How to: digitalize vinyl which USB pre-amp

[rhizomusicosmos]

The files would need to have riaa correction run either on the Pi if it proved capable or on your desktop machine.
I currently use this plugin in Audacity...
http://www.proaudiodesignforum.com/forum....php?t=885
http://www.proaudiodesignforum.com/code/...ra_Zero.ny

and for totally in-depth discussion, this...  

http://waynestegall.com/audio/riaaiir.htm

Thanks, I had wondered about doing the RIAA filter in DSP . . . It will be interesting to see how they have factored in cartridge loading and how adjustable this is.

[rhizomusicosmos]

You could also try a flexible, reasonably high-quality computer recording interface such as this:
https://www.amazon.de/Behringer-UMC202HD...A+UMC202HD

[DRONE7]

The files would need to have riaa correction run either on the Pi if it proved capable or on your desktop machine.
I currently use this plugin in Audacity...
http://www.proaudiodesignforum.com/forum....php?t=885
http://www.proaudiodesignforum.com/code/...ra_Zero.ny

and for totally in-depth discussion, this...  

http://waynestegall.com/audio/riaaiir.htm

Thanks, I had wondered about doing the RIAA filter in DSP . . . It will be interesting to see how they have factored in cartridge loading and how adjustable this is.

Currently I am using a home built Phono preamp that I have disabled the riaa filters in.(quite a simple procedure..I'll look for and paste the link to the DIYAudio thread)
This gives me simple gain to line level and the ability to adjust for cartridge loading.

Having the files recorded without riaa compensation I then run them through the declicker which seems to do a much better find and kill process than if the files were flat response.
http://www.clickrepair.net/
Also worth trying....
(and despite this being primarily for speech it works very well on music..and is free)
https://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic...49#p245549

After declicking I run the RIAA filters in DSP....

I'm hoping the gain setting options for the HiFiBerry will allow direct connection to the turntable.

Links for flat phono...
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analogue...o-pre.html
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analogue...69432.html

[TheOldPresbyope]

@DRONE7

Having the files recorded without riaa compensation I then run them through the declicker which seems to do a much better find and kill process than if the files were flat response.

I expect that's because the RIAA playback equalization strongly rolls back treble frequencies---by about -20dB at 20kHz compared to 1kHz---in order to reverse the effect of the RIAA recording equalization, resulting in a nominally flat response. 

This is great for listening because it reduces high frequency hiss and clicks generated in the playback process. However, this makes it harder for the declicker program to detect the noise signature it's designed to look for. Hence, declick first, then equalize. 

Or at least that's how it seems to me.

Regards,
Kent

[IT-Andy52]

Hi
I got a reply from David (HiFiBerry) - these folks work in the middle of the night )

(quote) You will need to use a phono preamp as the DAC doesn't have the amount of gain needed or the RIAA equalization for the cartridge. (end quote)

I currently see three solutions (and as I have no idea of audio signal processing I hope that somebody will help me with some technical "how-tos)

1) Buy a good to high-end phono-pre-amp, buy an external soundcard with usb for musicians (probably too expensive)
2) Buy a vinyl-to-USB-"grabber" (not one for 25 € for sure)
3) grab the analog output from my pre-amp (I have active speaker) and buy
       a) which ever A/D converter or
       b) buy a second Pi with the HiFiBerry Hat as suggested

solution 3b would be a great learning experience as I have seen a Pi the first time two months ago when I discovered moode and decided to buy a Pi and a HiFtBerry Hat and install and configure moode..... being almost 70 years old and still learning    

[CallMeMike]

You could also try a flexible, reasonably high-quality computer recording interface such as this:
https://www.amazon.de/Behringer-UMC202HD...A+UMC202HD

Probably not as it works on 'MONO' (it's targeted for mixing instruments and mikes).

@DRONE7 talks lots of sense here

[TheOldPresbyope]

@IT-Andy52

[for brevity, let me use "HFB" for HiFiBerry]

Were I in your shoes [1], I'd probably go with your solution 3b: HFB DAC+ ADC and RPi combo. I've got plenty of spare RPi boards, but even buying a new one, I'd have to spend less than USD $100 total here in US. The good news is, the combo becomes another moOde player and the HFB DAC+ I already have has sounded fine to my aging ears.

For the time being, I'd use your existing preamp. I note the HFB datasheet for the ADC recommends 0.8Vrms input for minimum distortion, so don't overdrive it from the preamp.

You'll need an audio-capture program to save the ADC output to file. I'd probably script it but from your posts I'm guessing you'd want a packaged application. As @Skip Pack suggests, go for higher bit-rate/freq conversion (it's only going to cost you disk space!).

declicker is a java app so should "Run Anywhere™".

I've never used Vinyl Studio but it sounds like a great convenience. Apparently available only for Windows and MacOS, which may be a consideration.

Please don't digitize all 200 albums before you've tested whether you are satisfied with the result!

The only downside is that you don't get to record without the RIAA playback equalization built into your preamp. Maybe @DRONE7 can say a few more words about how much benefit that brings to the declicking.

Regards,
Kent

[1] I'm not because I gave away my LP collection and all my phono-related hardware two decades ago when I decided CDs had become good enough for me to go all in. I was already in my 50s and earning enough to keep Tower Records in the black for some years. How do I know? Look what happened to them when I ran out of shelf space and stopped buying!

[rhizomusicosmos]

You could also try a flexible, reasonably high-quality computer recording interface such as this:
https://www.amazon.de/Behringer-UMC202HD...A+UMC202HD

Probably not as it works on 'MONO' (it's targeted for mixing instruments and mikes).

@DRONE7 talks lots of sense here

You might be confusing it with the Behringer UMC22. The model I linked (202HD) has two mic/line inputs which will work as stereo line inputs.

[rhizomusicosmos]

I agree the best cost-performance options are 3a or 3b as both use your existing preamp.

My two cents:
3a will record directly to your computer where you can do editing and post-processing in Audacity, etc and convert to FLAC or your format of choice. When you have finished digitising your records, you can resell the A-D converter or re-purpose it, possibly as a DAC for a computer or even an RPi (if it is USB class compliant). However, you have the potential hassle of having to locate the computer and converter close to your hi-fi system while recording. If it's a laptop, then you can leave the A-D converter connected to your preamp and just connect via USB to the computer when you need to record.

3b will give you a nice ADC/DAC HAT for your RPi (I have used and tested the Hifiberry DAC+ Pro which is pretty good). You will need to run recording software on the RPi, probably record to local storage (allow about 66 MB for each minute of 24 bit 192 kHz stereo WAV) and then transfer to computer for editing and post-processing (the RPi might be a bit slow for sophisticated de-clicking or de-noising algorithms). It will be a small package that will be easy to locate near your preamp, too.

If you go with a Pi-based recording setup, do some research on what people are using that works successfully, talk to HifiBerry about what they suggest. This fellow seems to be doing ok:
https://medium.com/@PTcampbell/recording...51ae351b98

[IT-Andy52]

thx to you all for the great input and information.
I'd say another Pi will be a good solution, as I can use it afterwards for oh I will see.

thx again

Andreas