Newbie wanting to backup Music CDS and also convert them to MP3s

Hi Majorgeeks has really helped me in the past, both with having patience tohelp me troubleshoot and resolve a problem and with the excellent advice I have been given so I am hoping you can help me again..

Please bear with me as Im a newbie to this..I have read loads of references online about various tools to help to the things below many of them free others not, but I guess I am too overloaded with info now..

I have read lots of references in this site too and looked at the many diff free downloads available with great reviews, but as I am new to this I don't know which to choose or even how..??? On one site there were lots of peeps recommending a product called Tunebite, then on another site peeps saying no way dont load it it killed my PC's .. some of the posts are 3 years or so old so I am guessing some/most of the info therein is going to be out of date So for a newbie this is a bit of a minefield..

All I want to do is VERY basic I'm sure

1. make backups of my current Music CDs some recent ( including copyright protection ) others going back a number of years now ..

2. Convert some of these into MP3 files and Burn a CD of those for backup

3. Play the backed up music files in other CD players and more specifically the car player..

None of my existing cd backups ( dating back a number of years) have ever played in the car CD player or certain standalone CD players.. having researched I think I see my mistake, embarassingly it would appear that my backup copy was a data cd not an audio one... Sure everyone will think I am a twit now, but at the time I guess I assumed it was a technology issue causing the problem as the music played fine on my PC and to me at the time that meant it was an Audio recording ..hmm this sounds so STUPIDLY obvious now. Its funny how over the years I have lost count of the number of peeps I know who have had the same problem and we all just assumed it was just old technology not working with new technology ..

4. I have some shop bought DVDs I would like to backup too, and have no idea how to do this as I assume they are copyright protected.. I know there is siftware that temporarily removes the protection enabling you to make a backup but again where do I start..

5. I have some shop bought videos I would like to backup to DVD especially as some of them may not last all that much longer and again have no idea how to ..

6. Finally can you recommend userfriendly software ( junkfree) that will make compiling MP3 collections and transferring them to an MP3 player hassle free..

I am running winvista Home Premium

So I hope you forgive my stupidity for my earlier mistakes and someone will be kind enough to help me with UPTODATE info on how to do the above things..

Thanks in advance for your time and assistance

I look forward to your replys
tamba1

 

For music CDs, you should be able to copy them to your computer in Mp3 format using Windows Media Player. If you're using Vista, you've probably got a later version than I have (on XP).

Tools
Options
Rip Music

From here you should find an option to save ripped music as Mp3. (also a choice of quality).

For copy protected CDs;-

If media player won't copy / rip the content, try using Audacity (free download).
If your computer can play it, Audacity can record it. You'll need lame.enc.dll to export as Mp3.

For DVDs, have a look on VideoHelp.com, as there's loads of info there. They don't like it if people join the site and immediately ask how to copy DVDs, but not to worry, there's a good search function and a wealth of info from answers to questions that have already been asked.

 

with the videos if theyre tapes then my advice you need either a vcr with s-video port and a video card with s-video port or a way to copy the tapes to your computer as long as your computer will read the tapes then you should be good as for programs my dad used a tv card on his computer then copied the files that way

 

THanks 12quid.. & Reddeath that was really helpful ..

Am abou to try windows media player ...

Reddeath you said "my dad used a tv card on his computer then copied the files that way" please coudl you give me a bit more info on that..

When you say TV card - doe laptops come with these? hmm maybe its something that I can only add to a desktop.. I have a desktop Dell Dimension 4550 which I may be able to use.. PLease coudl you tell me exactly how to do what your dad did.. See my alternative is to send the videos away to have it done but I have had quotes of around £7 each so woudl rather be able to do it myself ( even if there is a small outlay) upfront and have the flexibility of being able to do it whenver I need to..

Many thanks to you both
Tamba1

 

the tv card is a special order video card that uses a cable port on it to allow you to watch tv on your computer and as far as i know it comes with the software disc