How to Make 78 Records the Right Speed If Recorded at 45
Most consumer-grade turntables on the market today will only play 45 and 33 rpm records, leaving 78 rpm enthusiasts without a way to listen to their prized collections. It is entirely possible to record 78 rpm records to a digital format using the 45 rpm speed on your turntable, then convert to the correct speed using audio software. Free software such as Audacity and WavePad will automatically correct the speed with a few clicks of the mouse. The conversion speed can also be adjusted manually to accommodate early 20th century recordings, which often were recorded from 70 to 90 rpms.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Download and install the audio editing software program of your choice. This tutorial will focus on Audacity, although most audio programs will have the same basic functions and commands (see Resources for free downloads).
-
2
Locate the sound file of the 78 you previously recorded at 45 rpm speed on your computer's hard drive or CD drive. Load the sound file into the Audacity editor window by clicking "Open File."
-
-
3
Select "Equalization" from the "Effect" menu and apply the inverse of the RIAA playback curve.
-
4
Select the entire track by clicking in the "Track Control Panel." Click "Effect," then "Change Speed."
-
5
Choose the speed at which the record was played (in this case, 45 rpm) in the "From" drop-down box.
-
6
Select the conversion speed in the "To" drop-down box. Check the record label to ascertain the correct speed; this was usually printed on one or both sides of the disc.
-
7
Click "Convert." Listen to the song to ensure that the speed is correct. If not, repeat steps 4 through 6, manually adjusting the output speed by degrees until the playback speed sounds correct.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you want to perform more advanced editing tasks, be prepared to pay for an upgraded version of the software with more features and options.
Step 2 is important for a professional-sounding transfer because most modern turntables are designed to play records from the 1950s to the present, applying a then-industry standard known as "RIAA playback equalization" to the sound. As a result, 78 rpm recordings made before 1950 play incorrectly on newer turntables that apply the RIAA equalization.
Always reverse the RIAA equalization before changing the speed to ensure a clean, "flat" transfer. Once the speed has been converted, you may wish to apply or change EQ if desired. You can also apply effects, reduce pops and scratches, apply filters to get rid of noise and hiss, compress and normalize the track.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Donna Day/Photodisc/Getty Images
