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General discussion

inputs for LP-to-digital

Apr 2, 2006 8:37AM PDT

In the context of getting vinyl records into digital recordings, what is the difference between a line input and a microphone input? will either work?

Discussion is locked

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Apr 3, 2006 10:08AM PDT

thanks but searching didn't turn up much info

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That link explained it in depth.
Apr 3, 2006 10:36AM PDT

Please share what terms you didn't understand.

Bob

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(NT) (NT) It could have something to do with 4,000,000 links?
Apr 3, 2006 12:51PM PDT
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my appologies
Apr 4, 2006 4:55AM PDT

for not searching in depth, but then it is my understanding that if i wanted to use my laptop's mic input, it would be best to use the signal coming right from the record player and if i wanted to use a line level input, i would use the signal from the amplifier?

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That might be very close.
Apr 4, 2006 5:57AM PDT

I think you nailed it on the "line level input, i would use the signal from the amplifier" but the other input and output might be a bit strong. Try it on the line input first and see if it works there. If it's fair too faint, move to the mic input.

What's missing are all those Vu meters we used to outfit a recording setup with. Today we just wing it ( a lot ) !

Bob

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Probably wrong. It was assumed 'in the day' that a record
Apr 4, 2006 9:24AM PDT

player would be plugged in to a phono input on a preamp. The phono input has special circuitry to perform equalization on audio coming from the phono cartridge. If your record player signal is low enough to work in a mic input, it needs that equalization processing. If it's been equalized and amplified, it's probably too hot for the mic input.

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A line level signal comes from a pre-amp or similar
Apr 2, 2006 8:48AM PDT

device. It has a much more powerful level than a mic. Mic inputs can be used for line level sources, but not very well. The volume would need to be reduced significantly to avoid overloading, and the result would still not be especially good.

I'm assuming that you know what is needed to get an LP source to a pre-amp output.