Re: (TV) (OT):Tech Q on optimally converting vinyl to digital

[Phil Obbard <pobbard@yahoo.com>]

Hi Leo,

It's been a few years since I ripped vinyl to my PC, but I did this method 
essentially:

"Q:  Would I get better digital audio-quality if I have my turnable connected to 
my amplifier
(also a good one with a phono inputs) and connected the amplifier's stereo 
Tape-Monitor-Outs to
my PC's Line-In jack  using a Y-shaped audio patch cable with 3.5mm (1/8") mini 
stereo plug?"

By "Y-shaped audio patch cable", I had an RCA to 1/8" jack converter that I 
plugged into my soundcard on my PC. The RCA cables were plugged into the Tape 
"outs" on my amplifier, which kept the volume on the amplifier from playing any 
excessive "pre-amp" type role in my recording.

I know there are all sorts of sound cards out there, but I think a basic one is 
just fine. The much bigger variables in terms of sound are the quality of your 
stylus (and amplifier, if it presents any sort of hum/technical background/etc) 
and quality of the vinyl. I've never used one of those USB converters, but I 
doubt they present any better audio than your amplifier. 


Finally, on my PC I used "CD Wave", a simple piece of shareware that captured 
the entire recording to a single file, and then let me carefully set (and 
create) track splits in the appropriate places. 


Have fun!

--Phil




________________________________
From: Leo Casey <LeoCasey@comcast.net>
To: tv@obbard.com
Sent: Tue, March 1, 2011 5:13:38 PM
Subject: (TV) (OT):Tech Q on optimally converting vinyl to digital 

Sent this to Television-Group List , but not sure many people read it anymore.

I have a very good Thorens turntable from several yrs ago, so I do not want to 
buy another with
USB to convert some rare & pristine vinyl LPs to digital (lossless, not mp3) 
files.  I also
already have the needed Audacity software.

Q:  Would I get better digital audio-quality if I have my turnable connected to 
my amplifier
(also a good one with a phono inputs) and connected the amplifier's stereo 
Tape-Monitor-Outs to
my PC's Line-In jack  using a Y-shaped audio patch cable with 3.5mm (1/8") mini 
stereo plug?

Or would I get better digital audio-quality by buying an analog-to-digital USB 
interface for
about $35 (just an example, an Alesis Phonolink Convert Vinyl/Tape To Digital 
[3698]) and put
it between the amplifier's Tape-Monitor-Outs and my PC?

Or is there a 3rd alternative?

Important fact:  PC is a 2005 Dell (Dimension 2400 series) with Pentium 4 
processor, but
obviously with a circa 2005 internal soundcard.
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