[bites]

Can I easily convert the phono output from my receiver to digital to input into my new Lenovo laptop which has no analog audio inputs other than a microphone jack. The ION USB turntable I got for Christmas did the trick but I returned it today because it had no cuing device or dust cover and wasn't nearly as good a turntable as the one I've had for years. Would the device described below do the trick, ignoring the video input and just using the audio? Thanks.

USB 2.0 Video Grabber USB Type A Male and 3.5MM Mini Stereo to SVHS Female Video, RCA Video and Stereo RCA Female (DVD/VCD Maker)

USB 2.0 Video Grabber is your best choice to keep or record your precious memories from a variety of analog video sources. It allows you to create and convert any movie clips you want from DVD,VCD, game player, even videotapes. You could share movies with your friends as high quality VCDs and DVDs through bundled AP. Its gorgeous tooling with user-friendly design can let you operate easily.

Features:

Pocket-sized USB 2.0 device. No external power required. Capture video from analog camcorder, VCD, DVD player and video game player. Compatible with composite video and S-video devices. Support NTSC, PAL and SECAM video inputs. Support 30 frames per second at resolutions of 352x288 and 640x480. Bundled with Ulead Video Studio 7.0 SE DVD software.

Pocket-sized USB 2.0 device.
No external power required.
Capture video from analog camcorder, VCD, DVD player and video game player.
Compatible with composite video and S-video devices.
Support NTSC, PAL and SECAM video inputs.
Support 30 frames per second at resolutions of 352x288 and 640x480.
Bundled with Ulead Video Studio 7.0 SE DVD software.

Operating system Windows 98/SE/ME/2000/XP.
Language supported English, German, Japanese, Simplified/ Traditional Chinese[/COLOR]

 

[MysticEyes]

You should be able to use the Mic in on your laptop. Make sure in your mixer you do not have the +20 db boost ticked. You'll have to come out from your reciever, not just the turntable. Although twitchy if you play around with recording levels (start low) it should work.

http://www.audiotoolsdirect.com/vinyl.shtml

If you want to buy something this should do it.

http://www.xitel.com/product_inport.htm

 

[bites]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try to find that device here in Canada or pick it up in the States.

The receiver I am using does not have auxillary audio outputs so I tried using the headphone out jack to the headphone in jack on my laptop with terrible results. Would the tape outputs be a better choice?

 

[MysticEyes]

Did you look at the link?

Connect your turntable to a Hi-Fi amplifier / receiver and use the 'Tape-Out' phono sockets to connect

For software try Audacity (free). In your computer's sound mixer set the Mic volume low. Set your input recoding levels in Audacity and your PC's speakers very low to start.

Just keep in mind that the Mic input is much 'hotter' than Line in. It may not work but it's worth a shot.

 

[bites]

I had not gone to the site until a few minutes ago. I apologize for the redundancy of the post.

 

[TRS-80 vet]

You'll have to come out from your reciever, not just the turntable.

http://www.audiotoolsdirect.com/vinyl.shtml

If you want to buy something this should do it.

http://www.xitel.com/product_inport.htm

I don't think this is correct.

While you can do this this way, your amplified output that would be going into the laptop mike port would have to be set at the optimal volume setting (usually at '7' on a '10' scale), where as a non-amplified signal, coming straight from the record player, would be better for converting to digital since it is cleaner, and unamplified. When done this way, only monitoring by you is made inconvenient.

 

[MysticEyes]

I don't think this is correct.

While you can do this this way, your amplified output that would be going into the laptop mike port would have to be set at the optimal volume setting (usually at '7' on a '10' scale), where as a non-amplified signal, coming straight from the record player, would be better for converting to digital since it is cleaner, and unamplified. When done this way, only monitoring by you is made inconvenient.

Coming out of the 'Tape out' outputs is absolutely correct. The other alternative is to connect the turntable to a pre-amp.

If transfering from a cassette player you can hook it directly to it's audio outs, without a reciever, because it's outputing a line level signal.

The SC wants a line level input, hence the term 'Line in'. Line level signals are often contrasted with weaker signals, such as those output from microphones, instrument pickups, and turntables.

Whether it will work with the Mic in is another story, but it's worth trying.

 

[TRS-80 vet]

If transfering from a cassette player you can hook it directly to it's audio outs, without a reciever, because it's outputing a line level signal.

Aren't the audio outs coming from a cassette player identical to the audio outs coming from a turntable??? I'm pretty sure they are...

 

[MysticEyes]

Aren't the audio outs coming from a cassette player identical to the audio outs coming from a turntable??? I'm pretty sure they are...

Pretty sure? I'm more than pretty sure, actually I'm absolutely sure you are wrong.

Aren't the audio outs coming from a cassette player identical to the audio outs coming from a turntable???

No, as I've already stated.

 

[TRS-80 vet]

Pretty sure? I'm more than pretty sure, actually I'm absolutely sure you are wrong.

No, as I've already stated.

Looks like your way IS better. Looks like my way will also work - just not as well.

In other words, the outputs ARE comparable.

 

[MysticEyes]

Looks like your way IS better. Looks like my way will also work - just not as well.

In other words, the outputs ARE comparable.

No they are not comparable, and your way will not work. Maybe this link will explain why.

http://tinyurl.com/2oovs

 

[stantley]

Aren't the audio outs coming from a cassette player identical to the audio outs coming from a turntable??? I'm pretty sure they are...

No, I have to agree with Mystic on this one. The signal coming from a turntable is very weak and needs to be amplified before you could attempt to record it. The output from a cassette player is already amplified enough to record with.

 

[MysticEyes]

The signal coming from a turntable is very weak and needs to be amplified before you could attempt to record it.

It's not only that it's weak it also has to be RIAA equalized, due to the nature of the way vinyl is recorded.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

 

[bites]

Thanks for the help. I'm using Audacity to record from the tape outputs into the mic in port of the laptop. I had to fiddle will the input volume and gain to eliminate clipping, but it is working well. The audio outs direct from the tape deck work fine dubbing old cassettes.
Thanks again. Only about 400 albums to go!

 

[MysticEyes]

I'll give you one more great tip. If your vinyl is a bit abused like mine was get yourself a spray bottle. Fill it with water and very lightly mist the LP while you are playing/recording it. It's the best way to silence all the various pops and crackles. The end result can be quite amazing, especially on LP's you thought were beyond help. Although various high end apps have various filters to deal with such things, they tend to impact the sound in one way or another.

You might also want to look at this app, free to try. It's really nice and quick for the splitting part.

http://www.milosoftware.com/cdwave/