hi gang
this might be a very academic question but how do u install a phono preamp between the computer and amp or between the amp and the turntable?thanks.
lenny
Normally a phono preamp will have two pair of RCA sockets - one for input and t’other for output. Both are colour coded red and white to identify the stereo, normally white for left and red for right.
To connect the TT - you should have a lead coming out with three wires - two thicker ones with RCA plugs on the end colour coded red and white - plug these into the input side of the phono pre-amp. The third wire is much thinner and is provided to earth your TT - the preamp should have an earthing post to connect this to - without this you are likely to get mains hum on your recording.
To Connect to the computer you will need a Y cable which has two RCA plugs on one end and a stereo 3.5mm TRS mini-jack on t’other end. Plug the RCA leads inthe output side of the pre-amp and plug the minijack into the Line in (NOT the Mic input). If you are on a laptop you may not have a line-in in which case you will need to cosider an external USB/firewire soundcard which would be plugged between the pre-amp and the computer (this is how my setup works).
WC
hi
where do u connect the earthing port to and from?
lenny
The earthin wire is normally a thin black wire - if supplied it should be permanently connected inside your TT - the free end normally hsa a flat spade connector (U-shaped). There should be a metal screw-threaded post on your pre-amp with normally a knurled nut on top. Attach the spade connector to this post with the knurled nut.
WC
ok
so just to make sure everythings ok…the regular amp isn’t involved anymore. You plug the turntable out wires into the input of the preamp and forget about using the regular amp all together right?
lenny
absolutely - should work fine like that.
WC
cool
thanks
lenny
hi
its working so far very well…do u use the same preamp for boosting the power from a cassette deck into the computer?i never did before just connected it to mt computer
right from the deck but will the preamp help the volume with tape decks?
lenny
No. A Phono Preamplifier corrects for vinyl distortion. If you connect anything else, the show will sound seriously weird.
Koz
hay koz
o ok thanks…
lenny
hi guys
now an update…the preamp doent always amplifly lps or 78s then im forced to use the amplifly option in audicity to fix it.i red the instructions about how to connect the
preamp and it said that i have to connect it to the regular amp besides the new preamp.when i did this i got alot of distortion as i played the 78.any suggestions would help.
lenny
<<>>
That’s probably correct. I bought a Phono Preamp with a volume control on the front.
http://www.phonopreamps.com/tc750lcpp.html
If I didn’t do that, then I would have needed to adjust the volume of each record in the Windows Control Panel. Or set one low level and apply Amplify in post production.
Somebody has to adjust levels somewhere. Records are processed, but they still have volume variation.
You also have to not fall in love with the modern idea that all audio has to peak at exactly 0 on the green playback meter. You can have up to 6dB variation before anybody notices anything different. Records are never going to come out exact plus, pops and clicks on the record mess up many of the auto volume tools.
Audacity 1.3 has the ClipFix tool that can do a good job of getting rid of those.
Koz
hi koz
ok i just learned that i dont need a preamp as my reciever already has it…but i still cant get any higher than the 0.5 mark on the wave editor…could this be aq soundcard problem?
lenny
That almost always happens when you plug into the Low Level Microphone Input (Mic-In) of your sound card instead of the High Level Line-In. And it distorts and crunches, right?
Koz
hi
well there is only one input on this card and its used for both mike and everything else…
lenny
That usually means it has a driver or other software package to switch between the different services. This is not crazy-talk. There are soundcards that do this pretty well. If there is no sound management or other driver package, then you have a microphone input and you can’t easily do what you want with the existing hardware.
So you can add (buy) hardware.
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/sound-card-reviews/8375/1
Microphone level and Line level are very different. You can’t make one box that will handle both without some fuss. For no other good reason, Microphone connections are usually Mono and Line is Stereo.
I keep trying to generate a good real-world concept example. If Line Level was the electrical power in the neighborhood power lines over your house, then Microphone Level would be the size of a flashlight battery. The two voltages are reeeeely different and the same equipment will not manage both.
Koz
hi koz
so your saying i need another soundcard?that i cant do what i want to do with this card?when i used the on board soundcard i had no problems and there were only one line in
for microphone and everything else…how can u explain this?
lenny
hi
if i can find a 24 or 16 soundcard with 2 seperate holes for mike and the other for line in ill be able to do what i want to do?
lenny
<<<i cant do what i want to do with this card?>>>
Wait. What card? I read over the posts and you only tell us about a separate phono preamplifier, a phono preamplifier built into your bigger music amplifier, and a Mystery Hole in the side of your computer.
Yes, if you can’t get the Mystery Hole to do what you want, then a USB sound card with better connections may be the ticket.
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/sound-card-reviews/8375/1
Koz
ok let me catch u up …i HAD an encore soundcard but it wasnt the rite bits…it was a 32 bit.so i bought a soundblaster 24 bit which is what i have now.my amp has a preamp built into it so i dont need a preamp.so im going into new york city to get a a 2 input soundcard.
lenny