A-D conversion in DV camcorder... any good?

[Gordon B. Alley]

Here's the way I worked around the pre-amp requirement for recording 
from a turntable via a Griffin iMic.

I have an old Lafayette turntable that is connected to a Sony 
component stereo system. The system amplifier has inputs with an 
internal pre-amp for a phonograph turntable.

This stereo system includes a dual cassette tape deck that will 
record from whatever other source is selected (Video audio, CD, 
Turner, Phono). Because this is a component system, all of the 
components except the turntable are interconnect by line-level audio 
cables. What I did was insert some Y-adapters into the cabling from 
the system amplifier's Tape outputs to the cassette deck's inputs. I 
connect the iMic to these Y-adapters, and select Phono as the system 
audio source. So I'm picking up line level audio from the turntable.

I started using this procedure before the Griffin Final Vinyl 
application was available. It can reportedly be configured to record 
audio from a turntable connected directly to the iMic. I isn't  very 
practical for me to try the direct connection with Final Vinyl, 
because my iMac is across the room from the stereo system, and the 
turntable's cables are only about 4 feet long (and if I used 
extension cables, I'm afraid that the low-level turntable audio would 
be more susceptible to noise). I use a 25-foot stereo audio cable to 
carry the line level signals to the iMic on my iMac. It is also 
convenient to be able to listen to the record on my stereo while it 
is being digitized on the iMac.

--Gordon

On Sat, 26 Apr 2003 22:29:01 -0400, patwilson at mac.com wrote:
>Sean,
>
>I had been using a turntable connected through a normal audio receiver
>to digitize my LPs. I connected a cable to the headphone jack on the
>receiver and to the mic in on my Bondi iMac. There is a freeware
>program (OS 9 only) that I've used to do the digitizing. I think it is
>called SoundRecorder. Anyway, the resulting digitized MP3s came out
>sounding pretty good, considering the condition of some of those old
>records.
>
>Previous to doing it this way, I had used the AV inputs on my 8500 in
>the way that you had, with a preamp in line with the turntable. Both
>methods seemed to be about the same good quality.
>
>My $.02 about another way to bring in the music.
>
>Pat

-- 
Gordon Alley  <*>
<mailto:galley at texas.net>
<http://galley.home.texas.net>