deniall Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Hey guys. I want to create FLAC versions of some of my records and i'm just wondering what I need to buy to do this. My turntable doesn't have a USB and neither does my phono stage or integrated amplifier. Some product suggestions would be great too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheekyboy Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Hi deniall, I've done a little bit of this and there are others here with a lot more knowledge than me, but wouldn't a direct rip/copy to your computer be lossless anyway? Maybe these rip programs apply some form of audio codec or compression............don't know? Cheers, Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggieHowser Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Depends on how much your budget is and what quality you intend to record to. There are 2 components to it. Software - something like Pure Vinyl can work http://www.channld.com/purevinyl/ PV can also apply RIAA EQ or other types of EQ if you feed it a plain (un-EQed) signal from the vinyl. Amarra also was working on something similar IIRC Hardware - you need an ADC converter. The built in one to your computer can work but probably isn't the highest in fidelity. Next step up is something from Creative which does up to 24/96 resolution http://au.store.creative.com/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-digital-music-premium-hd/1-19829.aspx If you really want to go the whole works.. there's always the new Ayre QA9 ADC which does 24/192 or the Benchmark ADC http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/adc/adc1-usb 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deniall Posted October 17, 2012 Author Share Posted October 17, 2012 (edited) Thanks for the reply. I guess what i'm asking is how do I connect my turntable to my computer and do I need a dedicated recording soundcard or something similar? I would like to record in 24/96 if possible. EDIT Didn't see answer above. Thanks! Edited October 17, 2012 by deniall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggieHowser Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 The hardware component is an external ADC that talks to the computer via a USB connection. You can connect the phono out from the TT or the line out from the phono amp to the RCA inputs of the hardware I linked to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LogicprObe Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 Pure Vinyl is great......................but he didn't say if he had a Mac or PC! Otherwise...........DH is on the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deniall Posted October 17, 2012 Author Share Posted October 17, 2012 Thanks guys. I went and got the Creative Sound Blaster thingy that DH suggested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surprisetech Posted October 17, 2012 Share Posted October 17, 2012 (edited) Hardware - you need an ADC converter. The built in one to your computer can work but probably isn't the highest in fidelity. Hardware should definitely be an external ADC, or high-end Sound Card with shielding on the Analogue sections. The problem with using the ADC in the computer or a regular sound card is that by the time your analogue input signal gets to the ADC chip it has already had noise added from the computer which can be quite significant. I've been digitizing cassettes using an external USB Pre-amp as my ADC, and the difference is chalk and cheese when compared to early attempts using the PCs internal sound card. Edited October 17, 2012 by surprisetech Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hired goon Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) I used to use a stereo RCA to 3.5mm adapter to connect the pre-outs of my ME15 preamp to the microphone input of my laptop, and capture the audio using Audacity (freeware). This would capture a single side as one big wave file, which I then converted to a FLAC file. Sometimes I would split up the side into individual tracks, but that can be done afterwards; the most important step was getting a playable audio file. Though not ideal (see points above on an external analog-to-digital converter) the resulting FLAC files still sound pretty good to my ears. I assume the OP can do something similar to begin the process of getting vinyl rips, and get more hardware as time and money allows. There's no harm in getting a quick-n-dirty backup before trying for the perfect rip. Which reminds me that I really need to get my vinyl rig setup, get some nice audio hardware and start ripping again ... --Geoff Edited October 18, 2012 by hired goon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hired goon Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I've been digitizing cassettes using an external USB Pre-amp as my ADC, and the difference is chalk and cheese when compared to early attempts using the PCs internal sound card. What are you using as an ADC? I was looking at the Creative jobby mentioned above but I'm wondering if there's something better but still within my meagre budget (the Ayre and Benchmark mentioned above are way above my limit). I like the idea of a phone line-in on the Creative sound card but I'm guessing that the output of my pre-amp would be better. And I'm also curious if it's possible to get a USB output that does 24/192 output (if that matters). --Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocky500 Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) I have used Vinylstudio in the past. Very good software and not too pricey. Mac or PC. http://www.alpinesoft.co.uk/ Edited October 18, 2012 by rocky500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffcb Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) I think we might have covered this before? I physically connect my turntable and phono preamp to my Asus Soanar Essence STX sound card input (uses Cirrus Logic A-D) and still use Goldwave, usually 96kHz/24 bit mode. After editing, I use Declick (and sometimes Denoise) only as much as I need to, then usually save as a wav file. I can then use dBPowerAmp converter to convert to FLAC or whatever I need. Declick is an Aussie program and is really effective. Quite time consuming, but very impressive results can be obtained. G Edited October 18, 2012 by Geoffcb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surprisetech Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) What are you using as an ADC? I was looking at the Creative jobby mentioned above but I'm wondering if there's something better but still within my meagre budget (the Ayre and Benchmark mentioned above are way above my limit). I like the idea of a phone line-in on the Creative sound card but I'm guessing that the output of my pre-amp would be better. And I'm also curious if it's possible to get a USB output that does 24/192 output (if that matters). --Geoff Hi Geoff, I got the ART Dual Pre when it was on sale at Music123. (They only seem to have the Tube version at present) I got this type of product because for me it serves an extra purpose on the modest mixer in my PA system. I use it to turn 2 of the Line Inputs into Mic Inputs when I need them. http://artproaudio.c...sb_dual_pre_ps/ It only does 16bit/44.1kHz. For the dynamic range and freq response of cassettes, that's more than enough. I don't have any plans to digitize my vinyl apart from individual tracks that I occasionally add to my party collection, and 16/44.1 is fine for that purpose!! The only other issue I've had is that while it has a wide input gain adjustment range, the fixed output on my NAD cassette deck overdrives it. My Yamaha deck has variable line out, so that's what I'm using. Not really a problem for me as both are great quality decks. The M-Audio Fast Track MKII USB Audio Interface is similar at US$120. The M-Audio MobilePre mk II at US$150 is a bit more versatile having dedicated line inputs. Both do 24bit/48kHz so probably better for vinyl. The Creative looks pretty good for the price. If you have a trawl through here you'll find a few more. http://www.music123....udio-interfaces Cheers, Don Edited October 18, 2012 by surprisetech Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quelch Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Hey guys. I want to create FLAC versions of some of my records and i'm just wondering what I need to buy to do this. My turntable doesn't have a USB and neither does my phono stage or integrated amplifier. Some product suggestions would be great too. You are about to commence on a demanding, time consuming and fairly expensive project May I suggest, to minimise the demands on your time, you search on-line to find as many of the recordings you wish to convert as possible Based on the premise that there is no point in reinventing the wheel ! This mayn't save you money but would save a lot of time The proviso being that you would need to be happy with the level of recording quality available, CD quality I have recordings of the Australian singer Jeanie Lewis, whom I saw in concert as a young fella, I couldn't find digital versions of these recordings But all my vinyl Eric Clapton recordings have digital versions available, not having to convert these vinyl recordings saved me an enormous amount of time ! Checking through my vinyl collection I realised that, as my tastes in music had changed over the years, there were only a small percentage that I want to convert to digital after all ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aechmea Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Nothing new to add that hasn't already been said. I used TT (Technics, SME, Grace) --> ME25 Pre-amp --> Roland Edirol UA-25EX (24/96) ADC digitizer (amongst other things) --> USB --> Various Macs --> Audacity --> Declicked --> WAV files, one side at a time Gave up after about 20 LPs. Too time consuming and the result was vastly inferior to CD - and thats saying something considering I have cloth ears. These days I just buy a cheap CD from eBay or Amazon of titles that I am still a bit interested in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffcb Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Gave up after about 20 LPs. Too time consuming and the result was vastly inferior to CD - and thats saying something considering I have cloth ears. These days I just buy a cheap CD from eBay or Amazon of titles that I am still a bit interested in. I agree about it being time consuming - I haven't done any for about a year - but my efforts were superior to CD. G Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerScent Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Im thinking of doing this, but in the context of creating 4 channels, ie: quadraphonic, by isolating instruments..... ...anyone done this to date? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surprisetech Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 Im thinking of doing this, but in the context of creating 4 channels, ie: quadraphonic, by isolating instruments..... ...anyone done this to date? Is the plan to create 4 channel rips from Quadrophonic vinyl source material, or from Stereo vinyl? The former wouldn't be too difficult with the right hardware and software, but I imagine the latter would present some serious challenges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD19 Posted November 1, 2012 Share Posted November 1, 2012 I recently bought a Behringer UCA222 from Belfield Music for AU$39.99 ... works fine. Bought it on the recommendation of posters at some of the computer audio sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggieHowser Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 (fairly) hot off the press http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/486-guide-converting-analog-vinyl-digital-files-using-windows/ Hope this helps. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
at68 Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Just curious..why do you want to do it? Its time consuming has questionable quality and you cant read the album cover. I just listen to vinyl straight and leave the computer for my son... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggieHowser Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 I haven't done it before but there are some possible reasons: - a well ripped record sounds better than a CD - most records "wear" with each time you play it back - convenience with a music server - downsample for music on the go/car etc without purchasing a (inferior) CD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
at68 Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Fair enough, those were my considerations a few years back when I had the internal debate. If I wore the record out I would buy another. My car music is usually talkback, sport, or smooth fm A music server is another expense that I would rather use to fund my hi fi hobby... so I decided against the whole thing and dont regret it... Horses for courses I guess. Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoggieHowser Posted November 2, 2012 Share Posted November 2, 2012 Buy another? Try finding a mint condition of Belafonte Live In Carnegie today without breaking the bank! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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