No line in jack socket on laptop - USB alternatives?

[Blackadder]

Hi - I'm contemplating the most economical way of connecting my turntable to the laptop where I have installed VinylStudio. 

I have "record/tape out" phono sockets on the rear of my Rotel preamp which will presumably supply a suitable signal to the laptop, but I don't have a "line in" jack on the laptop, so presumably I need to use a USB device.

Can you recommend a solution?  The NAD PP3 would give a USB out to the laptop, but it seems an expensive solution when I already have a perfectly serviceable (although admittedly maybe not quite as good!) preamp.  Is there a phono-to-USB or stereojack-to-USB converter of some sort?  Or do I need to bite the bullet and invest in a separate preamp with a USB out - maybe even a PP3?

Thanks a lot.   
Jules

[Paul Sanders (AlpineSoft)]

Hi,

Well, first of all just try running a cable from your Rotel preamp (which I'm sure is absolutely fine) to the input jack of your laptop.  Many modern laptops do now record in stereo and a quick test will reveal the truth.  The cable you need is readily available and is pictured here:

http://www.alpinesoft.co.uk/VinylStudio/connecting_up.aspx

If you find you are recording in mono, the Griffin iMic is a nice little device but it doesn't work with Windows Vista.  Behringer also make a couple of suitable devices for around the £30 mark, e.g.

http://www.chemical-records.co.uk/sc/servlet/Info?Track=UCA222

HTH