Getting my new turntable into my audio interface?

[robkramble]

So I got a Numark TT-1510 Belt Drive turntable real cheap on Craigslist, managed to listen to it on a mixer a friend of mine lent me so I know it works well.

I guess I'll need a phono preamp to amplify the turntable signal, but those seem to still output to Red/White RCA cables. How would I get that output to work with my audio interface? It has 1/4" TRS/XLR and SPDIF In.

Thanks!

[grawk]

a pair of 1/4" to rca adapters, or 1/4" to rca cables

[robkramble]

Do you know if there's a way to do two RCA to a single SPDIF? I assume it has to be stereo because there's only on SPDIF in on the entire interface and it looks to be stereo on the Focusrite mixing software.

[bdenton]

SPDIF is digital, while most phono preamps output an analog signal.

SPDIF is probably going to be out of the picture.

Also, you will need a phono preamp with the proper equalization built in. Something like a mixer preamp won't accurately reproduce the record...

[Kuusooka]

ART makes a USB phono preamp that might work out for you: check it out here. It looks like it's running a little under $70 at retail online right now.

[robkramble]

Originally Posted by Kuusooka

ART makes a USB phono preamp that might work out for you: check it out here. It looks like it's running a little under $70 at retail online right now.

Hm... I'd consider it but I have no free USB ports on my laptop (only three total, one for interface, one for HDD, and one for another piece of gear) so it has to come into my audio interface somehow. Plus that preamp is USB 1.1 so it would downgrade my other 2.0 inputs by proxy iirc.

How do the pros get their turntables into their computers? I feel like they face the same problem but have some good solution.

[robkramble]

Aight, so after some searching I've settled on the following preamp and cable setup:

http://www.amazon.com/TC-750-BLACK-A...ref=pd_vtp_e_2

Live Wire 1/4" - RCA Dual Patch Cable and more Cables at GuitarCenter.com.

I usually never do GC for cables but I couldn't find some of that variety much anywhere else and the price seemed more than reasonable. Thoughts?

[Reptil]

a small dj mixer would take care of that. It's outputs connect to your audio interface. you'll have some control over the volume (instead of the pure phono preamp posted above)
also you can hook up your speakers to it, and use it's monitor level control (always good to have a real volume knob) to listen to the outputs of your computer soundcard.

there are of course cheaper ones but this one I know to sound good, and won't fall apart after 3 months.

[backplay]

If you want to bypass a mixer or HW phono preamp, you can always use RIAA pre-amp software.
I don't have experience with it myself, so i don't know if it sounds worse/better than a HW preamp.

[genieg]

Azur 540P Phono pre-amplifier

Highly recommend this, cost me around £60 in the UK, Cambridge Audio have a good rep for quality gear and the sound of this this pre amp meets that.

[Meow]

Wow this thread just made me realize what these inputs on my interface were for LOL!!

Maybe you should get one of these!