my record player - doesn't have enough JUICE to record it, or so it seems..?

[shackrock]

i'm trying to record some of my records...
my record player (got it at a garage sale) runs fine, etc. etc. - the only problem is that there is just one output from it. its a wire that goes right into the player, and out comes 2 phono plugs (1L, 1R)....and from those a little U shaped metal thing (which i ASSUME is ground, but i honestly have no idea).

So if i plug this into ANYTHING, i can only hear it at a decent volume if i crank my speakers/reciever/preamp up to FULL volume, or close to it!

so basicaly, does anyone know how to fix this kind of thing? do i have to open it up? please say no, or direct me to where i can find out (DIY guide perhaps? haha.)

thanks to everyone - and sorry i dont know if this forum is approrate for this or not, but i am recording with it, so i need a new technique i guess? it fits the best i figured...haha

thanks again.

[esactun]

Does your receiver have a PHONO input jack? If not, you just need to get a phonograph amplifier. I got one at the Rat Shack a while back.

Most phonographs don't have amps, so your situation isn't a phonograph problem, it's a lack-of-gear problem.

[Track Rat]

You'll need either an RIAA preamp to make the phono into line level or a stereo reciever that has this preamp built into it and then take a line out from it to your soundcard.

[sjjohnston]

Just to clarify, if it isn't obvious from the previous posts -- your turntable is working the way it's supposed to. It's supposed to put out a little tiny signal; it's supposed to be connected to a phono preamp.

Until recently, a phono preamp was included in nearly all home stereo receivers. Apparently it's not anymore. You can: (i) find or buy an old home stereo receiver which has input jacks labeled "phono," (ii) connect to something else that has a phono preamp in it (like a DJ mixer or something) or (iii) buy a separate phono preamp. Rane and Rolls and others make phono preamps that are pretty cheap.

In addition to your level being low, the EQ is screwy (it's probably so quiet you haven't noticed that yet).

And yes, that other wire is supposed to be connected to ground.

[shackrock]

this i did not know. thanks..ha

ok - i DO have a phono jack, but its some wierd pin input, looks similar to a midi jack - but not at all like it in reality... circle with some random pin holes, some long holes too...i'm sure you know what i'm talking about - but anyway maybe i can get an adapter to go from 2 phono plugs to that crazy plug? lol.

[sjjohnston]

It sounds like some sort of DIN jack. I don't know that DIN jack for a phono input is exactly common, but I guess there's some oddball equipment out there in the world.

RCA plugs are sometimes called "phono plugs" (as distinguished from 1/4" "phone plugs), because they were so commonly used for phonograph outputs.

[GordWait]

You might be able to find an adaptor
at radio shack, or (ouch$$) at an
"audiophile" stereo shop.
Just watch out for the oxygen free linear crystal tibetan monk speaker wire salesman!

[shackrock]

haha, ok.

yeah i looked at it again, its a 5 pin plug, 5 pins at the top, they are in semi-circle shape.... with a ground screw underneath the plug.

[Track Rat]

Yup, that's a DIN plug. Be sure and pick up a green magic marker for your CDs while you're at the "audiophile" stereo shop.

[zer0sig]

get a behringer mic preamp-they have near-perfect frequency reproduction, with extremely low self-noise! just make sure you use 0/1 guage welder cable to connect everything, so it doesn't overload the wires

more seriously, i believe the average mic signal is around 1mv, phono is around 2mv, and line in is around 200mv-so technically, if impedance doesn't make your stereo into an unwanted gate to the netherworld, you *might* be able to get away with a mic input or preamp for mics, with the right adapters. i'm not officially advocating this, but you could do worse.

gord and trackrat-priceless.

[sjjohnston]

Actually, a mic preamp will not work for a phonograph. The main problem is that it doesn't apply the RIAA equalization curve. In addition, the input impedance is too low, so it will load the cartridge.

It would sound terrible.

[participant]

Just bought a PHONO amp at Rat Shack yesterday (transferring old Vinyl to CD for a present)... yup... magnetic cartridge... works much better than a mic pre.

OT: Man... records from the 60's sound p-h-a-t PHAT. An Al Schmitt -- Hugo Montenegro & his orchestra- Theme from "Good, The Bad, & the Ugly"... GEEEZ those drums sound awesome... everything sounded awesome... where did the recording industry go wrong?