[Chris Morriss]

In message
,
writes
On Dec 26, 8:32*pm, (Dave Platt) wrote:
In article
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wrote:
Thanks. *I have a Dual 721 turntable from the 70's - could this be
used - and how would I go about it?

It can almost certainly be used. *I see that the folks at Vinyl Engine
have the manuals for this 'table available for free download
(http://www.vinylengine.com/library/dual/721.shtml) and the specs look
respectable as far as I can see. *I suspect that it's a rather better
table than the ION.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *I am a zero-techie - where can I
find a basic guide?

http://www.delback.co.uk/lp-cdr.htmseems to be the current home of an
excellent tutorial.

Briefly, what you need is:

- *A decent turntable with tonearm and a decent cartridge
- *A phono preamplifier. *This boosts up the (low) voltage coming out
* *of the cartridge, and applies the necessary RIAA frequency-response
* *equalization. *Most pre-1990 audio receivers and preamps have the
* *necessary "phono" input. *Later ones made for the CD era may not.
* *Separate phono preamps are available, from prices ranging from
* *quite modest to utterly ridiculous.
- *A good-quality sound card in your computer, which has a "line level"
* *input. *Either an internal, or a USB-attached interface will work.
- *Software to capture the incoming audio at the CD format and rate.
- *Software to burn CD-R.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Would the Ion damage my records?

Any turntable _can_ damage a record, if the stylus is damaged or
excessively worn, or it's being tracked at the wrong force (too little
is often worse than too much) or if there are mechanical problems with
the arm.

Before you spend any money at all, I'd suggest that you check out your
721 and see if it's in basically good mechanical condition (platter
spins up properly and maintains the proper speed according to the
stroboscopic disc, and the arm moves freely without binding).

If so, I'd suggest using it (possibly with a new cartridge - the
lower-end Grado cartridge seem to have a good reputation at a modest
cost), with an old stereo receiver to use as an RIAA phono preamp, and
your computer's existing sound card if it's halfway decent (or, if
not, an old Ensoniq PCI sound card - ES1370, PCI 64 for under $10 on
eBay) rather than buying a new special-purpose 'table/converter such
as the Ion.

--
Dave Platt * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * AE6EO
Friends of Jade Warrior home page: *http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
* I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
* * *boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

==============
Thanks for all your advice to date. I think my 721 Dual will work, as
my amplifier (a Kenmore KR9060, also of 70's vintage) does have a
phono input. My problem is I don't know where on my amplifier to
attach the cable that will run to my computer. I assume the 721
turntable goes in the phono input - but where do I put the cable out
from the amplifier to the computer?

The "input" with "phono" has "phono 1", "phono 2", and "aux". But I
can't see any "output". There is also a "tape A" and a "Tape B" which
has play and record receptacles. If I put the cable to the computer
in "phono 2" on my amplifier, will that work?

Also, does the cable attach to the "mic" input on my computer?


Your turntable connects into one of the 'phono' inputs. You then take
the output from the 'tape' output (record) sockets of the amp into the
line input of your sound card. (Not the Mic input!).

The tape 'record' output should give you a line-level feed to the PC
from a point after the phono pre-amp and RIAA equalisation stage in the
amp. You shouldn't have any impedance-matching problems, but you will
need to make sure that the tape output on your amp isn't overloading the
line input on your PC soundcard. There are a number of freeware
applications that will give you a simple oscilloscope display on your PC
of the incoming signal so you can check that you're not getting
clipping.
--
Chris Morriss