converting records to pc

[bluetoon]

Hello all, need some help please! I want to put my vinyl records onto my pc but having some trouble. The stereo i have is at least 10 years old, a Toshiba sl-3027 and i have no idea if its got a preamp in it or not!
I've got a lead, one with two jacks, coloured with a red and white spot and a single jack, which i assume fits into my Realtek audio, the light blue plug on my pc. At the back of the stereo there are two plugs, colour coded red/white, but its got a diagram of a CD and its the only plugs there. At the front of it are the mic and headphones, but the leads wont fit them.
When i plug the leads into the stereo and pc, it makes a noise, so i assume they work alright. I have audacity software, but when i start to record, nothing appears on it, just a straight line going across the screen!
So will i need another lead to fit into my mic and headphone connection on the stereo meaning the CD connection is wrong or have i just totally got it all wrong?
Thanks for any help with this, hope it isnt to long winded, i do have a tendency to go on abit!

 

[ross2323]

hi , you might want to look into one of these. the turntable will send the sound through the usb port. assuming that you dont have a high end sound card and connectors then the quality of the output files will be far superior than if you were to transfer it via a standard audio cable into a non high end soundcard.
also it will be a much easier method of doing a whole collection especially if you have a large connection.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B001ECQ6PG/shopzilcouk-21/ref=asc_df_B001ECQ6PG332256

 

[ross2323]

but when i start to record, nothing appears on it, just a straight line going across the screen!

if you havent already: in audacity you will need to go into options> preferences and change where the input sound is coming from and chance it to [line in] and possibly check the line input volume it may be set right down. try not to set the line in volume above about 60% or you will get distortion. (make sure the peaks on the wave dont reach the edge of the boxes)
like i said above though it would be a shame to transfer a vinyl collection like this as the quality of the files will be poor using an onboard card and a standard audio cable.

 

[bluetoon]

I did look at getting a usb turntable, but that requires saving up for it and i'm trying to save up for new speakers and dedicated soundcard has it is! At the moment i have Realtek High definition Audio on a M.B by Gigabyte Tech GA-MA69VM - S2, so i'm stuck with this for the moment.

 

[Gribs]

Rather than copying the vinyl it's probably easier to just download them using p2p. If it's fairly obscure stuff then have a look at soul seek.

 

[BlackBat]

Unless I've read this wrong, you're connecting the CD in on your stereo to your line in on your PC. If you want to use this method to convert your records to mp3, you will need a lead from your headphone out on your stereo to the line in on your soundcard. As already stated this will give pretty poor results, something like ross2323 suggested would be better. I would suggest something like a reasonably good turntable coupled with a Project Phono Box II USB or a Project Debut III USB Phono turntable, but these are rather more expensive solutions.