Many have asked how I came to have a large MP3 library. And how they could do the same. While streaming is the way everyone seems to go today, there is great value to having your own personal collection of titles. This is confirmed by the resurgence of LP releases on the market. So here is my documentation of how to create and maintain your own library of music to enjoy playing from your own home media server, phone, tablet or whatever.
For digitizing LPs and Cassettes, key is using the PortableApps version of Audacity. Specifically, read through and follow their helpful Wiki page on using Audacity for digitizing LP's. I usually have to edit the stored MP3 parameters with each file. At minimum, removing the track number from the title. But sometimes setting additional artists if a soundtrack or similar. Microsoft Win10 allows editing these fields by simply right clicking an MP3 file, selecting properties, and clicking on a field to edit it.
Historically, before the pre-amp went out, and starting back in the late 1990's, he used a Hauppage Video Capture card. Many versions over the years as the computer internal buses changed and technology improved. (The card was used to convert analog home videos into MP4's as well.)
Randy started this journey in 1997 when trying to first convert his CD collection into MP3 form for a portable music player that took 1GB full-size SD cards. His CD collection was started in the 1990's when trying to "buy" his existing LPs and Cassette's in CD form. This especially after his cassettes were degrading and many no longer playable. He first embarked on the process of converting the collection to digital MP3 form but found it too onerous. He was only able to purchase around 50% of his collection as most titles were not available. (20+ years later, many still are not.) At that time he had to hand enter most CD titles into the CCDB system (now renamed CCDB1 after the commercialization into Gracenote). He used the xxxx capture software and a xxxx sound and video converter card plugged into a home desktop PC of the time. (He worked on home video conversion as well but that is for another page.)
In 2018, interest was renewed as he needed more selection on his phone playlist which contained his whole collection. And interest in those old titles not available via CD was thus renewed as well. Interest was further spurred by the adoption of Discogs (again) to catalog the collection; much like he had been doing with MyMovies for his DVD's the last 15 years. And rediscovering some artists and titles he had forgotten about over the years. Additionally, he took an interest in some of the remaining titles of LP's his parents still had and wished to add them to the home server so they could play at their convenience. Especially spurred on by his upcoming historic birthday party / family reunion and the desire to have the old Frank Yankovic and similar albums available to play.
His parents had his old LP's as a child, as well as both their parents LP collections. Fairly extensive collection covering Slovenian Polka's on one hand and an extensive Elvis Presley collection on the other. Randy's as a child was minor and limited to bubble gum pop and staples like Bobbie Vinton and Lesley Gore. Sometime in the 1990's his parents realized they had these hundreds of albums and never any turntable for a long, long time. So they sorted through the collection and only saved around 50 of the LP's of strongest interest. They tried to give the rest to a record store at that time but they would not take them. They ended up in the garbage dump. Oh my! The value of them today would be just too great.
Software
CD's are pretty easy to convert. On a Microsoft PC, simply use Windows Media Player as it has a conversion built right in (termed "RIP"). Make sure to select "update info" after loading the CD as, depending on your settings, the software will not automatically populate the fields from the Gracenote database (more on that in the ((#History)) below). The fields are used to create directory and file names in the standard convention used by most players.For digitizing LPs and Cassettes, key is using the PortableApps version of Audacity. Specifically, read through and follow their helpful Wiki page on using Audacity for digitizing LP's. I usually have to edit the stored MP3 parameters with each file. At minimum, removing the track number from the title. But sometimes setting additional artists if a soundtrack or similar. Microsoft Win10 allows editing these fields by simply right clicking an MP3 file, selecting properties, and clicking on a field to edit it.
Sound Equipment
Randy has an old tube / SCR pre-amp and amplifier as part of a high-end Kenwood audio system bought in the early 1980's. But the pre-amp went out in 2015 and is not repairable. The direct-drive, magnetic cartridge turntable is still very usable though (and better than most anything on the market today). After some searching and trial, Randy found the Art USB Phono Plus pre-amp for this magnetic cartridge turntable that works really well by providing direct-to-USB signal conversion and RIAA LP signal processing. Audacity easily picks up this source.Historically, before the pre-amp went out, and starting back in the late 1990's, he used a Hauppage Video Capture card. Many versions over the years as the computer internal buses changed and technology improved. (The card was used to convert analog home videos into MP4's as well.)
History
Randy has many LP's that had never been released in CD form. While cassette tapes became worthless as they degrade and cannot be converted, the LP recordings (especially not released as a CD) continue to have great musical value. For example, a 1959 recording from the Monterrey Jazz Festival of Dizzie Gillespie with band members like Lalo Shaffrin. Or the 1980 initial album released by Martha and the Muffins that had several number one songs in the UK. They were a new wave band from Toronto, Canada that he saw live in Edinburgh. Or finally, old recordings of Billie Holiday. Today his collection is cataloged at Discogs.Randy started this journey in 1997 when trying to first convert his CD collection into MP3 form for a portable music player that took 1GB full-size SD cards. His CD collection was started in the 1990's when trying to "buy" his existing LPs and Cassette's in CD form. This especially after his cassettes were degrading and many no longer playable. He first embarked on the process of converting the collection to digital MP3 form but found it too onerous. He was only able to purchase around 50% of his collection as most titles were not available. (20+ years later, many still are not.) At that time he had to hand enter most CD titles into the CCDB system (now renamed CCDB1 after the commercialization into Gracenote). He used the xxxx capture software and a xxxx sound and video converter card plugged into a home desktop PC of the time. (He worked on home video conversion as well but that is for another page.)
In 2018, interest was renewed as he needed more selection on his phone playlist which contained his whole collection. And interest in those old titles not available via CD was thus renewed as well. Interest was further spurred by the adoption of Discogs (again) to catalog the collection; much like he had been doing with MyMovies for his DVD's the last 15 years. And rediscovering some artists and titles he had forgotten about over the years. Additionally, he took an interest in some of the remaining titles of LP's his parents still had and wished to add them to the home server so they could play at their convenience. Especially spurred on by his upcoming historic birthday party / family reunion and the desire to have the old Frank Yankovic and similar albums available to play.
His parents had his old LP's as a child, as well as both their parents LP collections. Fairly extensive collection covering Slovenian Polka's on one hand and an extensive Elvis Presley collection on the other. Randy's as a child was minor and limited to bubble gum pop and staples like Bobbie Vinton and Lesley Gore. Sometime in the 1990's his parents realized they had these hundreds of albums and never any turntable for a long, long time. So they sorted through the collection and only saved around 50 of the LP's of strongest interest. They tried to give the rest to a record store at that time but they would not take them. They ended up in the garbage dump. Oh my! The value of them today would be just too great.