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analog to digital

I have two systems, both of which run off my iMac (through Perpetual Technologies DAC, BAT preamp and Odyssey amp in one room and wirelessly with Apple TV, Cullen modified PS Audio DAC and BAT integrated in the other room). Snell Type A and Type IIIA speakers. I like the convenience of it, but also have an ESL-1 turntable with TT copper mat and ring and clamp that I continue to buy records for. I would like to be able to transfer music from my record collection to the iMac and keep as much as possible of the vinyl quality (I know it won't be the same, but I still want the music in the second system). There is an old (2006) thread on this, but I wondered what is the current best buy in analog to digital converters which would allow me to transfer the music from the turntable to the iMac and then wirelessly to the Apple TV, DAC, BAT, etc. Any suggestions?
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herman
2,267 posts
 
Budget? I plug my turntable directly into the mic inputs of my RME Fireface 400 for A-D and use Pure Vinyl software for RIAA EQ and volume control with my Mac Mini to playback vinyl. The RME is about $1,400 new and usually available used on eBay. Of course you can spend much, much more on the A-D converter. The software is a few hundred dollars and eliminates the need for a phono pre. The RME is connected via firewire so after it converts A-D it gets processed by the software in the Mac at 64 bits and gets fed back to the RME for D-A. It will do up to 24 bit 192KHz so the quality is very good.

http://www.channld.com/pure-vinyl.html
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
If $1875 is within reason, you might also want to consider the Sound Devices 702. Their products are VERY highly regarded in professional sound recording applications. B&H, an excellent dealer, offers it for that price.

It accepts both mic level and line-level inputs, balanced or unbalanced. If you have a phono stage in one of your BAT units, or separately, which provides accessable line-level outputs, you could use the 702's line-level inputs. If not, you could go into the mic inputs (which I understand are extremely low noise), and do the RIAA equalization in software, as Herman describes.

The digitized signal is recorded to a Compact Flash card, which can be read either from the 702's firewire port, or by placing the card in an external card-reader.

HTH,
-- Al
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Of course if you feed the cartridge outputs into mic-level inputs, you need to make sure that the cartridge sees a proper load. The Sound Devices 702's mic-level input impedance is 7.5K; I don't know about the RME unit. If the cartridge is a moving magnet type which wants to see 47K, that may be a problem. For a moving coil cartridge, the 7.5K could be reduced if need be by connecting an external resistor.

-- Al
herman
2,267 posts
 
MM into just about any pro unit will be a problem as they tend to have low input impedance, the RME is 2.7K I believe. Be sure to read the Pure Vinyl manual if you want to try this route.
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twilightround OP
39 posts
 
I wonder if this is overkill for what I want to do. I just need two channels. Don't want to do any engineering. The BAT preamp has a phono section but the only output is for tape, and I use a moving magnet cartridge. I don't need the digital to analogue, as I have two DACs already. Is there a "non-pro" unit that will allow me to go from the turntable to itunes (and to label the music in itunes)? Is this an unusual need (just wondering why there are so many DACs and so few ADCs)?
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