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Vinyl to CD or FLAC

mcameronrocksmcameronrocks Posts: 321
edited July 2010 in The Porch
I don't have a record player and therefore don't own any vinyl. Wish I did as I remember growing up listening to my dad's Beatles and Elton Johns records.

I am considering getting a record player, but obviously you can't listen to vinyl in the car etc. Does converting vinyl to CD or FLAC capture that awesome sound records produce? If so, how would you do it to ensure that "warm" quality of the vinyl?
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • jshinjshin Posts: 1,759
    I've never really been interested in transferring my vinyl to file or cd...It just seems to me that it would be taking that wide open sound and smooshing it down where it is bound to lose something..Alot of the new or reissued vinyl come with either a digital download or an actual cd copy of the vinyl..Some pretty good usb turntables here.... http://www.jr.com/category/audio/turntables/
    I ain't got no fly'n shoes..




  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,451
    They'll always be smooshing with digital music..
    www.cluthelee.com
  • cbuckleycbuckley Posts: 26
    That 'warm' quality you speak of is a function of the uncompressed analog recording played through an amplified record needle.

    Taking an analog recording and converting it to a digital recording causes a loss of some data. Further, taking that digital recording and converting it with FLAC codec causes more data to be lost (look at the file sizes of a .WAV file ripped from a CD and that same file converted to FLAC). The .WAV file is larger. Many people will argue that FLAC is 'lossless' but it is really just slightly 'lossy'. Listen to a CD on a quality sound system and then rip the CD, convert it to FLAC, re-expand those files to .WAV and re-listen on the same quality system and there is definitely a sound loss. FLAC/ALAC (Apple Lossless Codec) work great if you're listening to music on an iPod or other portable music player. But if you plan on listening to these converted albums on a quality sound system, I would definitely just convert to .WAV.
  • mookeywrenchmookeywrench Posts: 6,019
    The "warm" sound is only going to come from vinyl

    on top of that your car stereo system isn't designed for audiophile listening(speaker placement being the main issue). Mix that factor with road noise and you're not in need for any lossless digital files in your car. Mp3's/CDs will suit you just fine for the car.
    350x700px-LL-d2f49cb4_vinyl-needle-scu-e1356666258495.jpeg
  • Jokertt14Jokertt14 Posts: 2,566
    I wouldn't worry about it . its ok to listen to CD's in your car or MP3 player while u jog or walk .

    I use those for background music . when i want to relax and have the music take over the room and in my face . then its vinyl time . ;)
  • whgarrettwhgarrett Posts: 574
    I have converted alot of my records to digital. If you want the best you keep it as wav. Some of my transfers sound amazing. You listen to them on a nice system and are surprised. There is a warmth there. Mostly due to exaggerations in certain frequencies I guess. People who swear by vinyl always make me laugh because a decent cd player, amplifier, and speakers can blow away a entry level 300.00 turntable. Oh and most albums today are recorded digitally then transferred to vinyl. Where is the logic in that? It's a novelty. A relic to make yourself feel cool. I know I am every time I flip through my collection. :D
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