L5730
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Hi all,
I thought it might be useful to post this for anyone else wanting to 'have a go' and not finding any useful information online, or rather lots of "don't do it" messages.
I hooked up the old NAD 5120 with Ortofom OMB (?) MM cart to the RME Babyface Pro fs analogue 3/4 inputs. These inputs are for unbalanced line level sources like CD players, cassette decks for example, but are also capable of handling a passive (normal) electric guitar pickup output so one can play guitar or bass in directly and use amp sims or re-amp the recording later. The cartridge/stylus, from what I gather, is expecting to see a 47k Ohm impedance. Mic preamps are not suitable as they are in the 1-10k Ohms range and will massively screw up the frequency response. The DI inputs on this interface are both 1Meg Ohm so may also add some frequency response problems but won't be anywhere near as bad and won't 'load down' the cartridge.
Next is RIAA de-emphasis. Vinyl is created from an audio source that is EQ'd to suck the bass out and boost the treble, we're talking +/-20 dB at the extremes here. This is so so that more play time can be cut into the vinyl disc and for other technical reasons that are well published. When using a device without this RIAA EQ de-emphasis everything is going to sound very bad, no bottom end and ultra fizzy treble. It's pretty easy to simulate this curve in software and there are quite decent and accurate implementations around.
So RCA Left and Right out f the turntable, into the two 1/4" unbalanced connectors on the side of the BFPfs, set to -10dBv and gain at maximum +9dB.
Comes into the DAW and I apply an approximation of the RIAA EQ curve. Apply +24dB of gain and we are now listening to a vinyl record on the computer, and it sounds decent enough.
I am not saying that this method is anywhere near the best method. The signal is simply far too small for those inputs on this device to do much with. It would be preferable to purchase or build a small amplifier circuit with adjustable impedance to handle different cartridges that may arise. This could then feed mic pre amps balanced and just be cleaner and more accurate overall. Or one could buy an off-the-shelf phono pre with built in RIAA EQ and just use it as is, very easy and mostly decent enough results. Heck, one could always utilise the phono pre in an integrated amplifier if it has one and has tape record outputs.
Unfortunately, I've discovered that the left signal and right ground wires broke free from their solder point. Tiny ultra thin wires that lead up to the 4 pole socket for the tone arm, nothing to really solder there. Other issues need attending to with this deck, but it was nice to pull it out of storage and mess about with it. Also nice to confirm that I could use the BFPfs for this and get a working result, even if not perfect.
I forgot how much of a faff dealing with such large and fragile, thin and bendy discs of plastic was. Why would anyone want to go back to vinyl when digital solves so many issues, and is crazy convenient? Each to their own, not for me though.
I thought it might be useful to post this for anyone else wanting to 'have a go' and not finding any useful information online, or rather lots of "don't do it" messages.
I hooked up the old NAD 5120 with Ortofom OMB (?) MM cart to the RME Babyface Pro fs analogue 3/4 inputs. These inputs are for unbalanced line level sources like CD players, cassette decks for example, but are also capable of handling a passive (normal) electric guitar pickup output so one can play guitar or bass in directly and use amp sims or re-amp the recording later. The cartridge/stylus, from what I gather, is expecting to see a 47k Ohm impedance. Mic preamps are not suitable as they are in the 1-10k Ohms range and will massively screw up the frequency response. The DI inputs on this interface are both 1Meg Ohm so may also add some frequency response problems but won't be anywhere near as bad and won't 'load down' the cartridge.
Next is RIAA de-emphasis. Vinyl is created from an audio source that is EQ'd to suck the bass out and boost the treble, we're talking +/-20 dB at the extremes here. This is so so that more play time can be cut into the vinyl disc and for other technical reasons that are well published. When using a device without this RIAA EQ de-emphasis everything is going to sound very bad, no bottom end and ultra fizzy treble. It's pretty easy to simulate this curve in software and there are quite decent and accurate implementations around.
So RCA Left and Right out f the turntable, into the two 1/4" unbalanced connectors on the side of the BFPfs, set to -10dBv and gain at maximum +9dB.
Comes into the DAW and I apply an approximation of the RIAA EQ curve. Apply +24dB of gain and we are now listening to a vinyl record on the computer, and it sounds decent enough.
I am not saying that this method is anywhere near the best method. The signal is simply far too small for those inputs on this device to do much with. It would be preferable to purchase or build a small amplifier circuit with adjustable impedance to handle different cartridges that may arise. This could then feed mic pre amps balanced and just be cleaner and more accurate overall. Or one could buy an off-the-shelf phono pre with built in RIAA EQ and just use it as is, very easy and mostly decent enough results. Heck, one could always utilise the phono pre in an integrated amplifier if it has one and has tape record outputs.
Unfortunately, I've discovered that the left signal and right ground wires broke free from their solder point. Tiny ultra thin wires that lead up to the 4 pole socket for the tone arm, nothing to really solder there. Other issues need attending to with this deck, but it was nice to pull it out of storage and mess about with it. Also nice to confirm that I could use the BFPfs for this and get a working result, even if not perfect.
I forgot how much of a faff dealing with such large and fragile, thin and bendy discs of plastic was. Why would anyone want to go back to vinyl when digital solves so many issues, and is crazy convenient? Each to their own, not for me though.