CONVERT OLD VINYL & CASSETTES
What you’ll need
Whether you’re converting vinyl, cassettes, 8-track tapes or Minidisc, the process is the same. You’ll need a stereo system that plays the format (vinyl, etc) you want to convert, and it needs Line Out sockets (most stereos have these). We suggest you use the same USB videocapture device as you did to convert video (such as the August VGB100, £20 from Amazon, www.snipca.com/25639). You will also need audio-editing software, and we recommend Audacity (download free from www.audacityteam.org). See our workshop below on how to use it to record your audio.
The traditional method involves connecting the Line Out sockets from your stereo system to the blue ‘Line in’ port at the back of your PC (your PC’S sound card) using a 3.5mm audio cable (such as Cable Mountain’s, £3.49 from Amazon, www.snipca.com/25713). Using the ‘Line in’ method can result in very quiet recordings. To boost sound levels you may need a pre-amp (such as Behringer’s PP400, £20 from Amazon, www.snipca.com/25714).
USB vinyl and cassette players
In a bid to cut costs and save space, many modern PCS (especially laptops) no longer have a ‘Line In’ socket, so what’s the alternative? Record turntables that connect directly to your PC (like the ION Audio Compact LP, pictured left, £35 from Amazon: www.snipca.com/25715) remove the need for a stereo system and a ‘Line In’ port. Do your research, as quality often reflects the price you pay. If you want to convert cassette tapes, Usb-connected cassette players are available – for example, Tonor’s tape converter (£16.95 from Amazon, www.snipca.com/25716), which can also be used as a personal stereo.