Udder Randomness

[DollyKim]

If you have the right record player you can hook it to a computer with a decent sound card and make MP3s that sound like the record then you can turn them in to doll money. It just records what it hears instead of making them sound like new digital recordings.

[K2!]

If you're going to go to the trouble/expense of transferring your vinyls to a digital format so you can enjoy them without the wearing them away, record them to a lossless uncompressed format like WAV, not MP3s. You can always make a smaller (compressed and lossy) MP3 file from the archived WAV file.
Are these colored vinyl records anything special like having tracks "only available on this pressing" or something? Generally colored vinyl and picture disc versions were just for show and had a lower fidelity than regular "black" vinyl. Unless they contain some otherwise unavailable tracks, their value is in the novelty of the colored vinyl. So if you're interested in keeping your colored vinyls as collector's items, skip the transferring, keep the vinyl in their sleeves, and just buy/listen to your MP3s.

[absynthe1972]

If you're going to go to the trouble/expense of transferring your vinyls to a digital format so you can enjoy them without the wearing them away, record them to a lossless uncompressed format like WAV, not MP3s. You can always make a smaller (compressed and lossy) MP3 file from the archived WAV file.
Are these colored vinyl records anything special like having tracks "only available on this pressing" or something? Generally colored vinyl and picture disc versions were just for show and had a lower fidelity than regular "black" vinyl. Unless they contain some otherwise unavailable tracks, their value is in the novelty of the colored vinyl. So if you're interested in keeping your colored vinyls as collector's items, skip the transferring, keep the vinyl in their sleeves, and just buy/listen to your MP3s.

I copy mine to .aiff files. They're huge but a higher quality than .wav.

[Kirahfaye]

My daughter and I have been pretty much stuck in the house since Monday. She caught a cold while filming on the set for Resurrection (I know background work is hit and miss, but seriously people? Don't infect the rest of the crew!) and my car battery died after already putting nearly $1000 into it and the A/C unit and getting Joy set up for background work this month. This morning I wake up with my nose clogged, sniffling and sneezing ... Wonderful... Ugh...

[K2!]

I copy mine to .aiff files. They're huge but a higher quality than .wav.

If Apple says so.

"the most common WAV format contains uncompressed audio in the linear pulse code modulation (LPCM) format. The standard audio file format for CDs, for example, is LPCM-encoded, containing two channels of 44,100 samples per second, 16 bits per sample. Since LPCM uses an uncompressed storage method which keeps all the samples of an audio track, professional users or audio experts may use the WAV format for maximum audio quality."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV

[DollyKim]

The last time I dealt with formats was switching from Windows to Mac and I just let iTunes rip to what ever it is it uses because I usually listen on headphones. The only time I notice a difference in quality is when I upgrade my headphones. I think the only time I bothered to get anything that was specific format was the enhanced version of Tommy by The Who because the original is a 2 track muddy mess.

Before I had a portable player I made a bunch of records and tapes in to CD so I could play them without wearing them down. Those I replace with new digital versions as I can find them but otherwise I'm happy just to have a copy of some songs in any format I can get.

[SetsunaKou]

I copy mine to .aiff files. They're huge but a higher quality than .wav.

If Apple says so.

"the most common WAV format contains uncompressed audio in the linear pulse code modulation (LPCM) format. The standard audio file format for CDs, for example, is LPCM-encoded, containing two channels of 44,100 samples per second, 16 bits per sample. Since LPCM uses an uncompressed storage method which keeps all the samples of an audio track, professional users or audio experts may use the WAV format for maximum audio quality."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV

Yes, I agree with K2-sama. I always save a .wav file for backup/archival/cd use, then create MP3s for iPod use. The .wav is already at full, uncompressed quality so you can't really get much better than that. ^^ Plus, every computer can recognize and play wav files without any additional software.

[SpiralPrince]

I've been listening to "Welcome To Nightvale" and I love it. I love the little romance going on between Cecil and Carlos and when the anniversary episode came on I just became so distraught at the thought of Carlos gone, and then, during the scene when they're sitting on the car and I......I just got the flutteries because it was just so adorable and sweet and perfect and why can't I ever write anything that wonderful?

[Vetinari]

Thanks for the tips! The records are fairly standard, except for the colour, and the no. produced (80, 500 and 1000). Not too sure about the sound quality since they claim to be high quality *ripoff* 180gram audiophile vinyls and I've not dared to place needle to plastic yet!

[DollyKim]

If picture or colored ones have never been played I can agree with not letting a needle touch the vinyl. Just about every song is somewhere on the internet, except for the non dance mix of Nevermore by +1. Or at least in the US, I'd so pay legal download for that.

Otherwise I've made my first crochet pineapple thing, a tiny little lady, and have Barbie and Ken sized dolls to try next. Anyone want to come over and play where do I display my Monsters and Power Team Elite guys?