Vinyl to CD - RIAA equalization

[mrbjclrk]

Forum-
I have an iMac intel duo with Leopard 10.5.2, Audacity 1.3.3 Beta, and am using an iMic with an ONKYO turntable. I'm connecting the turntable directly to the input of the iMic, selecting the mic position, and plugging into a USB port, I'm not using a preamp. Could anyone offer an opinion or fact on whether the iMic or the Audacity SW has the compensation for the RIAA equalization curve? This is my first time trying to copy Vinyl to CD and it's an exciting venture. I've no problems coughing up the $$ for a small preamp if that's what it takes to handle the RIAA situation. Thanks in advance.

[waxcylinder]

You can apply RIAA equalisation in Audacity through the Effects menu, but only after recording.

However it is generally thought to be MUCH better to do the RIAA in hardware via a pre-amp prior to recording - rather than doing it in software.

From looking at the specs of the iMic on t'interweb it doesn't look as though the iMic does the RIAA - but you will need to read your manual carefully to ascertain whether it does or not.

My recommendation is to go for the pre-amp - there have been several posts and recommendations on the forum before, try Searching the forum. BTW there are better quality soundcards than the iMic out there: the Behringer UCA202 c. $35 or the Edirol UA-1EX c. $70 (has slightly more functionality) both get recommended a lot on the forum - I am using the Edirol very successfully for my vinyl conversion.

WC

[mrbjclrk]

Thanks WC. As a test, I transferred side 1 of the LP's for West Side Story to a CD-R and couldn't drive the signal input registers even to the halfway point. I need a preamp. I was using Spin Doctor and Toast 8. I'll check on your recommendations regarding preamps to see if they are available in the U.S.

[waxcylinder]

I need a preamp......

As you can see from a very recent post of mine on the "Recording Equipment" section of the forum, I thought late yesterday that I would need a new pre-amp (mine appeared to die yesterday) - so I posted a thread asking for recommendations - you might want to watch this thread and see what gets posted there: http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3114

WC

[kozikowski]

Phono Pramps are matched to the phono cartridge. The good ones, anyway. 47 K-Ohms input impedance with some number of picofarads shunt capacitance, etc. etc. If you plug a turntable into anything else, the RIAA curve will not be accurately subtracted from the music.

Everybody laughed when I told them Radio Shack still sells a phono-preamp, but I also bought Something Else that seems like a good deal and it's well made. I haven't had time to fire either one up yet, and I can't remember the name of the better one.

If I can be any more help, let me know.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Here it is. It seems to be well made and they post the specifications, so I can check them--which I will.

http://shop.vendio.com/alcoed/item/643147479/?s=1204457496

The version that I have features a volume control on the front and comes with good hand-packing--not a blister pack.

Here we go.

http://www.phonopreamps.com/tc750lcpp.html

Koz