Mad Professor

I'm looking for a device I can record audio in MP3 or AAC format from an analogue source using a standard two-pin phono connection (from the tape-out on my amplifier), so I can make digital copies of audio cassettes, vinyl etc onto one box. Also to be able to play these back through my hi-fi and to connect it to my computer to copy the files into iTunes (though not necessarily at the same time).

I don't need to have one with a cd or dvd recorder built in and I'd quite like it not to cost too much.

I've seen this, but I'm not sure that it actually does what I want it to:

http://www.mobymemory.com/products/DANE-ELEC/DANE-...

Anyone any ideas?

Thanks...

Is it just me who's saddened by Cadbury's take over by Kraft? We've now lost what is arguably the most iconic chocolate brand in the world.

Nestlé ruined Rowntree when they tool them over and Kraft have already all but destroyed the Terry's brand (apart from Chocolate Orange, and they're not as good as they used to be).

I love Carbury's chocolate, but will kiss good bye to Crunchies, boycott Buttons and diss Dairy Milk from now on.

What do you think? Do you care?

When I import a cd into iTunes it never gets any artwork for it, even though it gets all the track names etc.

I've been using iTunes for years, always keeping up with the latest version and never had a problem with artwork. Some months ago it just stopped getting artwork for cds I import. This may have happened when I got a new version of iTunes, but I don't remember.

If I buy anything from the iTunes store (which isn't often - I'm old fashioned and like to own the cd proper), the artwork appears okay.

I'm getting fed up of cutting and pasting the album art in, so can anyone help, please?

I recently bought a new iMac, complete with Leopard (currently on 10.5.8). Typically it's a few weeks too old to qualify for the £7.99 Snow Leopard offer on the Apple site.

As far as I can see there's only a few slight tweaks difference. Is it worth forking out £25 for Snow Leopard, or should I sit tight and wait for 10.7? (Plus I'm a bit skint at the moment)

BTW, anyone fancy guessing which big cat the next release will be named after? Ocelot, perhaps?

I have an iMac running the latest version of OS X and a good quality hi-fi with headphone and tape out sockets. I can connect either of these to the audio-in on the Mac, but do not have the software to convert it (and possibly clean up the surface noise on the records).

Anyone suggest the best software to convert the audio to MP3 (or AAC) and whether it is better to use the tape out or headphone sockets on the amplifier?

Please don't suggest a USB turntable, because they are rubbish quality and I want to get the best possible digital audio from my records.

Ta.

My p u s s y misses Mollie.

(Tried this earlier, but Yahoo won't let me have '*****')

My p u s s y missed Mollie.

(Tried this earlier, but Yahoo won't let me have '*****')

I'm going on a 10 day holiday to China in July and need to get my visa sorted out. I don't live in London and don't want to make a special trip to go to the Chinese Embassy.

Can anyone recommend an on-line visa service (eg www.chinesevisadirect.co.uk) or do any high street travel agents have the same service?

Any advice is greatly appreciated - thanks!

I've just got one of the new 4th gen iPod Nanos and the volume is very low compared to my previous (1st gen) Nano. Is there a cap on the volume and, is there is, can it be removed? (I've tried goPod, but it does not recognise the new Nano).

I don't want to artificially boost the volume (as you can in iTunes), I just want to know if there is a volume cap on the new Nano and, if so, how to remove it.

PS - I'm using the same headphones on both, Sennheiser CX300. Maybe there is a better (not too expensive) set I can get?

Firstly there's a run on the shares of a perfectly sound financial institution devaluing it enormously, then another bank kindly steps in to buy it out at a ludicrously low price to create a 'superbank'.

The resulting institution is so large that, if it wasn't for the current financial panic, the takeover would not be allowed by the Monopolies Commission. Instead it is positively endorsed by Parliament.

I may be an old cynic, but I expect there are some fat cats getting even fatter because of this. And what will happen after the current panic is over and more than a third of the mortage market is controlled by one institution?

Andrew Lloyd Webber says people are too PC.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/itn/20080909/ten-lloyd-we...

Does that mean he won't mind me calling him a hideous little troll who churns out crap musicals?

Well, one of mine died yesterday, so now's your chance.

He was almost 18 so had had a good, long life.

I quite like Turkey's. At least it's a not a ghastly disco job or a dreadful wailing gut-churner.

This time I think Batman would win, but what about you?

My mate thinks Batman could take a dalek. I reckon he'd have no chance.

What do you think?

I recently got a Sony Ericsson K770i mobile on Vodafone. The phone has come pre-loaded with some demo games and applications which I want to delete but can't.

They are listed with a key symbol to the left of the file icon and when I try to erase them the message 'File protected cannot be deleted' appears.

I'd really like to delete these - can anyone help?

Has anyone done the purple coin challenge in the Toy Time galaxy?

I have 119 stars in Mario Galaxy, but just can't get this last one. Must have tried hundreds of times but I always end up sliding off a rotating square, falling down a hole or stuck in the goo.

Can anyone offer any hints please? Best route through the level, which of the barely possible long jumps I can skip, that kind of stuff.

Thanks, and happy 2008 to all.

Al Fayed openly claims that Prince Philip organised the deaths of Diana and his son, yet the Royal Family say nothing.

Regardless of what you believe happened, do you think that anyone should be able to accuse a member of the Royal Family of murder and for this not to be challenged? Are the Royals right not to say anything about this.

Even if al Fayed's claim is true, is there really any chance that a British court will uncover it? Surely, if the Royal Family have the power to commit murder at will, they can easily silence any court.

Isn't it about time al Fayed shut his moaning trap and got on with his life?

I have a G4 iMac running OS 10.4.10.

Tried the supplied Disk Utility program and when I tried to verify my start-up disk it just hangs for a few minutes and the the computer locks up completely and can only be freed by switching off.

I tried booting from the Tiger DVD but that only gives the option to re-install 10.4. I could'nt even re-install as the process hangs when it gets to the verify target disk stage.

My machine seems to work fine, but it's a little worrying that the disk won't verify.

Any knowledgeable Mac-type bods out there who can help?

Thanks.

Using the Explorer Kit in Pokémon Diamond / Peal leads to an underground maze where I wander around aimlessly. Occasionally there's someone to talk to, but they always ask me to trade Spheres or something else I don't have.

Can anyone tell me what's supposed to happen there and where do I get stuff to trade? Thanks!