archiving vinyl

[Longmanjon]

hi all,

I have many old house/dance records which I would like to archive and move electronic for mixing.
currently I have a pair of technics 1210 which I refurbished, and ideally will use one of them to archive with. I have a mixer with a USB out but doubt its quality.

I would like to use a better cartridge (currently ortofon OM pro) to provide the best possible sound at an average cost, any advice which one to use up to £100?
Also im looking at a phono stage into my laptop to record through, but again need advice on which phono stage with a USB out to provide best quality and average price.

I have built a moth RCM to clean the records first and a stack of new anti stat sleeves.

all advice greatly received.

[Sherwood]

I have one of these and can confirm its quality

https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=366arasound-zph (https://www.soundstageaccess.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=366:parasound-zph)..

THe model has been discontinued but can still be found online

[Longmanjon]

thanks that's interesting, im wondering if maybe even something like this would be any good?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marantz-Professional-PMD560-Solid-State-Compact-Flash-Recorder-DJ-Sound-Audio/312255366002?epid=1423291518&hash=item48b3dec372:g:ZfYAAOSwfp1btjqz:rk:16:pf:0

or

https://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/product/tascam_sd-20m_recorder/?msclkid=2793d344c86e1c46bf8088a0e9fce8bc&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%202018&utm_term=4582145991474279&utm_content=Shopping%202018#

[GrahamS]

I use one of these http://bit.ly/2ASAHJO feeding into one of these http://bit.ly/2z1Axyx feeding my laptop loaded with Audacity software.

[mikmas]

thanks that's interesting, im wondering if maybe even something like this would be any good?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marantz-Professional-PMD560-Solid-State-Compact-Flash-Recorder-DJ-Sound-Audio/312255366002?epid=1423291518&hash=item48b3dec372:g:ZfYAAOSwfp1btjqz:rk:16:pf:0

or

https://www.richtonemusic.co.uk/product/tascam_sd-20m_recorder/?msclkid=2793d344c86e1c46bf8088a0e9fce8bc&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%202018&utm_term=4582145991474279&utm_content=Shopping%202018#

Those look like great bits of kit that I could have hours of fun with :)
Unfortunately neither appear to have a built in phono stage or RIAA option. You can do this afterwards using a software solution (like Audacity) but in my experience the result is a bit lame.
I use a simple mixer myself (Focusrite Saffire) for conversion/recording into a Mac but I also have a phone stage in a preamp at my disposal.

This looks like a great solution for your needs if you have a laptop to record on - I have tried something similar in the past with good results (just not a NAD and no longer made)

https://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/p-11451-nad-pp-4-digital-phono-preamp-with-usb-out.aspx?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl6z62t_E3gIV1uR3Ch3lgA4 _EAYYASABEgKwMfD_BwE

[Beobloke]

If you’re already using Ortofon Pro S cartridges, then don’t worry about upgrading - they’re very good even by hi-fi standards.

[Longmanjon]

Those look like great bits of kit that I could have hours of fun with :)
Unfortunately neither appear to have a built in phono stage or RIAA option. You can do this afterwards using a software solution (like Audacity) but in my experience the result is a bit lame.
I use a simple mixer myself (Focusrite Saffire) for conversion/recording into a Mac but I also have a phone stage in a preamp at my disposal.

This looks like a great solution for your needs if you have a laptop to record on - I have tried something similar in the past with good results (just not a NAD and no longer made)

https://www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk/p-11451-nad-pp-4-digital-phono-preamp-with-usb-out.aspx?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl6z62t_E3gIV1uR3Ch3lgA4 _EAYYASABEgKwMfD_BwE

So a modern version like https://denonpro.com/products/view3/dn-300r would also have the issue of no phono, what is the main issue with that? would it be missing the volume/gain?

[Cycleallday]

I have slowly been archiving my LP’s for around two years and after a number of set ups I have finally arrived at:

1210 deck with standard arm and Ortofon Blue or Goldring 1042
ADL (Furutech) GT40a DAC/A2D/Phono/Headphone amp with USB and RCA input/output
Apple Mac
Vinyl Studio software (approx £30 and try before you buy online) which can also handle RIAA equalisation in software

This setup gives me a very simple solution to use and the software allows a ripping process as easy as for cd’s complete with metadata capture and surface noise (pops and clicks etc) processing.

Resolution used is 24/192 for the initial rip but a saved copy in standard iTunes ALAC format goes into my library for general use - the original hi res rip is also retained in the Vinyl Studio library.

This is by far an easier process than using a pc and something like Audacity which was where I started.

I use the MM carts mentioned because i have them and they provide a higher output than my normal mc carts which I find more useful during the capture process.

I am happy to provide an example rip file using this process should you wish or if local you are welcome to come and see it in use as you are are only down the road from me (Andover).

Just as a closing point as you have no phono the cheap Rega A2D phono (£90 new) works just as well and again I have sample rips using this.

Mel

[Longmanjon]

great thanks Mel, I shall take a look at your sugggestions

[mikmas]

So a modern version like https://denonpro.com/products/view3/dn-300r would also have the issue of no phono, what is the main issue with that? would it be missing the volume/gain?

No, not volume or gain per se - a phone stage is required between the cartridge and a 'plain' amplifier stage because of the equalisation needed to compensate for characteristics built into the vinyl recording/pressing process. The filtration in a phono stage conforms to a specific curve set out by the RIAA.

This explains it all:

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

"RIAA equalization is not a simple low-pass filter. It defines transition points in three places: 75 µs, 318 µs and 3180 µs, which correspond to 2122 Hz, 500 Hz and 50 Hz (rounded values).[2] Implementing this characteristic is not especially difficult, but is more involved than a simple amplifier.[3] In the past, almost all hi-fi preamplifiers, integrated amplifiers, and receivers had a built-in phono preamplifier with the RIAA characteristic, but it is often omitted in modern designs, due to the gradual obsolescence of vinyl records. Add-on phono preamplifiers with the RIAA equalization curve are available; these adapt a magnetic phono cartridge to an unbalanced −10 dBv consumer line-level RCA input. Some modern turntables feature built-in preamplification to the RIAA standard. "

[Sherwood]

Recording vinyl requires both gain and RIAA EQ. The Parasound device I referred to does both.

However, it is possible to handle the RIAA EQ suing software rather than hardware. My device has the option to switch off hardware RIAA EQ and use software for that purpose.

Geoff