On 22 Apr 2006 12:26:25 -0700, "BC" wrote:

I just bought a Griffin imic, which various people told me was all that
I'd need to transfer my old LP's and cassettes to mp3's. Upon trying
to set it up, I discovered at the Griffin website that Windows XP's
Sound Recorder will only record 1 minute at a time, and that I'll need
to buy some extra audio software in order to record a whole LP

Sound Recorder can be tricked into recording as long as you like. You
locate an existing wav file of the required length and use it as a
template. Load it into SR and record over it. But Audacity will do,
and though clunky, it isn't as clunky as SR :-)

You may not be satisfied with the quality of the iMic. You have two
issues.

First, the quality of a digital recording is VERY dependent in
presenting an appropriate level at the recording input. It's unlikely
that the auxiliary output of your hi-fi amp has a level control. So
you need a mixer. The little Behringer models are cheap and
effective.

Second, I'm afraid the iMic is a toy. Aim a little higher, maybe at
one of the many USB or Firewire audio interfaces that include a basic
mixer. M-Audio are a good place to start looking.