[Ham-Computers] Recording Vinyl To CD Format

[Duane Fischer, W8DBF]

	Hi All, 	
	
I have kicked this topic around in the past and never came to a firm conclusion.
While there are several software packages that purport to work well for
converting vinyl recordings to a CD format, they all seem to have some annoying
or serious quirks/flaws.  	
	
Because I am totally blind, and because I use special software to 'read' the CRT
display, I am limited as to which software packages I can use. Any software
program requires a configuration file that instructs the screen reading software
exactly what to read, when to read it, how to read it, where the mouse pointer
is positioned, what is highlighted and so forth. Otherwise, the software would
simply read everything on the screen every time one character changed. Any
change of any kind causes the software to read the screen from top to bottom.
The configuration file prevents it from doing this. It only reads what you ask
it to read and when you ask for it. However, it is up to the individual user to
write this configuration file, which requires sighted assistance, of course. 	
	
the two major screen reading programs: JAWS For Windows and Windows-Eyes, come
with configuration files for some major software packages, the rest are up to
the user to create. 	
	
I mention this because I need a program that will allow me to copy music from a
vinyl record to CD with a minimum of required user interaction. Once I set up
the program, I would like it to remain set up, if possible.  	
	
I had thought about going from the vinyl to DAT and then to the CD rewriteable
drive via the computer. This would give me more control over the source signal
going to the computer to begin with. 	
	
I have heard that Easy CD Creator Platinum (I think that is the right name) is
quite good, but is it difficult to sue and set up? How much of this graphical
interface will require me to 'see' graphs, or bars or whatever? What I probably
will need is an experienced person who has done what I wnat to do to instruct me
as to how to go about doing this. If I have a step by step procedure to follow,
from somebody who knows the correct steps, it should enable me to do this with
reasonable ease. 	
	
Maybe it is not doable for me at all. I do not know. I am open to suggestions
from those of you who have actually copied vinyl albums to CDS.	
	
thanks.	
	
Duane Fischer, W8DBF	
dfischer@usol.com