|
|
Post by scumbum on Apr 15, 2017 18:49:35 GMT -6
So plugging my record player into my converters gets a really low signal . Should I use a Phono Amp , or Mic Pre ......or just capture the low level signal , then Normalize it after to bring it up ??
|
|
|
|
Post by winetree on Apr 15, 2017 19:25:22 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by popmann on Apr 15, 2017 19:30:24 GMT -6
You have to use a phono preamp. Always. it's not a level thing (alone)---you need an RIAA EQ. That's what a phono preamp IS....an EQ and gain stage. Capture it at 24/96 and you're almost there. I mean, yes....you will ALSO normalize it....but, that's because no analog signal will record at full scale (and shouldn't).....record it at your ADC's nominal level. Whether you normalize by the side or song depends on your intention. The easiest is to manually declick the side and normalize the whole side--that will give you the best Digital representation of the vinyl playing back. If you actually want the best master, you will likely normalize each song indepedently since the level will drop as the side progresses. Just a attribute of the format.
|
|
|
|
Post by aamicrophones on Apr 19, 2017 19:23:29 GMT -6
You have to use a phono preamp. Always. it's not a level thing (alone)---you need an RIAA EQ. That's what a phono preamp IS....an EQ and gain stage. Capture it at 24/96 and you're almost there. I mean, yes....you will ALSO normalize it....but, that's because no analog signal will record at full scale (and shouldn't).....record it at your ADC's nominal level. Whether you normalize by the side or song depends on your intention. The easiest is to manually declick the side and normalize the whole side--that will give you the best Digital representation of the vinyl playing back. If you actually want the best master, you will likely normalize each song indepedently since the level will drop as the side progresses. Just a attribute of the format. As previously suggested you need to use a phone preamp with the correct RIAA curve. Unless you have a newer turntable with a USB out. Here is what's going on with the RIAA curve. This was necessary to obtain a reasonable signal to noise ratio.  These new USB output turntables often have a built in RIAA curve and stereo phono outputs as well. However, the ones I seen were not very high quality compared to my old Thorens or Technics. I use to go down to engineer the mastering of albums we recorded. It not like today were you push a "normalizing" button. The longer the program material the shallower the grooves you can cut. The shallower the groove width the lower the level. As, you get towards the end of the vinyl master the groove's curved walls get steeper and steeper so you have to back off the level or groove width so the needle can still track. You also had to look at the grooves through a microscope to make sure they didn't touch anywhere as the record would skip or jump into the next set of grooves. Sibilance could cause the groove to "kiss" and cause the needle to jump tracks. When you were cutting the record we would manually increase the HF compression at the sibilance points if we saw grooves crossing at sibilant or loud passages. You often had to make two or three test pressing before you got it right. The most amazing record I ever had was Monty Phytons Matching Tie and Hankerchief. It should have won a Technical Grammy Award.  Side A was a single track but on Side B they lowered the level enough so they could cut a 2nd set of grooves running in "parallel" with the first. So, grooves #2 had a different set of comedy sketches than groove #1 and it was random when you dropped the needle which set you would hear. Only the Python minds could think of something that twisted. Cheers, Dave aamicrophones.com |
|
|
|
Post by svart on Apr 19, 2017 21:47:06 GMT -6
One of the best analog audio designers I knew worked on a new kind of phono preamp/RIAA EQ and it turned out amazing. Some really innovative stuff that we discussed in a general way since he was under various contracts and NDAs.
Some of you knew him, Brad Wood, also known as Bcarso over at GroupDIY (for a while before he got tired of the DIY game same as I did) and left the group.
Unfortunately he died a few weeks ago of cancer that he didn't know he had until it was already too late. He was perhaps one of the last true old-school phono preamp gurus.
|
|
|
|
Post by winetree on Apr 19, 2017 21:47:47 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by ChaseUTB on Apr 19, 2017 22:26:59 GMT -6
One of the best analog audio designers I knew worked on a new kind of phono preamp/RIAA EQ and it turned out amazing. Some really innovative stuff that we discussed in a general way since he was under various contracts and NDAs. Some of you knew him, Brad Wood, also known as Bcarso over at GroupDIY (for a while before he got tired of the DIY game same as I did) and left the group. Unfortunately he died a few weeks ago of cancer that he didn't know he had until it was already too late. He was perhaps one of the last true old-school phono preamp gurus. Sorry to hear your friend had an untimely passing... F*** Cancer I hope he has passed on his knowledge to the companies he was contracted with or better yet a son or daughter to carry it on... |
|
|
|
Post by svart on Apr 20, 2017 8:37:41 GMT -6
One of the best analog audio designers I knew worked on a new kind of phono preamp/RIAA EQ and it turned out amazing. Some really innovative stuff that we discussed in a general way since he was under various contracts and NDAs. Some of you knew him, Brad Wood, also known as Bcarso over at GroupDIY (for a while before he got tired of the DIY game same as I did) and left the group. Unfortunately he died a few weeks ago of cancer that he didn't know he had until it was already too late. He was perhaps one of the last true old-school phono preamp gurus. Sorry to hear your friend had an untimely passing... F*** Cancer I hope he has passed on his knowledge to the companies he was contracted with or better yet a son or daughter to carry it on... Not just a friend, but a wealth of knowledge that is now lost forever. He would routinely explain complex designs to those in GroupDIY and DIYaudio. I know for a fact that a few "modders" who've gone on to create companies based on modding mics and stuff have directly used his educational posts for their profit, but I digress.. If anyone is into high end turntables, check out the Shinola brand. Brad did a lot of work for them in the end. |
|
|
|
Post by scumbum on Apr 20, 2017 12:20:58 GMT -6
That thing kicks so much ass its insane !! I want one . |
|
|
|
Post by scumbum on Apr 20, 2017 12:24:26 GMT -6
One of the best analog audio designers I knew worked on a new kind of phono preamp/RIAA EQ and it turned out amazing. Some really innovative stuff that we discussed in a general way since he was under various contracts and NDAs. Some of you knew him, Brad Wood, also known as Bcarso over at GroupDIY (for a while before he got tired of the DIY game same as I did) and left the group. Unfortunately he died a few weeks ago of cancer that he didn't know he had until it was already too late. He was perhaps one of the last true old-school phono preamp gurus. Sorry to hear about that . Seems like this is happening more often ? People finding out they have Cancer and then suddenly die soon after . Maybe its just a part of getting older . I'm not hanging out with teenagers and twenty year olds anymore . Seems like everyone I hangout with , including me , is getting more and more grey hair by the day ! |
|
|
|
Post by svart on Apr 20, 2017 12:31:13 GMT -6
One of the best analog audio designers I knew worked on a new kind of phono preamp/RIAA EQ and it turned out amazing. Some really innovative stuff that we discussed in a general way since he was under various contracts and NDAs. Some of you knew him, Brad Wood, also known as Bcarso over at GroupDIY (for a while before he got tired of the DIY game same as I did) and left the group. Unfortunately he died a few weeks ago of cancer that he didn't know he had until it was already too late. He was perhaps one of the last true old-school phono preamp gurus. Sorry to hear about that . Seems like this is happening more often ? People finding out they have Cancer and then suddenly die soon after . Maybe its just a part of getting older . I'm not hanging out with teenagers and twenty year olds anymore . Seems like everyone I hangout with , including me , is getting more and more grey hair by the day ! It's true. In the medical field they have curves for cancer rates and various other age/health diseases and there is a distinct bell curve with cancer that starts in the late 30's and peaks in the 50-65 range. If you survive that, then there is also the curve for heart disease that starts in the 40's and continues to the 80's or so. Most docs will simply say that "you're gonna die of something eventually", as if that is any consolation.. But it's true. With longer lifespans, we expose diseases that we would have died before being afflicted by. |
|
|
|
Post by johneppstein on Apr 20, 2017 20:33:29 GMT -6
Life is a universally terminal disease...
Or a breakfast cereal.
Or both, take your pick!
|
|
