Novice, Digitizing Vinyl & 78s - Seeking Equipment Recommendations

[Medsca]

What kind of onboard audio does your PC have to offer? That may very well turn out to be good enough (assuming there's a line-in which should generally be the case). It's not like you need a studio-grade ADC to adequately record vinyl, and onboard chips and their implementations have become pretty good. If the digital filter seems questionable, just record at the highest sample rate supported and resample later to anywhere from 96 to 44.1 kHz if need be. (I think you want at least 96k for better click/pop identification anyway.)
Also note that Realtek drivers seem to default to a +6 dB input gain, so a bit more headroom could be unlocked if you find you're running into clipping on peaks. (This may be because the microphone input on some chips like the ALC897 clips soon after reaching -6 dBFS, though this should be of no concern with the line-in.)
Access old input device properties from the system sound settings in Windows, where you can toggle level slider number fields between % and dB display. (Avoid input gains of <0 dB.)

The recording setup I'd use is
Technics --> short RCA cable --> NAD phono MM in, tape out --> RCA to 3.5 mm cable --> onboard line-in.
Best positioning of turntable and preamp is arguably back-to-back, but if you can stack then without any extra hum, that's fine too.
The DAC would only see use for monitoring and playback.

Monitor on headphones and avoid bumps and vibration. Something like a concrete slab on halved tennis balls underneath may provide the necessary isolation if need be. (The first-gen SL-1300 is not a subchassis player yet, apparently.)
Clean records extremely well, consider wet playing. Check strobo for speed accuracy at each side. The user-accessible pitch pots and their trimpot counterparts (plus speed selector) should have been previously cleaned so that they operate smoothly and without dropouts. Unstable speed only on 45 may be an indication of some recapping action being needed. (TL;DR: Turntable and records should be in tip-top shape.)

Also, always check whether the record in question can be bought in digital form with sensible mastering levels and such. Ripping vinyl is a slow and tedious task at the best of times.

Very helpful, a lot of work!

 

[Medsca]

You need something to convert the signal from the NAD to digital so you can record it on your pc.

You can either use a phono stage that converts the signal to digital and into your pc like this

ADept

The miniDSP ADept is a compact high-resolution A/D (analog-to-digital) convertor that accepts single-ended (RCA) or balanced (on XLR) audio signals. The digital output is available on SPDIF coaxial and TOSLINK optical connectors, and can also be recorded to a computer or mobile device via the...

www.minidsp.com

Or you need an audio to digital converter from the NAD to your PC

(Or like Steph says does your pc have a line in ?)

Very helpful! Whole lot to think about!

 

[Apesbrain]

I also do not have a USB interface, recommendations?

The safe bet used to be either the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or MOTU M2. The latest generation of the Scarlett, however, has lost some performance. The MOTU remains a fine choice at about $200.

If you want to spend more, look at RME. To spend less, look at TASCAM.

For most of these interfaces, you'll need an "RCA-to-TS" cable:

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CPR-202-Stereo-Interconnect-Meters/dp/B000068O17

The TASCAM US-1x2HR right now might be the best choice as it is a bargain ($120) and does not require the above cable.

 

[lini]

(...) The TASCAM US-1x2HR right now might be the best choice as it is a bargain ($120) and does not require the above cable.

Careful there! While the latter part ("(...) does not require the above cable.") is true, as the US-1x2HR sports an additional unbalaced stereo line-in in form of two RCA jacks at the rear side, the problem is, that this unbalanced line-in doesn't sport hardware gain/level control (as one can easily see in the block diagram for example over there: https://www.manualslib.de/manual/713243/Tascam-Us-1X2Hr.html?page=23#manual). Hence for hifi purposes I'd never recommend one of those models, that don't offer at least two identical input channels with hardware gain/level control.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[dualazmak]

For on-the-fly playing and digitizing (digital recording) of my vinyl LPs in my PC-DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio rig, I have used (and I still can use now, if needed);

Turn Table and Arm: DENON DP-58L (for 33 1/3 and 45 rpm)
Cartridge: DENON DL-301MkII (MC) and AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-VM95+AT-VMN95E (MM),
Phono Equalizer Amplifier: AUDIO-TECHNICA AT-PEQ30,
Audio Interface: TASCAM US-1x2HR

(I understand well you need another TT and Cartridge for 78 rpm old vinyl disks; fortunately, I myself have no 78s needed to be digitized.)

If you would be interested, please visit my posts on my project thread;

- How to organize digital music library; sharing my policy and operation: #004(remote thread), #346

- Revival of analog LP player (MC cartridge) in my DSP multichannel multi-driver multi-amplifier fully active stereo system for real time on-the-fly vinyl LP listening (and digital recording, if needed): #688

- Inside of Audio-Technica AT-PEQ30 phono preamplifier, and successful DIY suppression of inaudible EMF (electro-magnetic field) interference noise: #697

- Another comparative listening, on-the-fly vinyl LP vs. Remastered CD: analog piano solo recorded in 1967: #722

- Another comparative listening; on-the-fly remastered vinyl LP vs. remastered CD: Bill Evans jazz piano trio, analog recorded in 1977; remastered (2021) vinyl LP (45-RPM 188-gram) vs. its CD release: #740

- Audio-Technica MM phono cartridge AT-VM95 and elliptical stylus AT-VMN95E: An Affordable but unexpectedly excellent supplemental (backup, contingency) MM cartridge for the main MC DENON DL-301II: #995

- The latest system setup of my DSP-based multichannel multi-SP-driver multi-amplifier fully active audio rig, including updated startup/ignition sequences and shutdown sequences: as of June 26, 2024: #931

- The latest Fq-SPL (re-confirmation) of multiple amplifiers SP high-level output signals and that of room air sound at listening position: all measured by “FFT averaging of recorded cumulative DSP-processed flat white noise” (as of June 8, 2025): #1,009

Spoiler

 

[jp4573]

I also do not have a USB interface, recommendations? Most I looked at are for guitar and voice. Are there any specific to AD? Something effective and simple

This one is recognized by windows, no need to install special drivers. Is an old model and was only sold in Japan.
Of course there is a risk getting an used item, but in this case is shipped by Amazon.

Amazon.co.jp: ONKYO SE-U55SX(W) WAVIO USB Digital Audio Processor White : Computers

Amazon.co.jp: ONKYO SE-U55SX(W) WAVIO USB Digital Audio Processor White : Computers

www.amazon.co.jp

 

[jp4573]

https://en.namu.wiki/w/%EC%98%A8%EC%BF%84%20U55SX%E2%85%A1

 

[Apesbrain]

@lini , are you saying above that the gain controls on the front of that TASCAM do not act upon the rear panel line input?

If so, I'd agree that eliminates the unit from consideration.

 

[lini]

@lini , are you saying above that the gain controls on the front of that TASCAM do not act upon the rear panel line input?

Yes, exactly that.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Ben Jenssen]

Didn't read the whole thread, but I've been working on digitizing old LPs for a while now. In short; I've found that he most important factors to getting the results I'm getting now are:
• Very good cartridge. I find moving coil to be always better than moving magnet, and I now use a Ortofon MC x10. Of course, correct stylus pressure and anti-scating settings is essential.
• Good MC preamp. I now use a Rega Fono MC.
• An ok ADC device. I use Topping E2x2.
• Good click-removing software. I use iZotope RX11 Declicker. Gives fantastic results without ruining anything.

Of course, a good listening environment is essential to be able to judge the quality of these things. My Dynaudios, Topping DAC and Sony amp does this for me.

You can check out examples here: 24bit, 48kHz, each file is a complete side of the LP. Remember, these are old, worn, first pressings from 40-50-60 years ago, and the RX11 cleanup works great.

Platearkiv - Google Drive

drive.google.com