Using Audacity 2.4.2 / Windows 10
I’m attempting to add a turntable (Sony PS-LX300USB w/ pre-amp) to my entertainment center for the purpose of digitizing (sp?) a collection of vinyl LP’s. I have a Marantz SR-5012 receiver the receiver does not have a dedicated phono connection, a windows 10 PC and some other peripherals. I have connected the turntable with the PC via USB; The instructions for the other connections are confusing. The turntable has a USB type 2 jack (connected to my pc via a USB Type A port). The turntable also has a dedicated dual RCA male cable. I know that I need to switch (via toggle) from “phone” to “Line”. I’m not able to determine how to connect the dedicated RCA cable. Do I employ an adaptor from the dual RCA o a 3.5mm mini plug and plug it into my pc’s “line in”; or do I somehow connect it to my receiver? my receiver is connected to my network wirelessly. My other peripherals are networked via HDMI via my router.
I hope that I’ve not been too confusing. Mike
Since your turntable has USB (and a preamp) you don’t need the receiver to digitize (record digitally). Just select the USB device as your [u]Recording Device[/u].
The only time you’d need a receiver is if you wanted to use it’s built-in phono preamp (which most modern receivers don’t have).
Do I employ an adaptor from the dual RCA o a 3.5mm mini plug and plug it into my pc’s “line in”
That would also work as long as have a computer with line-in. (Most laptops only have mono mic-in and headphone-out.) If you’re receiver has “tape out” or “record out”, you can connect that to line-in on your soundcard. The USB port might be better. Some soundcards are a little noisy.
Any analog input on your receiver is line-line level if you want to use the turntable with your stereo system.
After digitizing you might want to use a specialized pop & click remover such as [u]Wave Corrector[/u] (free). I’ve also use Wave Repair ($30 USD). Wave Repair is not automatic so it’s VERY time consuming but it only “touches” the audio where you identify a defect.
…There are some [u]Audacity Tutorials[/u] about digitizing records & tapes.
Am I given to understand that, if I want to record my vinyl LPs on to my computer, I need only the USB connection between the turntable and my computer? I would not need to connect the dual RCA cable from the turntable to the receiver or the computer?
Mike, hi.
There are two ways to get to the point:
Either an external ADC (Analog-to-Digital convertor) + USB 2.0 cabling to your PC for proper and immediate digitization
or provided that you try to hook-up A-A (analog-to-analog) cabling (RCA-3.5mm jack) from your receiver which should have converted A-D and re-converted D-A for you.
The latter is a weird thing, when you employ 2 ways of conversion in order to get analog signals for digitization (via your PC in-built sound blaster) in WAVE.
Am I given to understand that, if I want to record my vinyl LPs on to my computer, I need only the USB connection between the turntable and my computer? I would not need to connect the dual RCA cable from the turntable to the receiver or the computer?
Correct. The turntable essentially has a built-in soundcard, except it’s only analog-to-digital with no digital-to-analog.
Updated:
DVDdoug
Re: @Since your turntable has USB (and a preamp) you don’t need the receiver to digitize (record digitally). Just select the USB device as your Recording Device.@ I searched the internet for the Sony PS-LX300USB manual (2008).
It does have but audio signals can be digitized only in lossy LAME (mp3), a sampling rate of 44.1kHz/48kHz and bit rate of nearly 320kbit.
No WAVE and CD-quality as Redbook (16 bit 44.1kHz) is supported by the integrated ADC. Alas.
Only an external ADC would provide conventional lossless quality of WAVE (PCM).
If you are not already using them, you could connect the turntable RCA outputs to the “Front Left / Right” inputs of your amp (marked “12” in the
SR5012 manual). That would allow you to listen directly to the turntable while it is playing (the turntable should be switched to “Line” output).
For recording you only need the USB connection from the turntable to the computer. Note that the turntable should be connected to the computer before you launch Audacity. You should then see it listed as an available recording device in the Device Toolbar.
That is not correct. The manual says “USB output for quick, easy vinyl-to-MP3 conversion”, but equally you can use the USB output for recording in any format, including PCM.