[sclug] sclug Digest, Vol 97, Issue 10

Tue Oct 25 15:25:13 UTC 2011

All,

Thanks for the ideas. I'm now leaning towards taking the line-out from my
stereo amplifier and plugging it into the line-in on my soundcard, and
taking that for a spin. I'll save the files as wav or maybe flac (my music
player supports both) for least possible degredation. if my ears don't
protest after listening to an hour do so, I'll make do with that. if they do
protest I'll think again.

I'm assuming that the makers of the sound card (Soundblaster in this case)
adhered to the traditional definition of 'line', ie 0db = 770mV rms (or
thereabouts).

My deck is a Rega Planar III with an Ortofon cartridge, my amplifier is an
Armstrong, which in their day were pretty respectable mid-range kit so I
still feel that if I have a limitation in the proposed setup it's going to
be the A-D in the soundcard - but we'll see.

On 24 October 2011 13:00, <sclug-request at sclug.org.uk> wrote:

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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Re: Vinyl to digital (Matt Dainty)
>   2. Re: Vinyl to digital (Graham Swallow)
>   3. Re: Vinyl to digital (Alex Butcher)
>   4. Re: Vinyl to digital (Mike Mallett)
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Matt Dainty <matt at bodgit-n-scarper.com>
> To: sclug at sclug.org.uk
> Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:14:06 -0400
> Subject: Re: [sclug] Vinyl to digital
> * Alex Butcher <lug at assursys.co.uk> [2011-10-23 07:04:45]:
> >
> > >[Turntable] -> [amplifier phono input -> amplifier line output] ->
> > >[analogue-USB device] -> [USB port on Debian box] and hence to digital
> file
> > >for further processing by Audacity or whatever.
> >
> > I'd be amazed if any such gadget available at "modest" prices was capable
> of
> > meeting pro or "audiophile" quality.  I can't imagine a shared USB will
> help
> > with minimising jitter, either (unless the device includes a
> decently-sized
> > buffer).  They'll probably have the same ADCs as you'll find in
> bog-standard
> > consumer PCI and motherboard solutions, and probably won't have an
> > especially carefully-designed analogue side either.
> >
> > If you're intent on doing this, then you're probably best looking at
> devices
> > from the likes of M-Audio, RME and so on in order to obtain 24bit/96kHz
> > ADCs.  AFAIK, the fancier models also do the A2D in an outboard box to
> > reduce noise (and improve ergonomics).
>
> I've personally solved this by using a Pro-Ject Debut III turntable. It's
> basic in terms of functionality, doesn't look tacky, and just has a USB
> output in addtion to regular outputs and the computer just sees a USB sound
> device when it's connected. Job done.
>
> Matt
> --
> "I never deal with the common man. The common man has no spirituality.
> The common man thinks that Ganesha is Dennis the Menace's dog."
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Graham Swallow <lists at information-cascade.co.uk>
> To: sclug at sclug.org.uk
> Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 14:45:07 +0100
> Subject: Re: [sclug] Vinyl to digital
> The line out (banana plugs to tape drive) from your HiFi Stack,
> should perfectly match line-in on the computer, so you need a ?4 cable.
> I like this, but my brother felt it lacked quality, maybe the 'cd-bite'
> wasnt there.
>
> Then adjust the input level on audacity (switch that line on, other lines
> OFF)
> and record 20 minutes per side, then use audacity to trim and chop into
> tracks.
> Audacity does LAME, or you can halve the size, or set your own options,
> Personally I like:
>     lame -h --vbr-new -V 4 f.wav f.mp3.tmp
>
> Then edit the track names into a hardcoded python script that uses ID3.py
> (just the one file)
> http://id3-py.sourceforge.net/
> plus maybe move and rename the files into a
> subdirprep/audio/mp4_V4//artist/album/02_track_name.mp3
>
> I have a python script which does something smilar to grip,
> from CD to MP3 tree, but it has some bitrot, and hurried origins,
> http://www.gps.talktalk.net/LGPL/index1.html#mp3_hissy_fit
>
> Graham
>
> I am planning a Winter Project. I have in the attic a very good turntable
> > and cartridge and quite a reasonable collection of vinyl LPs from the 60s
> > to
> >
>  > Neil.
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Alex Butcher <lug at assursys.co.uk>
> To: Graham Swallow <lists at information-cascade.co.uk>
> Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:35:51 +0100 (BST)
> Subject: Re: [sclug] Vinyl to digital
> On Sun, 23 Oct 2011, Graham Swallow wrote:
>
>  The line out (banana plugs to tape drive) from your HiFi Stack,
>> should perfectly match line-in on the computer, so you need a ?4 cable.
>> I like this, but my brother felt it lacked quality, maybe the 'cd-bite'
>> wasnt there.
>>
>
> AFAIK, only cheaper turntables have line-level outputs. Better turntables
> will need a phono preamp (e.g.
> <http://www.maplin.co.uk/**stereo-phono-pre-amplifier-**28732<http://www.maplin.co.uk/stereo-phono-pre-amplifier-28732>>,
> or
> <http://www.richersounds.com/**products/accessories/phono-**pre-amps<http://www.richersounds.com/products/accessories/phono-pre-amps>>)
> to boost
> the output to line level and apply RIAA EQ.
>
>  Graham
>>
>
> Best Regards,
> Alex
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: "Mike Mallett" <mm-lists at ntlworld.com>
> To: "'Graham Swallow'" <lists at information-cascade.co.uk>, <
> sclug at sclug.org.uk>
> Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 20:42:48 +0100
> Subject: Re: [sclug] Vinyl to digital
> Have a look at the Griffin iMic http://store.griffintechnology.com/imic
> which is about ?20 and although this only mentions Windows and Mac OS X
> there's plenty of info on Linux support http://www.seehuhn.de/pages/imic
>
> This also claims to work direct with to the turntable without a preamp.
>
> If you live in or near Reading they sell these in the Apple store.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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