burner and the Windows Media software that came with the computer. My laptop can easily be placed right next to my stereo system and I would now like to add whatever interface and cables I need to connect the laptop to my receiver as well as good software that is relatively easy to use (Sound Forge, Gold Wave; I understand only the Cool Edit Pro is available since Adobe took it over, etc.). I am no audiophile or computer weenie and I’d really like to make this as easy as possible, without ending up with bad-sounding CD-Rs.

I want to transfer many recordings from tapes (and even video cassettes) as well as from LPs and in many cases I'd need to fade them up or fade them out. I would also like to save each of these recordings as separate tracks in the computer, as I can do now with tracks from CDs using the Windows Media software, but with the fades intact.

With Windows Media, I can then create “playlists” of whatever tracks I want, in the order I want, and then burn the entire “playlist” onto a CDR. I would like to have the various bits from old tapes included in the “music library” (with fades) and include them in the playlists like the tracks from CDs. I'm guessing that this needn't be much more complicated that what I am doing now just using the laptop's burner & CDROM drive.

The bottom line question is: what’s the simplest way to do this? What stuff do I need? Where’s the best place to get it? Do I actually get software discs with instructions, or can I only download this stuff?

Mucho thanko to all!!

[Sckott]

There are plenty of ways to do this, but to varying degrees of success and sound quality.

The variables are:

1. Sound card (or chip) to capture the sound in real time from old formats like cassettes and Lps
2. Software. Yes, you've got the basics, Soundforge is fine, and so is Cool Edit Pro.
3. Cables - You basically need a Y cable, 2RCA Female to 1/8" Stereo mini plug, you can find at any local Rat Shack.

These things are fairly easy to obtain.

The computer is basically going to be used as most cassette deck would, and you need to listen to your recordings before comitting them to disk.

There are plenty of recording guides like this one:
http://www.delback.co.uk/lp-cdr.htm

Good luck.

[Grant]

What Sckott said.

Also, Adobe Audition is the same thing as Cool Edit Pro, with the addition of a few added features. Audition absoloutly will not run on Windows 98 first edition. The next version will ONLY run on Windows XP/2000!

[Sckott]

Sheesh. Adobe loves to make their programs heavy!

[Grant]

I don't know what you mean by heavy, Sckott, but the box on the store shelves must weigh ten pounds!

There isn't much added to Adobe as opposed to CEP, but it runs very smooth on my new machine.

The reason they want to jettison support for Windows 98/ME is because there were certain things they can do in Win2000, and especially XP! In fact, a lot of things were a bit screwy when I ran CEP 2.1 in Windows 98. I imagine writing for older OS became a problem once NTFS became the standard.

[Sckott]

Adobe has made some impressive products, but they seem to cater to the financially endowed, minus the fact the software has been expensive itself. The new Premiere won't even run on my 1.13 ghz Athelon...

You've heard the line in the movie "Mozart", "Too Many Notes"?

"Too much code!"

But their products do the job, that's for damn sure.

[Grant]

Originally posted by Sckott
Adobe has made some impressive products, but they seem to cater to the financially endowed, minus the fact the software has been expensive itself. The new Premiere won't even run on my 1.13 ghz Athelon...

You've heard the line in the movie "Mozart", "Too Many Notes"?

"Too much code!"

But their products do the job, that's for damn sure.

Why do you think it isn't running on your machine, Sckott? I'm running an Intel Pent 4 2.4GH. Photoshop 7 runs lightning fast and smooth with 512 400DDR RAM.

[awiener]

My Compaq laptop (which has a burner) has only ONE input; the one for the microphone. With only the dismal software provided by Windows XP, I have had horrible results patching that into my receiver line out. I've looked at demo versions of Nero, GoldWave, and Roxio and (believe it or not), I'm so low-tech on this stuff that all of them were far too complicated for me to follow. I need something that literally says "put on the old LP, click this with your mouse to begin burning this to your hard drive, hit "pause" when the record is over; do the same for the next record," or something along those lines. Is there such a software???

Also, with only the "Mic" line into the laptop, is there a better extenal soundcard that connects to a USB port, and which could be connected to the receiver line out?

Many thanks again!!

[Sckott]

Eeek. You may be up against using a USB box for sound input. To be dreadfully honest, most laptops are NOT capable of decent sound recording.

If you have a desktop or are looking into one, that would be your best bet. Trying to retro-fit that laptop with a sound in/out isn't going to make something wonderful. :(

[awiener]

Thanks! I think you just saved me a lot of grief! Rather than buy a new PC, I now think that purchasing a stand-alone CD recorder is a better, more cost-effective way to go. I know there's a big difference between the "commercial" models (at Circuit City, etc.) and "professional" models. Several folks posted recommendations on these a while back, but are there any more up-to-date recommendations? Also, can you copy tapes onto CDRs using these units with no really disastrous audio results? Finally, can anyone recommend reliable vendors for these units?

Again, thanks for any help.

[Grant]

Originally posted by awiener
Thanks! I think you just saved me a lot of grief! Rather than buy a new PC, I now think that purchasing a stand-alone CD recorder is a better, more cost-effective way to go.

Again, thanks for any help.

Actually, this is where many people on this board differ in opinion. Many people have different reasons for choosing the method they do.

I say that the computer method is better, and more economical, but that is because I have certain needs that maybe another member doesn't. And, I have a desktop PC and love to use it.

[PMC7027]

HHB makes a few CD Recorders that are "professional" grade so they do not need "Audio" CD-Rs (which cost more as you know). I suggest you go to www.fullcompass.com. hey are a reliable retailer from whom I purchased my HHB CDR800 recorder a few years ago. I am not affiliated with Full Compass, just a satisfied customer. They carry quite a few different brands of CD Recorders.

HTH.

[awiener]

David, go to this link. This is the only model they are offering, and as I read it, it will only record from DIGITAL sources (thus, not from turntable or tape deck). This would not serve much purpose.

Thanks for your help.

http://64.213.162.194/Products/pages/7871/index.fcml

[awiener]

David - ignore that last; I've finally been able to display the actual manual in Adobe Acrobat and I'm reading it now. Looks like you can record from any source by connecting this unit to your receiver/tuner (on mine it would have to be from one of the two tape lines out). It also appears to just about anything you want except take pops and clicks out of old records or store the finished tracks (however, if you've got them on a CD-R or CD-RW, you can then store them in your computer, make playlists there and burn CDs there as well).

I appreciate this lead and I'll give this a thorough review, but at first glance it looks like a lot better option for someone like me, who is used to dealing with stereo components and taping with them.

BTW - did you used to live in the Washington, D.C. area and/or write for "City Paper" or "Goldmine"? Your name is somehow familiar to me from those loony days.

Many thanks again!

Allen

[-=Rudy=-]

Originally posted by Grant


Actually, this is where many people on this board differ in opinion. Many people have different reasons for choosing the method they do.


I use both methods now, actually. I got a cheap Sony dual-deck CD-RW machine. (And I'm hoping it outlives the typical 6 month life I've gotten out of the half dozen other dead Sony CD devices I've ever owned! :mad: ) But this is great for throwing an LP onto a CD to play in the car, or making quick CD-R copies of my good CDs to take with me, or throw together quick compilations. In "restore" mode, I'll still use the computer to create the really good stuff. CD Architect is truly amazing...except for CD burner compatibility.