Vinyl Dj's, record vinyl mixes to cd/mp3 Options

[clarky201]

I have been a bedroom dj for some time and being the wrong side of 30 need some help with how to record my vinyl mixes to cd/mp3. I have a G5 and need to know the best way to connect my turntables (direct from mixer or through separate amp?) and then how to record my mix (which program?). What is the easiest and quickest way to do this? Sorry if this is an obvious question but untill recently I was recording my mixes to cassette tape. Please help.

[don says mac]

don't apologize, we all have to start somewhere...

there are generally 3 ways to get sound into your computer:
1. built in sound input (i.e. microhone jack)
2. pci card (to be installed into your computer... see below...)
http://www.echoaudio.com/Products/PCI/MiaM...aMIDI/index.php
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Audi...e2496-main.html
3. usb/firewire interface (like a pci card, but is external from your mac, and plugs into your usb or firewire drive)..

i would recommend #2 since they are generally cheaper than a firewire, but rumour has it that apple is coming out with a firewire drive in the new year for around $150 USD... but for now, you can use the imic... this is cheaper and should do the trick for now...

once you get your sound 'into' your mac, use garageband, audacity, or (i think) final vinyl to record... final vinyl i believes comes with the imic or is free for download...

garageband has an 'export to itunes' option... this means that once your done recording, you click it and your set gets trasfered to itunes, from there you can link it to your ipod or burn a cd...

i'll try to help with anything else you need...
d.