planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I have a Technics SL-5 linear tracking turntable and maybe 100 albums. One that I'd like to play, but can't is a 78 that my friend gave me that was her late father's. It's a recording of Army bugle calls (I've ever been in the military, but it's just such a strange (to me) subject - as is another one I was given of Robert Kennedy speeches). My turntable has one tic though which would cost more to fix than not. When it comes to the end of the album instead of returning to the beginning of the platter and turning off it goes back and then drops down again. To turn over the record I have to lift the cover to stop the motor. I like the tonal difference between a vinyl disc and a bunch of ones and zeros, but I'd still kind of like to convert them to digital to save space and be able to rearrange my equipment - I need more room for my DVDs, eventual Blu Rays, and books.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

Jerry,

I had a very simple wire gauge for measuring tracking force. It had a scale where you read off the weight based on the amount of bending of the wire. I didn't have much faith in the accuracy.

The tracking force applied at the point where the stylus touches the record was adjustable on good turntables. The force was applied either via a calibrated spring at the up/down axis of the tonearm, or via a counterweight on the rear of the arm. In my day (no idea regarding today's comeback turntables) the optimum tracking force was around 3/4 gram.

The inertial mass of the tonearm is a totally separate issue, and that is what was wrong with my friend's Dual turntable. (Heck, even the 3-foot-long 2 x 4 tonearm I referred to jokingly in a previous post could have been adjusted for only 3/4 gram tracking force!) If the inertial mass of the tonearm is high then a warp in the record can't lift the cartridge up fast enough and the stylus will essentially cut into the groove with excessive force.

And then we had the anti-skating adjustment to deal with… unless one had the linear tracking turntable that planepics referred to above.

Tending and caring for turntables… way more fun than dropping a few CDs into a player!!!

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

Was there not a setting for single vs repeat play? Or is that the thing that needs repair?

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

Never thought of that...it does, but I just checked with my Dave Brubeck double concert album...and it seems nothing works right! The "repeat" button merely lifts the needle and the rest is worse that I thought...the buttons USED to function - time for a new turntable, except I just spent about $800 on a new TV and Blu-Ray player, I'm months behind on rent to my dad (any decent appt around here costs about what my entire monthly income is...even a studio would cost me about 2 paychecks a month), plus I owe him for a loan to pay off next year's vacation, and I have another 3 yrs to pay on my car, and....

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Mark you have already had some good advice from many people.

It looks as though you are in luck with your receiver, on page 14 of your manual http://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/media/i3d/01/A/man-migrate/MANUAL000032242.pdf
It looks as though you have phono inputs, so your record deck should plug in directly.

If not, then a preamp like the one here will be needed to convert the signal to line level signals: http://www.amazon.com/TC-750LC-BLACK-Professional-Moving-Magnet/dp/B000A36XZS/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1451752616&sr=8-11&keywords=phono+preamp

It is also possible to buy a turntable with a preamp built in such as this: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Automatic-Stereo-Turntable-Oxygen-Free/dp/B00K0LTJQK/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1451753664&sr=1-3&keywords=sony+turntable but for anyone with an existing decent turntable but a receiver without phono inputs then the external preamp is a good option to play vinyl through your audio system.

For recording just hook up the line out / tape outputs from the receiver to the computer. It's easy to find converter cable from phono to 3.5mm jacks or whatever that will plug into the line inputs of a computer.

Then you need the software to record and edit the album. I use Goldwave, but there are many applications available. With these packages you can edit the album into separate tracks, clean up the audio in various ways if desired (pops / clicks / rumble / hiss etc.) and then edit to your heart's content and convert to mp3, make CDs, ring tones, whatever you want! Also, if you have DVDs of concerts you can record the audio for conversion to mp3 or CD to play in your car or whatever.

Finally, although most 'modern' turntables will not play 78pm discs (just 45 or 33 1/3) you can still record them and increase the speed to the appropriate level using the software.

With a scanner, or images from the internet you can then use printable CDs / DVDs to create high quality looking packaging with an appropriate color printer.

My audio receiver, cassette deck and turntable sit right beside my Canon Pixma 9000 mk II in my home office, makes it very easy to create digital copies while doing other useful things.

Good luck, you should be able to make all of this work.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Most turntables like yours won't play 78s at the correct speed, but you can still hook them up and record the audio and then speed it up with audio software. Goldwave will do that, and I'm sure that other packages will be able to.

Good luck.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

Does it make any sense to wish you a Happy New Year? Maybe I should say Happier New Year!!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

They were invented by a bum named Al???!! LoL
I have no idea!!!!
Will somebody please do the merciful thing and TELL me!!!!!
SS

ecar Loc: Oregon, USA

Hope you can get this link:

http://www2.pulsetv.com/prodinfo.asp?number=6007&rcid=117

If you can't click on it, copy & Paste it.

Collie lover Loc: St. Louis, MO

LP means long play.

jboy24 Loc: Downey Ca,

Am I a little late to the party? As a music- vinyl lover collector audiophile guy of 48 years this really warms my hart to see a thread like this. Back in the 80's when digital first appeared the digital camp motto was "vinyl is dead" boy were they wrong. My Sota Cosmos Grahm arm Sheau cart puts out some very sweet sounds with all the dynamic range one could ever want couple that with vacuum tubes it is like heaven. Don't get me wrong there are some very good solid state rigs out there as is CD rigs but analogue/vinyl is special. It is great to see that vinyl production is up, in fact it has been going up for at least three years now as are turntable sales as a matter of fact there are a ton of turntable companies putting out new tables world wide. Also I met a Female Artist who has several albums out on CD and she is releasing here newest on vinyl and she told me that she just made the cut as the record processing plant stooped taking orders for new vinyl because they are at maximum production, this was back in late October. I've heard that also in the UK and other vinyl production plants. VINYL STILL LIVES so lets enjoy the music.

jboy24 Loc: Downey Ca,

As photography is my second love I never thought I would see a Record Album thread on this photo forum, awesome!

coj Loc: NJ, USA

Time to move, my friend. Or get three room mates.

JohnFrim Loc: Somewhere in the Great White North.

I followed the link out of curiosity. Claims to be $129.99 value for $19.99??? The second tab gives reviews of the product… not very positive. Buyer beware.

Mike W. Loc: Cullman Al.

As a young boy we had a few of the 78's. I was a Elvis Presley fan. I had a copy of Hound Dog/ Don't be Cruel. I carried it everywhere until I dropped it on my grandmother's floor. It broke like glass. There is no telling what that would be worth today.