Stereo Input cards

  • Thread starter Thread starter CapeChris
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CapeChris

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I would just like to record my vinyl onto my HD for cds, ipod, etc.

Any suggestions for a <low cost> card w/ stereo inputs ? Most seem to be mono mic inputs.


Thank from a FNG
 
Records to files

Thanks for the input on the Muscian's Friend page. That phono/line in-to-USB unit looks like a good alternative to a PCI card; I have a preamp, but are you saying that there are NO stereo input cards to plug into the motherboard ?
I have looked as many places as I can think of to no avail...

Thanks again
 
CapeChris said:
Thanks for the input on the Muscian's Friend page. That phono/line in-to-USB unit looks like a good alternative to a PCI card; I have a preamp, but are you saying that there are NO stereo input cards to plug into the motherboard ?
I have looked as many places as I can think of to no avail...

Thanks again
Click to expand...

If you already have a preamp, then all you need is a Y cable to go from the two RCAs to the 1/8" stereo line-in jack on your sound card (if you soundcard or built-in motherboard sound has a line-in input). The quality of the A/D conversion is completely dependent on your soundcard. If your PC has no soundcard or built-in sound on the motherboard, then go to a regular reseller, like newegg and get a soundblaster card or the like. Shouldn't set you back too much. Here's one for less than $10.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829130001
 
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Thanks a lot guys - but maybe I wasn't clear - I DO NOT want to Y the left & right - I want distinct channels. Is it that L/R is out of favor nowadays ? (There it is - I'm old school! >50! ) and many of my records have discrete information on the R & L; I like that swirling effect they worked so hard to get in the studio... So is what I hear, "there is no such thing as a stereo sound card ?" Boo-Hoo ... ;)

Another thing I'd like to do is set up my two mics w/ the laptop & record the sun coming up & the birds begining to sing. I live on the beach & there is no one for miles, off season - it would make a great background in my office when the stress piles up !
 
nothing esoteric about what you are trying to do here

CapeChris said:
Thanks a lot guys - but maybe I wasn't clear - I DO NOT want to Y the left & right - I want distinct channels. Is it that L/R is out of favor nowadays ? (There it is - I'm old school! >50! ) and many of my records have discrete information on the R & L; I like that swirling effect they worked so hard to get in the studio... So is what I hear, "there is no such thing as a stereo sound card ?" Boo-Hoo ... ;)

Another thing I'd like to do is set up my two mics w/ the laptop & record the sun coming up & the birds begining to sing. I live on the beach & there is no one for miles, off season - it would make a great background in my office when the stress piles up !
Click to expand...

I think you're confusing your Y cables. An 1/8" Y Stereo plug has three conductors: tip, ring and sleeve. Sleeve is ground while tip and ring are discrete left and right channels. Your recording does not become "dual mono" with this approach. Mono 1/8" Y plugs exist but can easily be distinguished from the stereo plugs by virtue of only having a tip and a sleeve - no ring.
Standard "line-in inputs" on sound cards and motherboard provisioned sound are made to accept the stereo plug as I describe. You must be able to visually distinguish however, the "line-in" from the microphone input, which has a different impedence and is not stereo. Most sound cards or motherboard provisioned inputs have the line-in as green or blue female inputs. Mic is almost always red.

Your second project with the nature sounds requires a bit more. If you're serious about that, I would get a decent USB interface (which would serve your vinyl purpose as well, negating my prior suggestion) like a Tascam US-122. Then you need some condenser mics - sky's the limit with these, but you can make nice budget stereo recordings as you describe with a pair of MXL603s. I would not go cheaper than that personally.
 
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if your using the phono out of the turntables, you'll need to get a phono preamp still...not a simple a mic pre.
 
I wouldn't steer you wrong

Look at the picture to see what I mean here. The RCA plugs at the other end of the Y cable obviously go to your phono Preamp outputs.
 

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bennychico11 said:
if your using the phono out of the turntables, you'll need to get a phono preamp still...not a simple a mic pre.
Click to expand...

He gave the distinct impression from an earlier post that he has a pre-amp. I assumed it was a phono preamp. Certainly if he doesn't have one of those, then there's definitely an additional issue here, I concur.
 
guttapercha said:
He gave the distinct impression from an earlier post that he has a pre-amp. I assumed it was a phono preamp. Certainly if he doesn't have one of those, then there's definitely an additional issue here, I concur.
Click to expand...

I just wanted to clarify to him that there is a difference between a phono preamp and a mic preamp. He just stated "I have a preamp" which people usually mean to be a mic preamp.
:)
 
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