Connecting turntables to a computer

[globalloon]

my decks are set up right next to my pc

what do i need to do to plug my dex into my pc to record, or my pc into my mixer, to add homemade sounds??

[General Lighting]

Originally posted by globalloon

my decks are set up right next to my pc

what do i need to do to plug my dex into my pc to record, or my pc into my mixer, to add homemade sounds??

do you mean recording software, connection leads or both?

[globalloon]

both or either

[General Lighting]

I'm assuming you have a bog standard sound card and nothing flash..

you will need 2 sets of 3.5mm stereo jack leads to 2 x phono (RCA) plugs

one lead is connected so the of plugs are plugged into the record output of the mixer and the 3.5mm jack goes to the LINE IN socket on your soundcard. This connection is for recording from the decks

the other lead is connected so the 3.5mm jack comes from the LINE OUT socket of the sound card and the phono plugs are connected to a LINE IN one the mixer. This connection is for playing out WAV or Mp3 files from the PC through the mixer

don't turn up the fader connected to the PC line out when you are trying to record from the PC or you will get a feedback loop and/or blow your speakers - if you use one of the mixer line in channels which is shared with a deck on the phono/line switch its harder to make this mistake (but be careful if you use this switch for cutting in/out the sound from the decks whilst mixing)

for sound recording there are some freeware wave editors.

remember that digital recording levels (the ones on thePC) go from -infinity to 0db and no more- you cannot run a digital recording into the red or it will clip and sound like shit. You will have to tweak the levels of your mixer to ensure this does not happen.

There are other cheap sources of pro software but in this day and age I wouldn't discuss traffiking "warez" over a public forum any more than I would stolen hardware...

[globalloon]

i have neundo2

if i set it up to record an audio track from my sound card, that should do it... i think?

thanks GL

[General Lighting]

Originally posted by globalloon

i have neundo2

if i set it up to record an audio track from my sound card, that should do it... i think?

thanks GL

yep that should do it. watch those levels though as its otherwise easy to fuck up a good recording of a mix - especially if you are used to analogue tape recording where you can go over 0db

[globalloon]

Originally posted by General Lighting

remember that digital recording levels (the ones on thePC) go from -infinity to 0db and no more- you cannot run a digital recording into the red or it will clip and sound like shit.
...

does that read -infinity to 0db as in negative infinity to 0db?

i don't understand that measurement very well

[General Lighting]

yep that's correct. 0dB is the maximum audio level of the recording channel or audio circuit you are using and minus infinity is the minimum (i.e silence)

it is a strange concept to grasp, and it is even more confusing in broadcast as different countries have different ideas of what 0db actually is... as do the BBC and ITV. although in pro broadcast post-downsizing it often just all goes through a compressor and no one gives a flying fuck anymore provided they can hear it and the transmitter isn't being overloaded.

[globalloon]

thanks for clearing that up

electronics have never been any kind of point with me, let alone a stong point

sounds like you know your stuff and don't appreciate the waste of knowledge and skills that deregulated media has led to. and i don't blame you

well if i get round to recording a mix before babsy arrives i'll post it up

thanks again GL

[Nomad]

Goldwave is pretty damn good,really intuitive and easy to use.After you have done the recording,Goldwave has excellent editing functions,most usefully the noise and hum reduction.