I`m sorry if there is already a thread about this topic but I did a couple of searches and found none. I have for some time thought about recording some of my records onto cd and finally purchased a product[an external sound blaster] that I`m told will facilitate my efforts. This product has a number of sockets that allows me to run my speakers through it among other things. It also has an inline socket and I`m assuming that if I run my stereo out to this inline I will be able to play my records through the comp. and therefore be able to save then transfer the old records onto cd. Does any of the above make sense to anyone with any knowledge of this topic?

Just before seeing your question I came across this page in my travels

http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/18/1077072703109.html

It may be useful

Cheers

Craig

Thanks Craigal that is easy to read helpful information.

Ok now I have a computer full of old records but I am unable at this stage to transfer them onto cd. I am trying to use Creative playcenter and am getting the message"no drive found". Anyone with any suggestions as to my next move? I have checked out the Creative page but to no avail.

Is each LP saved as one large .wav file?

They are saved as record sides Tellywellies[a and b]. Some I have converted to mp3 files but I still have the original[?] wav file.I`m thinking maybe the Creative Playcenter isn`t aware of the cd burner.

I haven't any practical experience in turning LPs into CDs but it's on the cards to do it one of these days, so some reading has been done on the subject. Here's what I know about it:

Just as an aside from the actual problem you have at present, it is best to keep the tracks as .wavs. MP3 is a compressed file format. Any sort of compression incurs some loss. It may only be small but none is best.


Having got the LP into the computer as one large .wav file (as you have) it then has to be split into individual .wav tracks (i.e. 01.wav - 02.wav). I don't know anything about Creative Playcenter. Is it capable of doing this? If not, a number of programs are. Because of a lack of practical experience I can't recommend any particular one but if you 'do a Google' under the keywords 'splitting wav files' a number of programs come up. I notice there is even a free one.

If you look at the tracks on a music CD each track is a file that has the extension of .CDA. It's best that your audio tracks end up in this format rather than MP3. Then, as well as having no compression applied, any ordinary CD player will be able to play the recordings.

Is Creative Playcenter capable of taking .wav files and recording them onto a CD in the .cda format? (Do the help files have anything on this?).

I wonder, if these criteria were met, would the drive recognise the files in Creative Playcenter. If the program can't perform the necessary steps then maybe that's why the difficulty is arising. Also, it may be worth scouring the program's options to see if it has to be told where the drive is. A dedicated Creative product forum would provide a good source of information (every brand usually has one).

I don't have the full version of the latest Nero CD rewriter software (I only have that which came bundled with the drive) but I read that Nero is capable of saving .wav files as .cda.

*EDIT* corrected typo.

Just a thanks Tellywellies, the info about wav and cda format was good to know. I haven`t solved my problem yet but shall tell the world about it when I do,it`s taken up alot of my time lately .

The recording problem has been solved. Firstly thanks to the tech from Creative that replied promptly to every email I sent,that the advice hasn`t solved my Extigy cd recording problem is a moot point as far as I`m concerned, I`m sure that eventually the information sent in future emails will assist me.
I got around the recording problem by downloading the beta version of Realplayer 10. With that I can now retrieve the music I transfered from records to Extigy. Any other software I had/have didn`t seperate the music from the full Extigy application[anytime I clicked on it after browsing for music the Extigy program started]. The beta version of Realplayer is the only way I have to record on to cd from Extigy but it is enough........Record player to amp to External Soundblaster Extigy to Realplayer 10 to cd to car cd player .

A friend of mine who has copied LPs on to CDs uses Roxio software (Easy CD Creator) because the one program performs all required functions. As with Nero, it isn't the version that comes bundled with a CD rewriter. It has to be the Platinum version.

Maybe I'll dig out my 1970's record deck, replace the belt (it's bound to be perished) and give it all a try. Playing the LP collection again will be a trip down Memory Lane if nothing else.