Sound from LP's

[iluvdanes88]

I just found a bunch of my old albums and before I find another home for them I want to record them to my computer. I purchased a AT-LP 120-USB Direct Drive USB and Analog Audio-technica turntable. The software that came with it is Adacity USB Recording & Sound Editing, 1.2.6 1.3.13(Beta) which was easy to install and get to work. The problem is the quality does not sound as good as songs I've downloaded from the Internet or from my store bought CD's. I know the quality is going to be better from the Internet but I didn't think there'd be that much of a difference. I recorded with a USB connection and read that does not record with as much quality as other connections. There is an RCA red & white cable to use but unfortunately my computer is not able to use an RCA connection. It's mother board was not set up to accept the card so I can even add it. I thought about buying a USB to RCA adapter but I'm not sure if that would be the same as using the USB cable; quality wise. My question is, does anyone know if it really does make a difference with what connection you use when recording to your computer and if so do you have any other suggestions of what to use besides an RCA. Thanks. Oops, the thing I wanted to mention is, listening to a Beatles song, I could here the vocal and some instruments but in the back ground you could hear other guitars playing but very hard to hear. It was like something was out of balance but not on all songs.

[steve]

Audacity 1.2.6 is obsolete. I would recommend uninstalling it and upgrading to the current Audacity 2.0.2 which you can get here: http://audacityteam.org/download/

You should be able to get reasonable quality through the USB connection.
You may find this article useful for achieving better quality: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/sa ... ation.html

[iluvdanes88]

Thanks Steve I'll try that. I've also been incontact with Audio=techinica and the guy there asked me to send him a short portion of something I just recorded. It's just like I told him, the last time I listen to these albums I was in high school with Fred Flintsone so it may just be, what I've recorded is going to be as good as it gets. Thanks again for you help, I'll upgrade software right now and see if that helps.

[steve]

The red and white RCA connectors are intended for connecting to a hi-fi amp. If you have a hi-fi that you can connect the turntable to, that will let you hear what the records sound like straight off the turntable without any USB involvement.

If you could send a short recording extract to us as well, we may have some ideas about improving the recordings. See here for how to send an audio sample to the forum: http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 49&t=64936

[iluvdanes88]

Hello, Here's a few seconds of the Beatles album Help. It sounds like it's in a tunnel and if you listen, there's instruments in the back ground but very faint.

[DVDdoug]

The link is missing (or I can't see it on my computer for some reason), but I'm at work right now and I can't listen anyway....

It sounds like it's in a tunnel and if you listen, there's instruments in the back ground but very faint.

There are ways to miswire the analog-side to get something like a "center channel removal" or "vocal removal" effect. If that's the case, the defect is inside the turntable.

There is an RCA red & white cable to use but unfortunately my computer is not able to use an RCA connection.

If it's a defect, the RCA outputs may also be bad, or not... If you don't have a hi-fi with RCA inputs (you can use "Tape-in" or "Aux in") to test it, your TV may have RCA audio inputs. That particular turntable has a built-in phono preamp. If you have a desktop, you can use a simple adapter and plug-into your soundcard's line-in. (Laptops usually only have mic-in, which is usually too sensitive and too noisy.)

I thought about buying a USB to RCA adapter but I'm not sure if that would be the same as using the USB cable

In theory, it should be about the same, assuming no funny defects, depending on the quality of the turntable's internal soundcard, and the quality of the other soundcard/interface. The most economical audio interface with line inputs is probably the Beringer UCA202. (Most regular "USB soundcards" only have one mic-input and one headphone output, like a laptop.)



But my real advice is always... Buy the CD!!!! (If it's available.) A lot of audiophiles love the sound of analog vinyl... But most people prefer the lower distortion, lower noise, and better frequency response of a CD (or MP3). Whenever I can't get the CD (or MP3), I spend a LOT of time "manually" repairing the "snap, crackle, and pop" with a program called Wave Repair.

[iluvdanes88]

Thanks again. I know about the quality of CD's, I just want to keep the music I already have without having to keep the albums. They take up a lot of room and I like the convenience of everything on the computer. I did the same thing with all my CD's and VHS tapes to make room on my shelves for other things. Thanks again for you help.

[arthurb]

Hello iluvdanes88. I have recently restarted the process of digitising as much of my vinyl collection (around 1000 LPs) as I can, and it is a time-consuming and somewhat tedious process. However, with the right equipment, the results can be excellent; if the LPs are in good condition you can get sound that is as good as CD. The real issue will be the cartridge that you are using, and perhaps the quality of the encoders (ADCs) in the unit. Provided that those things are of reasonable quality, and that you record to Wave files at 44.1KHz/16bit, you may be surprised at the quality possible; several of my friends have been shocked to find that the 'high quality CD' that they were listening to was actually recorded from LP by me.

In short, it is worth persevering, especially if the LPs are clean, and if your results are very poor then something in the set-up is probably wrong.

[waxcylinder]

But my real advice is always... Buy the CD!!!! (If it's available.) A lot of audiophiles love the sound of analog vinyl... But most people prefer the lower distortion, lower noise, and better frequency response of a CD (or MP3). Whenever I can't get the CD (or MP3), I spend a LOT of time "manually" repairing the "snap, crackle, and pop" with a program called Wave Repair.

I totally agtree with Doug here.

When I converted my LP collection I went out and bought the CD (provided it was not ridiculously priced). It saved time and usually gave better results. There wre a couple of exceptions where the CD had been "improved" by re-mastering and ruined in the process by compression and other tricks used in the "loudness wars".

IMO a good example is the latest release of the Beatles CDs - I personally much prefer the original '97 CD isue compared with the 2009 set which has stupid and unnecessary faux-stereo added to the original mono albums - urgh ....

WC