I get good results using Windows Sound Recorder,
a neat program that comes with all Windows.
There's a few tricks to learn but the results are more than adequate.
The first thing to do is find Windows Sound Recorder, it's not
obvious even on a new PC. In fact I only ever find a 'shortcut'
to it. depending on what version of windows you have it'll be
in WINDOWS/MEDIA or maybe in WINDOWS/PROGRAMS/ENTERTAINMENT....
When you find the shortcut icon, drag a copy onto your desktop,
it's then real easy to record 78's as you don't need to open anything
else. If you've got a decent record deck, and it's connected to
a hi-fi, then the leads from audio-out can be connected straight
into the back of your PC, this works in UK anyway, if you've got
two inputs to your sound card. These are not always colour-coded,
some odd symbols suggest arrow- in for input. Hope I'm not losing
you, took me a while to get the right connections.
Hopefully you can play a record and it comes out of your PC speakers.
If it's a hi-fi system you have then you should also be able to
play radio, tapes and CD's etc into your PC (and you'll be able
to record any of them).
Now, Windows Sound Recorder.
Double-click the shortcut icon that we just put on the desktop.
The small window opens with a flat green line and menus for
File - Edit - Effects - Help.
Click File, go to Properties. This tells you the format sound
quality. If you plan to just keep the sound files on your PC
then a good choice is 22,000Hz and 8 bit mono. This will mean
a 3 minute 78 only needs 5mB on your PC. 'Convert now' to select
quality. Next click the Edit menu and go down to Audio Properties.
This usually needs resetting every time the PC is switched on.
Select Sound Recording - Volume. From the choices choose Mono
Mix (this is the choice on a Brit PC anyway). Adjust the record
volume level to a low level for the moment. Close that window.
You now have to make yourself a 4 minute 'blank'. The reason
for this is that initially Recorder will stop after a minute,
but there's a trick. Click record (red circle) and let it run
silently for 50 or so seconds, press stop, press record again,
repeat until you have a silent recording of about 4 minutes
length, that's your blank. (Note: if you have a microphone you
might have recorded 4 minutes of breathing! but doesn't matter).
Save your 4mins of silence in an appropriate folder
So, if you can play a 78 and it is heard on your PC speakers
then you are ready to record.
From File menu select open and look for your 4mins silence file.
Click record (it starts to record over the silence) start your
record. The flat green line will start jumping, you might need
a few trials to adjust recording volume, keeping the green signal
within the black window. After trials just use your mouse to
move back to zero time position. Eventually you should be able
to record a 78 (most are less than 4 mins, but you can always
make a longer blank). Windows Sound Recorder is easy to use
as an editor, click Edit you'll see a Delete before... and a
Delete after.... These are really easy to use to get to the
start and end of the music. A few trials you'll get the hang
of it.
Save your work as something, and there you have your 3 mins
of mono in about 5mB.
NOTE: if you want to put your sound files on a CD you have to
start Windows Recorder with the format quality 44,000Hz and
16 bit stereo and you'll end up maybe with a 30mB file for each
track. But you can then record them onto a CD (that's why you
can only get 20 or so tracks on a CD).
Always set up Windows Recorder Audio Properties for the end-use,
converting later can adversely affect the sound quality and
lead to 'squeaks and whistles'.
WEBSITE SOUND CLIPS
When putting 78rpm sound clips on websites you should normally
aim for a short clip of no more than 20secs (using 22,000Hz
and 8 bit mono to give a file size of about 450kB) which visitors
can download in about a minute. You can make your 20 sec clip
in Windows Sound Recorder using the Edit>Delete before...
and Edit>Delete after.... functions.
Anyway hope this is useful to anyone else who doesn't have
sophisticated software. Windows Sound Recorder gives good enough
results for me most times.
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