[hat and beard]

I'm moving next month and I've decided to leave the vast majority of my records behind, but I'd at least like to have them digitized and living on in my computer. I'd also like to upload some things to the internet. SO...
Anybody have advice on how best to go about recording vinyl records on to my computer box? I know I can just plug the headphone jack in my stereo directly to the microphone jack in my computer, but is there a better way to go about this? Is there free software I can use to record? Is there any hardware I can buy (soundcard?) to improve sound quality. I'm quite useless with all this technology stuff, so any help would be appreciated.

[Cantankerous]

get audacity
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...epByStep.aspx\
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/385
http://www.br0wn.co.uk/vinyltocd.htm

sorry i can't explain exactly myself.

[atsonicpark]

the way you said is probably the best way.

use adobe audition or another program to get rid of the static crackles and hisses.

[sonicl]

If you don't mind spending the money, you can get a turntable which will plug into the USB port on your PC.

http://www.ion-dj.com/ttusb.php

[Glice]

A mate of mine spent managed to digitize, label, and separate all the tracks on his records in a week (recording it will record a side as a single file, obviously). He said it was possibly the most annoying thing he's done, but also worth it once he did. Otherwise, I'm no help whatsover.

[pbradley]

Don't betray vinyl to the rituallessly convenient temptations of the digital.

[Bicorn Halfelven]

Originally Posted by pbradley

Don't betray vinyl to the rituallessly convenient temptations of the digital.

I assume you're using a tube-driven punch card computer.

[terminal pharmacy]

ok, depends on what you are willing to spend as always with these questions. audacity is a terrible sounding program. adobe audition is alright, i would use nothing less than digital performer, protools or cubase. sound card wise is where you will lose most quality if you don't spend the money. then from there you want to run your turntable into two good quality di boxes then into your sound card. using markers within the recording software is a good idea so you can just sit and listen and whenever a track finishes use whatever shortcut key your software uses to drop a marker in place. this will make editing after far quicker. when copying your vinyl depending on the quality of the pressing I tend not to remove any pops or crackles (when doing this for myself - clients is another story). any other questions just ask. and i keep forgetting to ask is your name a dolphy reference???

[hat and beard]

Originally Posted by terminal pharmacy

and i keep forgetting to ask is your name a dolphy reference???

Indeed, it is.

Thanks for all the help guyzzz. Looks like I'm either going to have to spend a shit ton of money shipping all my records, or spend a shit ton of money buying sound equipment. I guess I might as well just ship them.

I did at least manage to get somewhat decent sounding recordings using audacity and my computer's existing soundcard (see yoshimi/hanatarash post in post oop/rare records thread).