Turn Vinyl Into Digital

A new product can capture music from analogue formats and record to audio CDs and MP3s.

Now you can dig out those LPs and bring them into the 21st century using your computer. ADS Tech has announced the launch of Instant Music, which makes it fast and easy for Windows and Macintosh users to convert analogue music to digital formats. This means you can enjoy listening to your records and tapes on CD, or an MP3 player - such as an iPod - or your PC.

Instant Music includes all of the music capture, conversion, editing and CD publishing tools users need to convert their analogue music to the most popular digital music formats in just four easy steps.

Using the stereo (right and left RCA) or SPDIF Digital Audio (TOSlink) inputs and outputs, they can capture music from any analogue audio source such as cassette, turntable, TV or radio and save it as an MP3, WAV, WMA (Windows Media 9 Audio) or AAC audio file.

The converted digital audio files can be archived on a computer or burned to a CD.

When combined with a Mac system equipped with Garage Band - included in iLife - or Sound Studio, Mac users can export directly to their personal iTunes music libraries.

Music files created with Instant Music can be played back from a PC or a portable MP3 player and are compatible with digital media receiver devices like the new ADS Tech Media-Link Wireless Receiver. With Media-Link connected to a home stereo system, consumers can play back all of the music stored on their PC.

To begin recording, users plug the Instant Music device into a computer's USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 port. Once the files are converted, the Nero Mix, Nero SoundTrax and Nero Wave Editor software bundled with Instant Music can be used to arrange them into play lists, edit start/stop times or add a cross fade from one track to the next for a smooth transition.

With the step-by-step wizard features, even novices can personalise their music by selecting tracks, adding transition effects, and using the equalizer to set the volumes. For professional results, the Audio Cleaning tools can be used to filter out unwanted pops, clicks and hisses.

Instant Music is available now in PC World stores. In addition to Instant Music, PC World is also selling the Instant TV range, from ADS Tech. This new family of products will allow users to watch record and manipulate analogue television through their PC.