Bob Blank produces music for TV shows and movies. People also have him transfer their old record albums onto CDs and MP3 players.

Blank says a lot of people really like the sound of vinyl. "Sometimes the clicks and the pops and the scratch at the end of side one has a significance," he said, "and they say, 'Leave it in.'"

There are several ways to convert old music to a digital format - whether albums or cassettes, but be aware: it's time consuming. Consumer Reports' Rich Hammond says 40 hours of music takes at least 40 hours to transfer.

"In some cases that 40 hours includes you having to monitor the transfer and mark the end of each song to create the separate tracks on your CD," Hammond said.

Consumer Reports says using your computer is one option for transferring music to CDs or an MP3 player, but you'll have to master the computer software, so this option is best for the tech-savvy.

Another option is using a CD player-recorder. It's the easiest way to transfer old tunes. You'll need a good turntable or cassette player because the sound quality is only as good as the playback equipment you use.

Consumer Reports recommends the Sony RCD-W500C. It costs about $300.

If you only have a few records or cassettes, Consumer Reports says you're better off using a service. Expect to pay $6 to $12 per album or cassette.

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