• Records that you don't have time to listen to at home can be burned onto a CD to play in the car or downloaded onto an MP3 player.
• Digital copies of your records or tapes also make great backups, saving wear and tear on valuable originals.
• It's also possible to improve the sound quality of your records or tapes using your home computer, by using noise reduction software to remove clicks and hiss.

In addition to your computer, you'll need two things:

• A way of connecting your hi-fi to your computer.
• Some audio editing software to record the incoming signal and save it or burn it to CD.

Method 1: Direct to Sound Card

If your computer has a line input for recording, it's possible to connect the output of a hi-fi directly to it using a cable with the correct connections.

A line input on a computer will usually be a stereo minijack (also called a 3.5mm or 1/8" jack) socket. Every sound card is different, though, and there may be several different sockets - the line input is usually marked with a symbol showing a circle with an arrow pointing inwards, to the centre of the circle.

Simply choose a cable that has a stereo minijack at one end, and a connector that matches the output of your hi-fi at the other end. If your hi-fi doesn't have a line output port, you can simply use the headphone output instead.

Connecting this way is very easy, and since all you need is one cable it's a great way to get started if you're on a budget.

Lynx Standard Phono to Stereo MiniJack 1.2 MTR

Method 2: Audio Interfaces

If your computer doesn't have an audio input, you can connect a hi-fi to a spare USB or FireWire port instead using an audio interface.

An audio interface works in just the same way as your computer's sound card, except that it connects to a USB or Firewire port instead of being fitted inside your computer.

Audio interfaces can transfer sound in and out of your computer. There are many different models available, which allow you to connect everything from microphones and guitars to hi-fi's and keyboards.

Because audio interfaces are specially designed for recording, they usually give higher sound quality than connecting via a standard computer sound card.

Some audio interfaces also include bundled software for making and editing recordings, so you can get everything you need in one package.

	Griffin iMic iMic shines as the essential tool for converting your old LPs and tapes into MP3s and CDs.
	ARTcessories USB Phono Plus Transfer all your tape archives: Cassettes, reel to reel, 8-tracks, commercial carts and even vinyl and rip them directly to your PC or laptop! All you need is the player with the proper connections and you’re on your way.

Method 3: USB Turntables

It's also possible to buy turntables with a USB connection.

These turntables have a built-in audio interface, which transfers the sound directly to your computer.

If you only want to convert vinyl, you can't beat a USB turntable for convenience. Best of all, they can be connected to an amplifier and speakers and used as a normal turntable as well.

Numark TTUSB The TTUSB is the perfect tool for digitally archiving your record collection. Combined with Audacity’s software for removing clicks and other noises, the TTUSB is an easy-to-use, comprehensive solution to transferring a record collection to a computer or portable music player.

Audio Editing Software

Audio editing software allows you to record the sound coming into your computer from your hi-fi. Once you've recorded it, you can then use the software to split it into tracks and save your albums as MP3s or burn them to CD.

You can use almost any music production software for this job, but there are some pieces of software designed specifically with vinyl conversion in mind:

	Bias Peak 5 LE For Mac OSX. With Peak 5.0 LE, you can quickly edit and create your own custom MP3 music mixes. Convert your vinyl or cassette collection to CDs in just a few simple steps. Optimize audio for the web.
	Sound Forge Audio Studio Sound Forge Audio Studio software is everything you need to edit and master professional-quality audio on your home computer. Best of all, Sound Forge Audio Studio software is easy to use. With a few basic commands such as cut, copy, and paste, you can produce high-fidelity audio on your PC.

Noise Reduction Software

Some software is designed specially for removing clicks and hiss from vinyl or tape recordings.

This software doesn't allow you to record audio, so you still need audio editing software to record first. However, once you've recorded you can load your files into the noise reduction software to remove clicks and pops and reduce hiss and rumble. The software can work automatically, or you can tweak the settings yourself for perfect results.

Bias Soundsoap 2 The easiest way to remove tape hum, hiss, buzzing, rumble and most other types of background noise. For Mac & PC.

To convert, you'll need to start by connecting your hi-fi to your computer using one of the methods above.

If you're using a cable, you'll just need to connect it. If you're using an audio interface or a USB turntable, you may need to install some software, called a driver, so that your hardware will work properly. Instructions on how to do this will be included with your hardware.

Once your hardware is up and running, you'll need to install and configure your software. This will differ depending on what software you have, but in simple terms you'll need to tell it where you want to record from. This is usually a case of choosing your sound card, audio interface or other hardware as the recording input source. Detailed instructions for installing and using your software will be given in the manual or the help file.

When you're ready to go, set your software recording then set a record or cassette playing. The software will record the audio as it plays in real time, so you'll need to wait until it's finished playing and remember to turn cassettes or records over when necessary.

When the record has finished playing, stop the recording and use your software to divide the audio you've recorded up into sections for the songs on the album you've transferred. You can then save the individual sections as WAV or MP3 files, for burning onto CD or putting onto an MP3 player.

If you're unsure about any of the above, or if you're not sure which products would be best for you, please contact us and we'll be happy to offer friendly, impartial advice and recommendations.