I want to start ripping all my vinyl to my computer so i can play them out on CD
I was wondering what was the optimal set up to get the best audio quality in the rip?

I currently have two technics with Ortofon Pro-S needles
my mixer is a Pioneer DJM600
I have a Mac with the factory standered sound card and ProTools Free and a PC with a SB Audigy and Sound Forge

I currently have my mixer connected to my PC with the RCA Master Out into the input on the PC via a Y-Cable
this is how i record my mixs onto the computer. The soundquality is decent, but i want the best I can get to record my vinyl onto CD
what would be the best way to connect the mixer to my PC or my Mac to get the best quality out of the rip?

thanks

well to begin, the audigy is not nearly the best for recording audio. The audigy is intended for gaming and such. So for a pro soundcard, the m-audio delta-44 is a nice solution b/c it has balanced inputs, and your mixer has balanced outs. If you want to stick w/ your current hardware, at least get better quality rca to stereo 1/8" jack cables. Also try and have your mixer hooked up on a seperate circuit than your computers, amps, and other electronics. That may help lower the noise floor level and reduce the likelyhood of ground loops. The final thing you can do is improve your carts for your turntables. If don't mind buying a cartridge strickly for recording that may be another good choice as well. Personally, i really like the sound quality of mine so to me that's not a big issue. Hope this helps...

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Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot. He who laughs last thinks slowest!

I gave up on improving hardware, I found that using the right software takes you a long way.


So I use Izotope Ozone 3 for my mixes. Once my computer cooperates with me I can link ya up to my mix and you can see what I am working with.

oh, and I use mk2s, shure m44-7s, rca straight to my m-audio audiophile, then record in cubase with izotope.

comes out great, you can even set the bitrate way up if ya want to.

I have found that I get the best quality when using the simplest method - after weeks of testing different set-ups, here is what I use and I love the quality I get...

ortofon nightclub elliptical stylus (used only for recording) on a Tech 1200
connected to my stereo receiver with phono input (I found this much much better that going thru my mixer, but try yourself).
connected to my PC with M-Audio internal soundcard.
I record in Soundforge (any wave editor should do) then simply split up the tracks.
I have tried using numerous post recording clean-up/processing programs but found that to me it sounds best unprocessed when playing it in the mix later on CD.

1212

i found it best to kook up the soundcard directly from my mixer's outs. As for editing, the most i do is normalize the track.

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quote:

Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot. He who laughs last thinks slowest!

thanks for the tips guys.
I'm definatly gonne pick up an the best ellyptical stylus ortofon has to offer so i can use that soley for recording vinyl.
I've been thinking about getting a good sound card for my mac for quite a while. The M-Audio Delta 44 looks pretty nice.
But with the I/O box that comes with the Delta 44 all i see is 1/4" connecters. The DJM 600 only has XLR outs and RCA. I know I can get converter cables, but I'd like to have some XLR inputs, especially cuz if i got one of these cards I'd like to connect some mics to record.
What would be a good and relativly inexpensive solution for this? I saw the Omni I/O expansion box, but thats another 300$ on top of the 300$ for the M-Audio Delta 44.

*edit
I just saw the OmniStudio on the M-Audio site (Delta 66 with the Omni I/O box) for $400. Is this a really good combo? Anyone know of any other cards, I/O boxes they feel are a better deal?

I'll tell you a better deal than buying any new hardware... but first, you must tell me if your Mac is a G4 or G5 or what??

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'-.SgtFoo.-'
My SoundCloud

quote:

Originally posted by SgtFoo I'll tell you a better deal than buying any new hardware... but first, you must tell me if your Mac is a G4 or G5 or what??

G4

K.. YOU ARE HONESTLY better off getting a cable to connect the stereo RCA record out from your mixer, or even bypass your mixer altogether and record the RCAs from your TT (which would record best with a Shure WhiteLabel cart.. the ortofons are best applied for club use as I've seen) to the line input on your g4, which you can also get Pro-Tools free on. The g4 will record better, monitor better, and edit better than the pc will, b/c there's a better audio driver on a g4 than a sound card on a pc.
I tell you this out of experience... and you should know that I've only owned PCs all my life, not Macs.... but when it comes to pro-audio... Apple is the way to go.

If you need any help with Pro-Tools... post here or PM me.

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'-.SgtFoo.-'
My SoundCloud

quote:

Originally posted by SgtFoo K.. YOU ARE HONESTLY better off getting a cable to connect the stereo RCA record out from your mixer, or even bypass your mixer altogether and record the RCAs from your TT (which would record best with a Shure WhiteLabel cart.. the ortofons are best applied for club use as I've seen) to the line input on your g4, which you can also get Pro-Tools free on.

Are you forgetting the fact that you are recorded the record without a pre-amp? This is key as records have certain frequencies boosted and need an RIAA curve preamp to boost them to normal line level inputs. If you are going to bypass the mixer you will still need some sort of preamplifier (unless there is some sort of RIAA cruve filter you can apply in software once it is recorded).

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Major Johnson - February Progressive Mix

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Yes that is true, it would be stupid to directly connect the TT to the soundcard. YOu must have some sort of amplification before the lineout connectors on the soundcard. Phono signals are at around -12 db? someone correct me if i'm wrong. But line ins are much higher

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Breaks/Prog Mix 3-15-04

my volume levels are soo fucked, when i try to rip/record to my cpu....GAH

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