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Technical Help & Discussion => General Tech Discussion, News & Q&A => Topic started by: jww41005 on April 08, 2008, 10:48

Title: LP Ripper
Post by: jww41005 on April 08, 2008, 10:48
Hello Pals,

Does anyone know where I can download a free LP Ripper?
I've got over 200 LPs - giving my age away - and would like to rip them.

Cheers

John
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: Simon on April 08, 2008, 11:23
Hi John,

Not used it myself, but you could try Audiograbber (http://www.download.com/Audiograbber/3000-2140_4-10016038.html?tag=lst-1), which appears to be free.
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: sam on April 08, 2008, 12:32
oh and there is always Audacity -http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ - its pretty good, though I've never used it for LPs.. but I guess if you just select the line in it should work nicely.
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: GillE on April 08, 2008, 13:51
I've used Audacity for ripping LPs and it's great.  However, I haven't tried it yet with Vista...

When I first tried ripping LPs, I got feedback which marred the recording.  I later found out that plugging my record deck into the same electrical circuit as my computer caused this!  Plugging the deck into an electrical circuit in another room (using a loooong extension cable :) ) sorted that problem.  Your home's electric wiring might be different to mine, John, but if you do get feedback issues it's it could be worth knowing this.
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: jww41005 on April 08, 2008, 17:13
Thanks Everyone,

I'm using a stack system which is 29 years old, still sounds great. The amp has in and out phono sockets on the front which I use to connect the PC, via a cable, which works alright. I suppose I can use this method to record onto the PC by plugging the cable into the microphone socket.
I'll let you know what happens.

Cheers  :thumbs:
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: Simon on April 08, 2008, 17:19
Not sure it would be the microphone socket, John.  Hopefully the program you use would record from the existing inputs from the stack system, as an external source.  I think the mic socket would probably have a different ampage / voltage / something or other, which would make recordings distorted, much as you can't use a headphone socket to connect to an external amp.  Sorry to be vague, but I've never actually done it, so I would be interested to hear how you get on.  :)
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: Rik on April 08, 2008, 17:28
It's impedance and sensitivity which would be the issues, Simon. The mismatch of a line-level input would overload the pre-amp causing, as you say, distortion on a grand scale.
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: Simon on April 08, 2008, 18:04
Couldn't have put it better myself, Rik, that's just what I was thinking.  :o:
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: jww41005 on April 08, 2008, 18:45
Back already,

Well, I've tried both of them, and they work just fine!
At the moment Audiograbber seems to have a better sound quality, but I think Audacity has more posibilities to play about with the sound a bit more, so......

As far as I can tell at the moment it's also easier to save a track with Audacity than with Audiograbber. With Audiograbber I had to do a search to find the track.

AND the tracks I copied are now on my MP4

Conclusion: I'm a happy camper..........

Thanks Pals :thumbs:

John

One more point; the turntable's earth cable had come off the back of the amp, which caused a bit of buzzing.
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: sam on April 08, 2008, 18:52
can you re-earth it?
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: jww41005 on April 08, 2008, 18:55
Yeah, no problem, Sam.

It's happened many times before. I just cut off a bit of the isolation and fasten it under the screw again. It's not buzzing now. The only problem is that after 29 years the earth cable is getting a bit short!!!
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: Sandra on April 09, 2008, 00:28
Before you end up cutting it back so that its too short, simply extend it by adding a new piece of wire to it next time you need to trim it back.
If you solder the two wires together and then tape the joint you shouldnt have any problems.
That will be easier than pulling the deck apart to replace the wire from its location inside the deck  :)
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: jww41005 on April 09, 2008, 11:34
That's a good idea :thumbs:
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: jww41005 on April 09, 2008, 11:38
Yeah, no problem, Sam.

It's happened many times before. I just cut off a bit of the isolation and fasten it under the screw again. It's not buzzing now. The only problem is that after 29 years the earth cable is getting a bit short!!!

OOOPS!

"isolation"?

I think that should be "insulation".
That's the spanglish coming out in me........
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: Michelle on April 09, 2008, 17:54
Thats cool I'd never even thought of doing that  :blush: :laugh:
Title: Re: LP Ripper
Post by: Sandra on April 10, 2008, 00:18
That blonde hair dye is gradually working its way into your brain Michelle  ;D