ADC's With USB Input

[Indy33]

The seems to be plenty of DACs, but just a small nmber of of ADCs.

Looking for suggestions for a ADC with/without a phono amp. My budget is $500 to $1000.
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[LateJunction]

I have been using a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, 2ng generation, since I started using VinylStudio in 2017. While this generation of ADC has been replaced twice by Focusrite since then it's performance is more than adequate for my needs. I new 4th gen version will fall well within your budget and might have the level of performance you need. The quality of manufacturing is god; some reports/reviews suggest the components are not the most highly rated (whatever that means), but in practice that might not be significant at all.

There are at least 5 credible alternative brands to this range of Focusrite ADCs. YouTube has a wide range of videos on the subject, some even claiming to be product reviews, but too many of them act as an interlude to rest the eyes and ears in breaks between the advertisements.

At an entry level of price you might also consider the Behringer series of USB ADCs. I have a UCA202 which has been in continual use (i.e. not powered off) for more than 7 years on another application. It can also act as a back-up to my Focusrite. If I were not completely satisfied with its price/performance, I would have replaced it years ago.

[Indy33]

Are those kinds of audio interfaces geared towards someone that is mixing sounds.? I will take a look them.

Thanks for the response !

[Andy Morris]

I have been using a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, 2ng generation, since I started using VinylStudio in 2017. While this generation of ADC has been replaced twice by Focusrite since then it's performance is more than adequate for my needs. I new 4th gen version will fall well within your budget and might have the level of performance you need. The quality of manufacturing is god; some reports/reviews suggest the components are not the most highly rated (whatever that means), but in practice that might not be significant at all.

There are at least 5 credible alternative brands to this range of Focusrite ADCs. YouTube has a wide range of videos on the subject, some even claiming to be product reviews, but too many of them act as an interlude to rest the eyes and ears in breaks between the advertisements.

At an entry level of price you might also consider the Behringer series of USB ADCs. I have a UCA202 which has been in continual use (i.e. not powered off) for more than 7 years on another application. It can also act as a back-up to my Focusrite. If I were not completely satisfied with its price/performance, I would have replaced it years ago.

I'm tempted to move from a Behringer to a proper Interface, mainly because I'd like to record at a higher bit rate, if only to avoid the thing where you set the levels from the first track and then buddy really rocks out on the last track of side 2.  I know I could record at slightly lower, but it niggles me. 

[LateJunction]

I'm tempted to move from a Behringer to a proper Interface, mainly because I'd like to record at a higher bit rate, if only to avoid the thing where you set the levels from the first track and then buddy really rocks out on the last track of side 2.  I know I could record at slightly lower, but it niggles me.

I understand the issue well - wasted many hours of recordings over the last decade or so because of this scenario. The ideal solution would be to use an interface that has adaptive gain which works a bit like the exposure control on my camera, which uses an algorithm to switch between changing shutter speed versus changing ISO depending how much the light is less than ideal. So in an ideal audio interface an adaptive gain control should function depending on how large the change in sound level is and at what level it starts.

I know of no such hardware aimed at the consumer market.

The immediately more practical solution is, as you say, to record at a lower level (mine are almost always too high by about 3 to 5 dB) and the use a level adjustment in a post-production audio editor, of which there are many.

[LateJunction]

Are those kinds of audio interfaces geared towards someone that is mixing sounds.? I will take a look them.

Assuming you have enough inputs (there are professional audio interfaces that can take as many as 18 inpts will still being affordable by an enthusiastic consumer) and a suitable DAW to do the mixing, then yes.

Bearing in mind this is a forum aimed at users of VinylStudio, which is not designed specifically to handle audio mixing, my answer to your original post did not consider this requirement.

[Indy33]

Bearing in mind this is a forum aimed at users of VinylStudio, which is not designed specifically to handle audio mixing, my answer to your original post did not consider this requirement.

All I need to do is record the output coming off the turntable. I could also need a phono amp, then connect that to the ADC.
Going above my stated budget I've been considering the RME ADI-2 Pro SE, but nobody has one now that it's been discontinued.
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[LateJunction]

All I need to do is record the output coming off the turntable. I could also need a phono amp, then connect that to the ADC.
Going above my stated budget I've been considering the RME ADI-2 Pro SE, but nobody has one now that it's been discontinued.
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A quick look on Ebay UK shows a range of 3rd and 4th gen. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interfaces (which provides all the inputs you need, I think) , in fine condition, in the price range of (equivalent) $100 to $200. Your budget range would only be exceeded if you were seeking to be able to capture 24 to 32 bit samples at greater than 192 kHz - which is the sort of specification of a high-end professional recording studio might think of doing - and then they would have a budget in the $5K to $10K range for such an interface. Your stated budget should also cover a comparable level phono pre-amp, certainly for an MM cartridge and, used, a good MC cartridge.

I have compared vinyl recordings digitized at 24 bit, 96 kHz  and at 16 bit, 44.1 kHz on my home equipment, to the original disk in front of the lead violinist for a major UK Orchestra. His view was that the difference between the digital versions was barely discernible to him, with a very keen ear, while neither were quite as good as the analog original with its additional complement of surface noise, etc. So, for my personal use-case, I can see no justification for acquiring a super high-end audio interface.

[Andy Morris]

I understand the issue well - wasted many hours of recordings over the last decade or so because of this scenario. The ideal solution would be to use an interface that has adaptive gain which works a bit like the exposure control on my camera, which uses an algorithm to switch between changing shutter speed versus changing ISO depending how much the light is less than ideal. So in an ideal audio interface an adaptive gain control should function depending on how large the change in sound level is and at what level it starts.

That's what normalization does - after recording

As an experiment, using audacity:

• I took a track that I had recorded and converted to MP3 at 267 kps ( as track 1).
• Copied it to a new track 2
• I amplified it at -24db
• Exported it as a 32 bit wav,
• deleted track 2 in audacity 
• Reimported it as track 2
• Amplified it by +24db back to original volume 
• Compared it to the previous version, by inverting track 1, mixing the two track to a new track
• I had to amplify the difference track by over 120db to get an audible noise. 

Which probably shows that I'm being silly worrying about aiming to record at -6 db. 

[Indy33]

I have compared vinyl recordings digitized at 24 bit, 96 kHz  and at 16 bit, 44.1 kHz on my home equipment, to the original disk in front of the lead violinist for a major UK Orchestra. His view was that the difference between the digital versions was barely discernible to him, with a very keen ear,

Interesting test. I hear what you are saying, but somehow I have a problem  recording a less than DSD128 for my masters. Do you put DSD in the same category?
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