Vinyl To Cd - Better Interface Than Line-in?, (What Again?) Options

[Peter B.]

Hello:

No doubt this question has already been answered a thousand times, but...

All I want to do is transcribe vinyl LPs to CD. I've been using the line level inputs on two different PowerBooks (G3 and G4), but can definitely hear the 'loss' in the final product.

I'm wondering if an external USB analog to digital device will give better results?

The iMic is not (apparently) thought highly of here, but might it be a noticeable improvement over the straight line-in arrangement?

And/or is there a relatively inexpensive alternative that would give a superior result?

Thanks very much for your time and patience.

Peter B.

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[mortalengines]

You are also really gonna need a phono preamp- (if you are not using the line outs of your stereo receiver to the line inputs of your computer which may impart a bit of color/noise that you don't want)- Soundcraft's Compact 4 mixer has an RIAA preamp & turntable ground that may be right up your alley. Radial engineering has a small "Turntable D/I" box to plug your turntable into that will offer the proper boost to your signal prior to going into your computer - Radial products are a little pricey but are the best out there. Just about anything made by Soundcraft is pretty good too & I really like my Compact 4 which gives you two preamp's with phantom power, the turntable input with preamps (that doubles as a stereo input, since it has both RCA & 1/4" inputs on that channel), and another stereo input for a list of 120 bucks (I actually got mine for 79 bucks at at blowout sale locally).

You can go straight out of the mixer from that point with a stereo output "Y" to 1/8" stereo adapter which ought to sound pretty ok (Apples inputs & outputs are not pristine high end items but hey....they ain't that bad). If you still find the sound lacking look into getting an echo indigo, or m-audio studiophile, or something like that - Most of the interfaces out there are pretty darn good these days- just go their respective websites to check compatibiltiy with your I-book & operating system version.

This post has been edited by mortalengines: Tue 20 Dec 2005, 20:17