Subject:Turntables To Computer

Posted by: Impostor

Date:1/4/2002 5:29:58 AM

I'm totally new to this whole computer thing,

What I'm looking to do is make a mix cd, I want to record from my turntables to my computer, master it myself burn it to a cd, and then send it out to be mass produced. Is SoundForge 5.0 the right software to use??

if not what EXACTLY would i need in order to do this?

THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: aggroman

Date:1/4/2002 12:03:06 PM

i think so. soundforge is made for recording a single stereo input. it's also made for editing, mastering, and burning. pretty much what you are looking for.

just plug the stereo-out from your mixer to your soundcard line-in, hit the record button and start spinning. you could also fix any mistakes you might make. ;) you may need to convert the 1/4" to 1/8", depending on the type of soundcard. make sure you get a stereo cable and use STEREO adapters. they do sell mono adapters. not what you need. i'm sure that you already know that.

it would also help if soundforge were the ONLY thing running on your comp. the fewer programs running in the background, the better.

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: pb

Date:1/6/2002 9:22:10 AM

Agroman is right. Think of SOund Forge as a cassette deck. One thing I have found through experience is you want to keep your levels down a bit more than with analog. For example, DVCAM/mini-DV use -20/-12 repectively as "0 dB". This is because in the digital world anyhting over 0 clips. I edit using - 15 as my peak (averaging source levels from pro and consumer camcorders) but when I transfer my LPs I am peaking at -10 dB. I was locked into the 0dB paradigm for a while and am re-recording twenty LPs as a result.

If you do not have the Sonic Foundry Noise Reduction Plug-in, I urge you to buy it before you do any serious editing. It will remove the cracks and pops inherent in used vinyl recording media. Some of my 45 RPM EPs date back to 1982 (start of my DJ days) and I have been able to restore the sound.

Peter

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: JohnBussoletti

Date:1/7/2002 4:36:44 PM

An important ingredient, in case you didn't know, is a preamp designed for a turntable (that is, one with an RIAA equilization curve built into its circuitry). Otherwise you'll have to replicate an RIAA curve digitally and apply it to the recording prior to burning to a CD. An older stereo amp or any with a phono input will due. You can also purchase phono preamps with RIAA eq curves built into them at modest prices ($30 to $100). You can spend more, of course...

But don't forget the RIAA equilization, or you'll not be pleased with the results!

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: Lutz

Date:1/27/2002 11:37:10 AM

John,

Just to make sure I am understanding you correctly...you only need a RIAA equilization preamp if you DO NOT have seperate phone imputs on the back of your receiver?

I have been recording some of my old albums to CD's and notice a slight high end buzz on the CD's but otherwise they seem okay. I have my turntable plugged into my phone imput jacks on the back of my receiver.

Thanks!
Lutz

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: beetlefan

Date:1/28/2002 3:33:15 PM

A question that has not been asked here yet is what kind of soundcard are you using?

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: Rednroll

Date:1/28/2002 6:18:15 PM

.....and now it has been asked...thank God couldn't live without hearing that question(sigh), now the next question is: "What the F#$@ does it matter what sound card you are using!?" Every sound card I've ever seen can record in an audio input, and that's what he was asking for. Better ask next, "duhhhh...what kind of computer are you using?"

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: DavidW12

Date:1/29/2002 10:29:43 AM

Sound Forge IS the program to use, along with the Noise Reduction plug in. You'll also need to make sure you have a GOOD RIAA phono preamp after the turntable (unless your tt has it built in).

You'll want to master on hard drive first, then burn the CD from there.

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: Rednroll

Date:1/29/2002 12:58:32 PM

Davidw12, you forgot the most important question again, "what kind of soundcard are you using?". None of this can be accomplished until this question is answered.

LoL!!!! Brilliant!!!

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: krlill

Date:1/29/2002 5:04:43 PM

>Subject: RE: Turntables To Computer
>Posted by: Rednroll
>Date: 1/28/2002 6:18:16 PM

>.....and now it has been asked...thank God couldn't >live without hearing that question(sigh), now the >next question is: "What the F#$@ does it matter what >sound card you are using!?" Every sound card I've >ever seen can record in an audio input, and that's >what he was asking for. Better ask >next, "duhhhh...what kind of computer are you using?"

...Sounds like a personal problem.

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: vanblah

Date:1/29/2002 5:27:45 PM

Actually, there was never a mention of a soundcard in the original question. The gist of the question was:

"if not what EXACTLY would i need in order to do this?"

Since the question is not worded with specifics in mind we need to start generally, before we lead this poor soul astray with too many technical details. So the question, "what kind of soundcard are you using," is legitimate from a technical support POV. I'd like to know now, just for my own peace of mind, (it's been keeping me up nights). I just want to make sure it's not an 8-bit SBPro from 1990 or something. Of course, after 25 days with no replies from the original poster it's probably a moot point anyway.

Doug "Vanblow" Walker

Subject:RE: Turntables To Computer

Reply by: Caruso

Date:1/29/2002 7:11:22 PM

I record my LP's to either my Sony CCDV-220 (records via analog to PCM on 8mm cassettes - 2hrs capacity), my Digi8 camcorder via analog inputs (have to be careful not to overload, and capacity is, of course, limited to 1 hr . . . ok, now Sony makes a 90 minute digi8 cassette - another advantage here is that, if you have firewire, you can use a firewire capable video caputure program to capture your audio . . . just delete the video from the capture file and render the audio from avi to wav . . . a foolproof way to capture audio, and you don't have to worry with setting levels), or to my trusy TEAC open reel decks (both use EE tape [yes, I still have a good supply], and, with DBX enabled, can achieve s/n of 100db). I prefer the results I get when copying from any of these "intermediate" formats to my computer over that which I get when I hook my turntable directly to my sound card.

I'm not informed enough to discuss the technical details, but, I'm guessing that, from a technical standpoint, I'm not losing much in the way of fidelity by taking this intermediate dubbing step, and I don't have to bother with a turntable at my computer.

My CD's sound great to me.

Also, I suppose this is less than a welcome question, but, the original poster mentions that he plans to "send out" the CD's he produces to have them "mass-produced."

I trust the material is either public domain, or that he has permission to copy, or that he owns the copyright, otherwise, . . . oh, well.

Caruso