Connecting a vinyl turntable to my computer through my audio interface?

DJ Gear & Hardware Hardware: Controllers, Mods and Gear
1

Connecting a vinyl turntable to my computer through my audio interface?

Hello,

another question about connections as I can’t seem to find a clear enough answer elsewhere!

I’m looking to connect a vinyl turntable to my computer to be able to record vinyl LPs to my harddrive. How can I go about doing this?

I have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface, but can’t figure out how the turntable would be connected to this in the best way to get a high quality signal!

What else do I need, I’ve read elsewhere that a phono preamp is necessary, and other places that it’s not required - that or phono cables?

Help me out guys, I’m useless with connections!

2

What table do you have? You would just connect your table’s out into the 2i2’s in.

3

I figured it would be as simple as that, have been searching for clarification everywhere, and no-one has written such a succinct answer.

I don’t actually have the table yet, but I’m in the market for one, any suggestions?

And the cables to connect the table to the interface would be?

thanks for your help!

4

Technics SL1200 would be my vote, you would need a preamp for that. Audio Technica LP120 and Lp240 are not bad either. What’s your price limit? And is it just for listening?

You would do SL1200 → Phono Preamp → these cables I think Amazon.com → Focusrite 2i2

This guy has more detailed instructions.
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/newbie-audio-engineering-production-question-zone/877286-connecting-numark-tt-usb-scarlett-2i2.html

5

The idea would be more for recording samples from Vinyl to then chop in my maschine/ableton/however. I would also like to avoid a preamp if this is possible, although if necessary I would obviously make the purchase! If I want to bypass a preamp, what would I have to look for in a turntable?

6

The Audio-Technica AT-LP120-USB has a preamp built in and has USB for recording on Audacity.

7

This does look perfect - any difference between recording through the USB on this and otherwise?

8

Get the Audio Technica then. I believe the USB compresses it whereas the 2i2 won’t compress it. Compression probably won’t make much diff.

9

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10

I’m pretty sure the Audio Technica LP USB tables compress the audio when it’s sent out via the USB. Or at least that’s what I thought.

The vinyl rips w/ USB typically are not as good as if you were to use the RCA outs. I dunno, it was some picky audiophile stuff.

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Personally I’d avoid one with built in USB, instead spend money on a decent usb phono pre-amp and get a decent turntable.

If it is only going to be used for ripping, then something like a rega or pro-ject would be better.

13

Yea, I used the wrong word. It wasn’t compression.

I think it’s just because the ADC on the LP120 is 16 bit/44.1k or something, not 24/96k. Wouldn’t make a difference to me, but some people are anal about it.