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Topic: Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In (Read 7099 times) previous topic - next topic
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Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In

newbie post here, bear with me...so i have a new imac, and I believe all that it has is a Mic jack, in addition to FW and USB ports.  Im interested in doing some moderate to high quality vinyl/tape transfer.  Is there an optimal interface between audio equipment and computer that bypasses the Line IN such as a USB device?  Ive seen whats out there, but Im curious as to what the best option is.

Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In

Reply #1 –
The Pro-Ject Debut III Phono USB is a high quality record player which you can attach directly to the USB port.
If you want to record tape as well you'd have to find a similar tape player (with USB connector) or just buy an external soundcard with line-in support (the M-Audio Transit USB for example).
It baffels me that such a high priced computer as the iMac doesn't offer a line-in.

You have to convert from analogue to digital at some place. Wheter the record/tape player does this or your soundcard generally doesn't matter. Buying a decent audio interface with line-in support will offer the most flexibility as you can attach pretty much any old audio device to it, provided you have the right cables .

Blubb

Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In

Reply #2 –
Quote from: hödyr on
The Pro-Ject Debut III Phono USB is a high quality record player which you can attach directly to the USB port.


In your experience, is this an acceptable way to record?

Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In

Reply #3 –
Quote from: idiopathic on
Quote from: hödyr on
The Pro-Ject Debut III Phono USB is a high quality record player which you can attach directly to the USB port.


In your experience, is this an acceptable way to record?

  • Not for tape
  • If you already have a turntable then it would be more cost effective to get just a USB sound card

Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In

Reply #4 –
Apple's specs (at http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html ) say that the iMac has an audio line-in, combined with an optical input.

I know no more than this, but it might be worth experimenting with what's in the machine first, to see if it's satisfactory.

Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In

Reply #5 –
Quote from: DonP on
Quote from: idiopathic on
Quote from: hödyr on
The Pro-Ject Debut III Phono USB is a high quality record player which you can attach directly to the USB port.


In your experience, is this an acceptable way to record?

  • Not for tape
  • If you already have a turntable then it would be more cost effective to get just a USB sound card



Ill resist the urge to ask if you are sure that the turntable wont be acceptable for recording from cassette

i am looking for a decent turntable upgrade.  so if i got a pro-ject which ive actually been eyeing, would it be overkill to spring for an analog/digital converter like the transit, or is the output generated from the turntable itself equivalent?

Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In

Reply #7 –
that looks great.  do you have experience with it?  also, what is a goof tape player to use...i confess that i havent owned a tape player in a while, but there are some things that are cassette-only realeases that Id like to convert.

Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In

Reply #8 –
Quote from: idiopathic on
newbie post here, bear with me...so i have a new imac, and I believe all that it has is a Mic jack, in addition to FW and USB ports.  Im interested in doing some moderate to high quality vinyl/tape transfer.  Is there an optimal interface between audio equipment and computer that bypasses the Line IN such as a USB device?  Ive seen whats out there, but Im curious as to what the best option is.


There are a ton of USB audio interfaces, very many of which have sufficient quality for digitizing cassettes and LPs. The Behringer UCA 202 is a good, intexpensive one that I've used with good results. The UCA 222 is basdically the same hardware painted bright red, a different software package, and about $6 more.

Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Juha on
http://www.terratec.net/en/products/PhonoP...Vinyl_2064.html

For 90€ I would hope to find something with inputs and outputs, though I see the added value in it if OP doesn't already has a phono preamp (and it does have software, if it's any good).

I suppose it's pointless to say that 24/96 is overkill for vinyl or cassette since just about everything is capable of that these days.

Best option for recording vinyl/tape when you have no Line In

Reply #10 –
Quote
that looks great. do you have experience with it?


Yes, I have one. Nothing bad to say but as the ADC isn't very good.

Inside the box (camera: N95):

http://img9.imageshack.us/i/14032010458.jpg

A/D Converter: Cirrus Logic CS5341
Op-Amps: JRC NJM4580 and Natioonal Semiconductors LM833

I have not found information over input impedance. Maybe it's 47kohm as it's on Terratec's other audio devices capable for RIAA EQ.


Quote
For 90€ I would hope to find something with inputs and outputs, though I see the added value in it if OP doesn't already has a phono preamp (and it does have software, if it's any good).


ESI DuaFire is low budged (~100€) FW audio interface with Phono pre-amp onboard.

http://www.esi-audio.com/products/duafire/

A/D, D/A converter(s): AKM4626A
Phono input Impedance: 47k ohm, 200pF


Juha