Vinyl to digital

[mykllynyrd]

The thread about unbalanced to balanced boxes and Audioboy's link to the matchbox (http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=MATCHBOXHD) got me thinking about my old records.

What's the best way to transfer from vinyl to digital?

It looks like the matchbox in unbalanced in and line level balanced out, so I'm thinking: from turntable to match box to DA interface to software of choice (Logic, Audacity, PT, etc.)

I'm no record Jedi, but I know you guys are. In my travels I've seen the DIY projects to build the better turntable preamp and I thought there were specific EQ curves (RIAA? I think) and other black magic for getting the best out of those black disc.

Will I need a preamp? Would a better way to go be to use my Bryston preamp (now that I'm typing all this out, it seems like it might be doing the same thing as the matchbox as far as impedance matching)

Thanks,

[iqi616]

I have a standalone RIAA preamp but I found I got better performance just plugging the turntable into my stereo receiver. Then simple unbalanced cable to the converters but quite often via some EQ. I'm not too proud to fix other folks' work to benefit my listening enjoyment.

[otek]

The turntable itself is probably the most important thing.

I actually did some transfers back in the day on a Rockport Sirius (http://www.stereophile.com/tonearms/258/) :D and it sounded very good indeed.

Ok, so I'm not suggestion you should get one. The above link was provided for entertainment purposes.

But the turntable and cartridge are the biggest considerations. Make sure the records are as clean and dust-free as you can get them.

A good RIAA amp (if you have an old 70's hifi amp in good condition, chances are the RIAA preamp is of pretty high quality.


otek

[radeng9805]

What's the best way to transfer from vinyl to digital?

Get a hold of the best turntable, cartridge, and phono pre-amp, run into your recorder of choice.

It looks like the matchbox in unbalanced in and line level balanced out, so I'm thinking: from turntable to match box to DA interface to software of choice (Logic, Audacity, PT, etc.)

Turntable to Matchbox won't work without a phono pre in the middle.

I'm no record Jedi, but I know you guys are. In my travels I've seen the DIY projects to build the better turntable preamp and I thought there were specific EQ curves (RIAA? I think) and other black magic for getting the best out of those black disc.

The specific EQ curve thing is mostly for mono records of the early to mid 50's. RIAA was only one of a number of standards at the time. Some gear from that era had multiple settings for the phono stage.

Will I need a preamp? Would a better way to go be to use my Bryston preamp (now that I'm typing all this out, it seems like it might be doing the same thing as the matchbox as far as impedance matching)

If you have a Bryston with a phono section, you are good to go.

[Audioboy]

If you have a Bryston with a phono section, you are good to go.


My turn to agree with radeng9805 :)

There are all kinds of boxes out there to allow getting the turntable directly into your PC. The last wave I remember seeing involved USB devices that had the RIAA curve preamp. I havent used one, but I suspect the quality of these beasties isnt that high.

No need for any of that, since you already have a quality preamp.

[mykllynyrd]

Excellent, thanks guys!

I'll head over to the pawnshop and see if they have a Rockport lying around :grin:

So if looks like clean/dust, turntable to bryston to interface.

:Thumbsup:

[Bob Olhsson]

The RCA New Orthophonic curve was actually adopted as the RIAA curve. Everything ever released on a 45, everything on RCA and virtually everything released by anybody else after around 1954 including all stereo records use the RIAA curve.