Is There a Way to Record a CD to an LP at Home?

Home Use

If you simply would like to play a recording of your favorite music CD on a turntable, you are much better off just buying the vinyl equivalent rather than bothering with converting your existing copy. Even if a rare LP may cost several hundred dollars, the expense and trouble of generating a new vinyl copy probably will be even greater.

On the other hand, if you are in a rock band and would like to release your music CD on vinyl, there are several benefits. For example, the elaborate album cover art and gatefolds that were part and parcel of '70s classic rock albums cannot be replicated in small-form CD packaging. Also, many DJs only use turntables in clubs, so vinyl may be the only way to get exposure in that venue.

Since most record manufacturers have a minimum order of at least 500 units, a vinyl LP makes good sense as a collectible item for fans of your band. With the right manufacturer, you also can create a limited edition run of your LP in colored vinyl or even with an image beneath the grooves.

Unfortunately, going from a CD to an LP will not necessarily improve the quality of the recording. While an LP record played on an audiophile turntable has a "warmer" analog sound, it only sounds as good as the master that it came from. Therefore, it is preferable to use a DAT (or a magnetic reel-to-reel tape if it's an older recording) as a master for your vinyl LP. Regardless of the master, the LP will be less subject to distortion from high level (i.e. loud) signals.

As Jay Millar explains in his essay "Everything You Need to Know About Vinyl," putting a record on a turntable and listening to the music is much more of an event than clicking an MP3 file. A vinyl LP forces the listener to focus on the music just as a viewer pays more attention to a film in a movie theater than when watching it on an iPhone.

So, if you think creating an LP from a CD makes sense, the next step is to find a record pressing plant to manufacture your vinyl. They will take you step by step through the manufacturing process. A local pressing plant makes good sense so that you can oversee their work and can dispense with shipping costs. A quick Google search will help locate one in your area. Also, if you know someone else who used the plant, find out whether the plant did a good job. A good reference is a lot more valuable than getting the lowest price.