Saskatuner

Just a question for anyone that has an opinion. I am in the process of recording my old albums and cd's using my MacBook Pro, and obviously will require another Larger HDD to store the music for playback using audirvana. I am very concerned about HDD failure though, and was wondering how that issue is resolved amongst the good folks out there that know what they're doing? Some HDD manufacturers advertise cloud services, however I am seeing a number of folks having issues with Mac. Any ideas?

What bit rate and file formats are most using for recording their analog records? Do you still send the file to iTunes? If so, and it's a flac for instance, do you also use something like audirvana to play it?

Hello all. i am just getting set up to start archiving my 300 LP's. I think I probably have the hardware I need, it is working on my initial trials using audacity, but I haven't actually saved or recorded a full album yet. For starters, here is a list of my current gear, make any suggestions you like. Pro-Ject RPM.4 with a mm clearaudio concept cart. Tascam UH7000 ADC/DAC and phono stage (this actually works quite well!) 2011 MacBook Pro running ElCaptain latest software, 8 gigs ram, terabyte external drive for storage 120 gig internal ssd. So my question, before I start spending a lot of time is as follows: what is the favourite software for playing computer files through my stereo? Is there an all in one package out there that first records the initial analog signal from my tt, allows me to save in a high resolution, get metadata, and then play back the high res file, or do you record into Audacity, send high res to iTunes and then play back using something like audirvana, or pure music??? What are you folks using?

Well I've ordered the Tascam UH 7000. It'll be here on Monday. I'll try a recording through my rotel rx 1052 first to see how the onboard phono stage sounds before I take the plunge and buy a stand alone phono stage. I've been planning on using audacity, but am very unfamiliar with any of the others. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

In thinking about this, why wouldn't I plug my tt into the phono stage input in my rotel receiver and then use the line out from the rotel to the Tascam? Do you think I would get a better recording using one of the mic inputs ?

Sam, I'm really liking the idea of the tascam as an ADC and a dac. I'm not sure how to set up the plug in though for the ground wire for the tt. I wonder if I could just loosen a screw on the tascam and put it on there? Btw, I can get the tascam from Amazon.ca for 411 Cdn shipped for free, plus 10 percent sales tax of course. Seems very reasonable.

Ok, so if I'm getting it right then, the vinyl would be recorded into Audacity for example, then eq settings applied to get the right Riaa curve. I guess that could be somewhat subjective then. Sorry for my extreme lack of knowledge here, I use to pick this stuff up easily, but that was 40 years ago in an analog world!! Man, I miss those days!

Sam, that looks really interesting! So this would be used to transfer my vinyl to the laptop AND play back from the computer. I am not familiar with what an RIAA curve is or how to recreate one, although I am certainly open to learning new things. For the purposes of playback for my CD player, would I just get XLR to RCA cables made up? The price at sweertwater seems good, I'll have to see who has this in Canada. I wonder if a focusrite would do something similar to this?

Hi sam I have the artcessorie phono plus as an adc. As mentioned, the speakers are very old. I am using 2 sets of speakers with my receiver, one set is contained in a 1967 grundig teak console. They're crystal clear and bright. Each channel having 4 drivers, but quite lacking in bass. The second set are cabinets from the 70's again 4 drivers in each cabinet including refoamed eminence 15" drivers that completes the lower frequencies of my system. These speakers were a prototype from a manufacturer that went bankrupt before they got off the ground, they don't have a name on them, but each cabinet weighs at least 60 pounds!

Thanks for your reply Tom, but I was speaking more of playing back the ripped vinyl from my MacBook once it has been ripped. (It isn't yet). I plugged the MacBook into my receiver the other day, and the music that was already on it from cd's and iTunes downloads sounded really poor. If that is what I could expect out of my vinyl, well, I would start a search in earnest for another reel to reel deck rather than wasting my time ripping all of my vinyl over again. I think I have the hardware already for ripping the vinyl to the MacBook, but haven't yet downloaded the software. I was hoping that someone could advise about a dac that did a good job of playing the ripped vinyl off of my Mac, and wondering what folks thought of the dacmagic given the fact that it is limited to 48 kHz and doesn't support 192 kHz. I would also like to play my cd's through the dac, so, more than one I imput would be helpful, and the dacmagic does have that. In reading my first post, I see I wasn't very clear. I am also wondering if folks had any ideas about software for ripping vinyl. Is audacity really good, or is there much better out there?

Hello all, just joined the forum, and I'm just beginning my journey into archiving my vinyl onto a computer. I am looking at buying a used Cambridge audio dacmagic about 3 years old. I know the USB is kind of poor, but I am wondering if any of you might have some suggestions. I have a MacBook Pro with a 120 gig ssd, and an external 500 gig hard drive. I am thinking I would use audacity to rip the vinyl. I don't have a fabulous stereo, but I've pieced it together and And really like the sound. Is there a better way to hook up the Mac than USB to the dacmagic? Does anyone have any suggestions for archiving or a better option than the dacmagic? This is not the newer dacmagic plus, or the 100, but it's only $200 cdn. What i have is a rotel rx1052 receiver with phono stage built in pro-ject rpm4 turntable pioneer 200 disc cd/DVD changer Very old speakers, 1 set is from a 1967 grundig console, and a second set of American cabinets from about 1974. All of the speakers perform very well, and the us speakers have 15" eminence drivers in them, weigh a ton.