Expert transfer service for vinyl record conversion to CD or digital
Did you know Thomas Edison actually invented the first phonograph in 1877? Also known as a gramophone record, LP record or most commonly known as a vinyl record. This analog format has a long history and even though they are still manufactured on a small scale, they left the mainstream around 1991. If you have any sort of record you want to convert to CD, the most popular ones our audio technicians capture on a day-to-day basis are the 78s, 45s and 33s. When we convert vinyl records to CD, you also receive a digital file done by an experienced audio technician and captured directly to the computer before undergoing our extensive quality control process then burned to CD. Most vinyl records will fit onto one CD and you can also share the downloadable mp3 files.
Your oldest vinyl LP records are your 78s. They were developed first and followed by the 33s and the 45s. These numbers refer to their rotational speed, or RPM, not their size. Many people have large record collections because vinyl was popular in the music market through the 1980s and vinyl record players are still available for purchase. Similar to the way people collect CDs and DVDs, vinyl records still have a niche among serious collectors but you will also find that the majority of them have already been transferred to digital and are available for purchase on any major music retailer site or store.
If you want to convert audio tapes to CD, visit this page.
If you want to transfer reel-to-reel audio to CD, visit this page.
Everything you need to know
about your Vinyl Record to CD project
Common vinyl record conversion questions
How long is my vinyl record?
If you have a vinyl LP record, it can play for 20 – 25 minutes for each side with a maximum of 45 minutes. There are a couple of exceptions to this that can go up to 52 minutes and these were usually Broadway or classical LPs. The 78s were meant for singles and run 3 – 4 minutes on each side, and the 45s run about the same because they usually have one song on each side.
How do I know what kind of vinyl record I have?
Usually by the size or the speed written on the label. The 12″ records are the 33s, the 10″ records are the 78s and the 7″ records are the 45s. If you’re unsure, our team will let you know what kind of record you have!
Will my digitized vinyl record sound good?
If you’ve taken good care of your vinyl records, there’s no reason you shouldn’t expect a beautiful lp to CD conversion. That being said, as with all analog video & audio formats, if they are damaged or in rough shape it can affect the quality, but our audio technicians are incredibly talented and experienced and will get the most out of any vinyl LP you share with us. For example, your 78 records are made out of shellac, not vinyl. These records predate your 33s and 45s by decades, so they’ve seen more wear and shellac is proven to have a shorter shelf-life than vinyl. Any wear and tear on this particular format are going to cause more distortion in your digital copy.
What Our Clients Say
“…When I found out about Everpresent (a local company) I was ecstatic, but also had a lot of questions. I immediately reached out via email to Jody, a member of the staff, who was both incredibly informative and timely with her responses. After giving me a rough idea of cost and what services were available, I made my way into the store to sit down and go over the details face to face (on a side note, it is incredibly comforting to have a place where can actually walk into and physically sit down with someone). I sat with Sydney who once again went over the services they offered and what the approximate cost would be. She was incredibly helpful and was able to answer any additional questions I had…”
– Thomas G.
Framingham, MA
Visit one of our Northeast locations to transfer vinyl:
MassachusettsHEADQUARTERS - Newton
Ashburnham
Beverly, MA
Back Bay & South End
Braintree
Burlington
Cambridge/Somerville
Dartmouth
Falmouth
Great Barrington
Natick
Northborough
Northampton
Worcester
or work with us from the comfort of your own home.
You can also ship directly to us!
- Consulations from the privacy of your own home
- Perfect for large or complex projects with multiple formats
- Our certified consultants travel across the Northeast
- Free, no obligations estimate
- Speak with our certified consultants over the phone
- Ship to our headquarters in Newton, MA
Standard & custom pricing options
We’ll convert all your vinyl records and vinyl LP to CD or USB, plus we digitally capture your labeling.
- Side A & Side B
- Digital mp3 format
- Files downloadable and uploadable to media players
- Label transcription
- CD or digital only
- Label transcription
- Download to media players
- Digital mp3 format
WE ORGANIZE AND DIGITIZE ALL OF YOUR MEMORIES
Get an estimate on your vinyl record to CD project!
Fill out our form or call to speak to a consultant
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you improve the vinyl recordings when you make the digital files?
We do. Our vinyl digitizing process uses various optimizations, but the big one is called a decrackle filter. Vinyl records crackled a bit initially, and a lot as they aged over the years. Sophisticated decrackle filters remove the distracting level of this noise while retaining the true vinyl sound. We also do equalizing and anti-hiss filters when appropriate.
How do I pick the right vinyl equipment?
The great news is that vinyl players are still being made and the new models are good and have convenient outputs for digitizing on a computer. Our process involves advanced interfaces and premium connections that get the most out of the sound, along with optimizing software. But if you want to try this at home, for $300-400 you can get a perfectly solid vinyl player. The key for us and anyone is to keep the needle clean and have replacement needles on hand. Doing a high volume digitizing project on vinyl will wear out the needle quicker than you think.
What file output should I select?
We always recommend getting a set of .mp3 files from your vinyl recordings as they are easiest to play and compatible with smartphones. But if you are a real audiophile, we’re happy to give you a redundant set of larger .wav files. If your ear can tell the difference, it’s a minimal expense since we start all vinyl transfers as .wav files and then re-encode them to .mp3 or CDs. And the additional USB sizes are just a few dollars more. We rarely push upgrades like this, but .wav file sets are cheap enough that you shouldn’t shy if you want one.
Can you preserve my vinyl album covers during the digitizing process?
This is a surprisingly common request, mainly because vinyl covers were awesome. Thankfully, EverPresent has a huge image scanning department and a fleet of oversized scanners. We’re happy to scan your album covers and include a high resolution .jpg file at the beginning of each folder of audio files.