How To Record On Vinyl

The first (and only) RIAA lawsuit against a music sharer goes to jury today. Let’s dish!?

1. How is downloading any different than borrowing a CD from the library? Or from recording from the radio? Librarians also make copyrighted music available to pirate.

2. The RIAA has said that we buy a license to the music and that owning the media does not mean we own the music. If that’s true, then we should be able to convert our old vinyl to a higher quality digital version. DLing a version of a song that we already have on media should be OK, true?

3. Shouldn’t the RIAA have to prove actual damages? Making available a song from the 1910 Fruidgum Company (that no one has downloaded) cannot be as damaging as posting a prereleased song from a contemporary artist that thousands leech. The RIAA has not demonstrated that *anyone* has actually downloaded the music in question (besides themselves).

4. Shouldn’t the RIAA have to prove the files it alleges are pirated really are the songs in question and not merely some nutball’s manifesto renamed to suggest it is a popular song?

Anybody an expert on vinyl?

Back when gramophone records were the primary medium for commercial music reproduction, was it impossible (or nearly impossible) to edit the music before you recorded it?

I mean like using electronic methods to make vocals sound more pleasing (adding vibrato and the like), using computerized drums, etc?

I know it was a lot more raw than today’s popular music (what an understatement), but just how raw was it?

Loose 12″ vinyl?

Basically some 12″ records have a slightly too wide centre hole, so the slightest push or pull can cause a dramatic spin. Does anyone have any tips on how to tighten up these holes so they sit on the turntable firmly?

Does CD sound quality deteriorate over time? I bought Yes, Fragile, on vinyl, around…?

…1975. I bougt it on CD circa 1985
At the time, I thought the CD sounded pretty good, compared to the record. Lately, the CD hasn’t been sounding quite right to me, as if something’s missing. Now, 25 years later, I bought the CD again, remastered. It seems improved over my old CD, but still not quite right.

Has anyone else had the feeling that their old CDs have deteriorated over time? I’m not talking about obvious skips and scratches–just a general sense that something is missing.

Also, how long are CDs supposed to last? Forever? Would the laser passing over the pits eventually burn them out after a thousand plays?

[This quesiton from pseudotsuga is asked anonymously to reach the goal of Zero Gold Coins.]

How to convert vinyl to CDs – some specific questions?

I’m new to this, & have a pile of records…

1. What software is most effective to use? The record player comes with Sound Forge LE, & I have an older Magix, or is something else better?

2. Does anything do a better job of identifying the individual tracks when splitting them? Or make it easier to hand spit them afterward to save to individual files?

3. When I save the recording as files on my computer…is there software that will let me add the song titles to the recordings then save those titles as the names of the saved files?

4. I thought that if each song has it’s songname for it’s filename, then music players would list the song titles. Instead windows media just lists “track1, track2.”

3. Can I take photos of the albums & include them in some kind of ID3 tag info that I create? How? What software? Can I then make a file & include it when I burn to CD?

If my questions don’t make sense, then it’s because I’m new enough to not know how to word them. Any help appreciated!!

Thanks!
@ Micky
The conversion went well. Before I then cut to record-only CDs, these are the questions I wound up with. I’d like to have the titles picked up from the filenames, if that’s an option. Or it seems not. So I’d like to add ID3 info for titles to be picked up, but it may not be avail with wav format. I’d like the splittng when forced to by hand to go more easily. Also when saving, after hand splitting to have each one have the file name save based on the name info I’ve enetered. So far, I don’t have answers… Good luck!! On recording, this record player did fine I think. I’ve got some RCA plug & cables from it to the computer. So far the records are starting out in decent shape so I’m not using the clean up features.

How many of you have ever played you music backwards and what did you hear when you did it?

Recently I was turned on to this program called audacity which allows me to play cds backwards. I miss the old vinyl days when we could play the records backwards and get the hidden messages. Some of my favourite artists who put in back masked messages are The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Electric Light Orchestra. Besides all of the well known back masked messages, I need some new ones to play, do any of you out there have any good ones for me that I may not have heard?

having a problem with a record player!?

I bought a USB briefcase turntable from Think geek (Link: http://www.thinkgeek.com/electronics/digital-conversion/c8b0/)
The problem I’m having is that every revolution, the vinyl seems to “drop”. As in the part its sitting on (I don’t know much about record player terminology) is “tripping” every time it makes one revolution. I don’t understand why it is doing this and it results in the sound making a weird change, like and old movie the way the pitch just goes up then down again. I thought it might just be how record players worked, but I hardly think they are meant to screw up your listening experience.

I noticed that the section containing the turntable, the needle and the speed switch is raised slightly off the briefcase surface. When I hold down the the right hand side (the needle side) till it is touching the briefcase surface the “tripping” stops.

In the end do you think I should just glue the right side down or is there some other problem I’m missing here? The vinyl constantly looks like its wobbling as well, but it doesn’t affect the sound.

How do I work a record player?

I bought a used record player and have no idea how to use it. There is one piece that looks like it snapped where the needle and its casing meets the arm. It sort of just hangs there with wire exposed. Would I be able to super glue the two pieces together? Right now there is a long arm like this ——— and a hockey puck shaped piece with the needle under it like this —/ How exactly do I use this player? Its a changer, so it holds 6 records at a time. I put the records on it and turned the start switch. A record dropped, but the arm didnt move. Are they supposed to move or am I supposed to manually put the needle on the vinyl? I tried it and it played, but because it was hanging, it skipped at places. I notice when I play with the volume dial, it works but its extremely static (the speakers). How do I adjust this? Also, will the vinyl having some dust effect how it plays. Its not horrible but I was wondering if that would make a big difference because it seems they get dusty easily. I would like to get this thing working myself instead of taking it somewhere to be repaired. Thanks for all of the help!
It plays all lengths and speeds and its an older set from the 70s…I ended up supergluing the stylus back onto the tone arm and it automatically starts and drops onto the proper place on the record now. Thanks !

Questions about Vinyl?

OK, I Need some help and i can’t find that information on line anywhere. I’m interested in buying music on Vinyl and i know nothing about the 10′ 12′ 7′ EP, LP etc. i don’t know that kind of record player to use anything. how do i even set it up? someone please give me a cp,mplete run down and set up. and how to set it up.

Thank you.

I’ve lost my lust for life?

For a really long time I’ve been depressed. The things/hobbies I used to do don’t interest me anymore. I don’t have a job and I have absolutely no friends. I feel as though I’m on a record (for those who remember vinyls), right in the middle where the label is watching the world go by. I’m not in the groove where the song is waiting for my turn to be played-so to speak. How do i get that back? I know I’d like to be a pharmacist but that far, far away.

I think it’s because of MySpace and how everyone looks so accomplished or happy doing what they’re doing and everyone looks so popular and I seem to be hating myself. Help…