Do songs from vinyl records sound different when converted to digital files on the computer or put on CDs?

Question

I'm planning on getting my first turntable and buying some vinyl records, mostly to listen to the records themselves but I'd also like to transfer the songs to my computer and put them on my iPod or on CDs. Will the sound quality of the songs change when I convert them to MP3s and burn them to CDs?

Answer 1

It mostly depends on the quality of the turntable and cartridge you're using...



The main strengths of analog over digital are a smoother, higher resolution sound and a smoother rolloff into the high frequencies you can't hear, where CD quality digital just drops completely off at 20kHz. You lose that when you convert vinyl to CD quality digital and are left hearing the weaknesses of both formats. The frequency response when playing vinyl will never be quite as flat as a digital source... and there will always be a little surface noise...



But still, you can make some pretty nice digital recordings from vinyl with the right equipment. Some may even prefer the slightly warm, "round" sound.



Here's a sample of a vinyl transfer made using a Technics SL-1200MKII turntable and a reasonably-priced vintage Audio Technica PRO13E cartridge (probably similar to an AT110E or AT95E today). The sound card used was a M-Audio Audiophile 2496. This cartridge is a bit on the "warm" side. You can get more detail and extension at the frequency extremes from a more "audiophile" class cartridge. This is an mp3 file. CD quality .wav would sound a little better.



http://www.4shared.com/audio/JAtZrDGq/Josie_ATPRO13E.html



My friend also gets excellent results (maybe even better) using an ART DJ phono preamp with USB output hooked up to his laptop for recording. http://www.amazon.com/ART-USB-Phono-Plus-Preamp/dp/B000BBGCCI/ref=pd_cp_MI_1

Answer 2

I bought a record player about a year ago only because there was music that I wanted to have that wasn't reissued on CD. I had no expectations for the sound quality. Although I heard people say that vinyl was better, I didn't take them too seriously. In fact, I thought they were just being nostolgic. When I had my first listen to a record, I was completely surprised at the quality. The sound of a vinyl record really is "warmer". The sound of a stand up acoustic bass is more realistic than digital. I felt like I could hear the empty space inside the stand up bass. Brushes on snares also great to hear on vinyl. It just sounds as if I have my ear bent down to the snare, (in the same place the microphone was when the sound was recorded). My best sounding CD, by far, is the remastered Jeff Buckley grace album. The sound is very crisp. The range of highs and lows sounds greater than my vinyls. Its a different kind of sound. For me, I prefer vinyl for albums with acoustic instruments, and CD for electric instrument albums. Overall, I like the sound of vinyl, because the sound is more realistic. I have been told that scientifically, the difference is that a record has one continuous groove, where as digital is many little bites of sound in succession. Favorite vinyls... James Newton- Romance and Revolution. Roy Eldridge- Dale's Wail (Verve Records). Bob Moses- When Elephants Dream of Music. Eric Dophy- The Berlin Concerts The Creative Construction Company- Volume 2 FYI- Blue Note Records still releases their new abums on vinyl (they also re-release their classics on new vinyl). Apparently, thier custonmers like the sound of records, even if they are recorded in the digital age.

Answer 3

Of course.



You are taking an analog signal and converting it into a digital format. Unless you have an exceptional turntable and analog to digital conversion method the results are going to be far inferior to the results you could get from ripping the music from a CD.

Answer 4

If you want to listen to records that's fine. I grew up with them because that's all we had back then. But they don't sound as good as digital music. Like I said if you want to listen to records, listen to them but I would not spend the time converting them to digital. Just get the digital versions. They will sound better than anything you convert...

Answer 5

I think the sound quality can improve when recording it to mp3, and clarity too ;)

Hope this helps :)