2 posts tagged “vinyl”
I thought it would be a great idea to post some of the songs I'm converting. Every time I do a batch of albums, I will pick the tracks that just stand out. So, here are some tracks for your listening pleasure:
This first track is Ray Charles with the Raelets & Margie Hendrix. I've never heard this song before but it is a pretty good version and it's off of ABC-Paramount. The B-side is "Your Cheatin' Heart" by Hank Williams. It was released in 1962 and I do not really hear this version on the Oldies stations so here you go. Also, I got it for 50 cents! What a bargain for a great song!
The next track is the B-Side of Otis Redding's "Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa (sad song)." He really did die way too young. I often wonder what his music would sound like in the 70s. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" - one of my all time favorite songs - really was a departure from his earlier recordings but you can only guess if that was reflecting some bigger move or if it was just a one time thing he was trying out. When I lived in Santa Cruz, my roommates and I would sit up on the roof (there was a door there because supposedly the owners were building a balcony) and blast Otis Redding's Greatest Hits, smoke cigarettes, drink beers and watch the boats in the harbor. It was one of those truly great moments that happened pretty frequently living in that small house. So here you go, "Good To Me" by Otis Redding.
The next track is the B-Side of Otis Redding's "Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa (sad song)." He really did die way too young. I often wonder what his music would sound like in the 70s. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" - one of my all time favorite songs - really was a departure from his earlier recordings but you can only guess if that was reflecting some bigger move or if it was just a one time thing he was trying out. When I lived in Santa Cruz, my roommates and I would sit up on the roof (there was a door there because supposedly the owners were building a balcony) and blast Otis Redding's Greatest Hits, smoke cigarettes, drink beers and watch the boats in the harbor. It was one of those truly great moments that happened pretty frequently living in that small house. So here you go, "Good To Me" by Otis Redding.
Instead of working on my school to-do list last night and after my misadventure, I ended up opening my ION turntable and to set it up to "digitize" (as they say in the archives) my vinyl/record collection. I have not looked at my 45s in a long while but I was inspired by Headphonerecord, who sent me a HSA mix at the beginning of the year and I know I have some hidden gems in that old milk crate.
I thought it was going to be a whole lot to set-up than it turned out to be. The turntable was easy to put together just follow the directions. The difficult part that I still keep adjusting is the counter-balance weight at the end of the needle arm. I forgot that you need to adjust it with each album. It all depends on the quality of the pressing and how old it is and I am sure other factors that I am not technically schooled in. I am pretty comfortable with turntables, I own 3 of various styles but I was constantly being reminded of things I never really worried about as a radio DJ because someone before me had always worried about it.
After setting up the turntable, I inserted the EZ Vinyl Converter & Audacity disc that comes with the turntable. First, I have a MAC, the EZ Vinyl Converter is not MAC compatible. Second, after going back and forth and a little frustration, the Audacity software on the disc is outdated. Luckily, I have used Audacity at school with my students and it is Open Source and very easy to use. I ended up downloading Audacity from the website. I also ended up having to find a post about what to change the settings on my little iBook G4 so that I could record. Thank you flyingsnail! I had to change my Audio inputs and MIDI setting and I have never done that before.
At first, because I did not know I had to change all the inputs and audio settings, I would monitor the input in Audacity, it was picking up some weird feedback but it was also kind of picking up the record. After I downloaded the new Audacity and changed the audio settings, it started working and I was getting playback from my computer. It was definitely one of the coolest things I have ever done!
ADDENDUM: Oh yeah, you also need to down load the mp3 encoder = LAME LIB. I know the .aiff (MAC) and .wav (PC) are better formats but if you want to be able to play them pretty much where ever I would use the .mp3 format which still seems more universal than the other audio formats. (if I am wrong please correct me. thanks!)
So, with that little review, here are a couple of the 45s I've converted for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!
Lovefool by the Cardigans is the first single I converted from a limited edition white 45. Whoo-hoooo!
I thought it was going to be a whole lot to set-up than it turned out to be. The turntable was easy to put together just follow the directions. The difficult part that I still keep adjusting is the counter-balance weight at the end of the needle arm. I forgot that you need to adjust it with each album. It all depends on the quality of the pressing and how old it is and I am sure other factors that I am not technically schooled in. I am pretty comfortable with turntables, I own 3 of various styles but I was constantly being reminded of things I never really worried about as a radio DJ because someone before me had always worried about it.
After setting up the turntable, I inserted the EZ Vinyl Converter & Audacity disc that comes with the turntable. First, I have a MAC, the EZ Vinyl Converter is not MAC compatible. Second, after going back and forth and a little frustration, the Audacity software on the disc is outdated. Luckily, I have used Audacity at school with my students and it is Open Source and very easy to use. I ended up downloading Audacity from the website. I also ended up having to find a post about what to change the settings on my little iBook G4 so that I could record. Thank you flyingsnail! I had to change my Audio inputs and MIDI setting and I have never done that before.
At first, because I did not know I had to change all the inputs and audio settings, I would monitor the input in Audacity, it was picking up some weird feedback but it was also kind of picking up the record. After I downloaded the new Audacity and changed the audio settings, it started working and I was getting playback from my computer. It was definitely one of the coolest things I have ever done!
ADDENDUM: Oh yeah, you also need to down load the mp3 encoder = LAME LIB. I know the .aiff (MAC) and .wav (PC) are better formats but if you want to be able to play them pretty much where ever I would use the .mp3 format which still seems more universal than the other audio formats. (if I am wrong please correct me. thanks!)
So, with that little review, here are a couple of the 45s I've converted for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!
