The TTM 57SL route

If you have a TTM 57SL connect your turntable to a phono selected input on the mixer and connect your mixer to the computer using the normal USB lead. Jump forward to the heading on preparing your records.


Mixer & SL 1 unit route

You may have noticed that we have swapped the mixer and SL 1 unit around from the normal position for using Scratch LIVE.

The reason we advise you don't connect your turntable directly to the SL 1 unit is that the SL 1 is not designed to archive vinyl from a directly connected turntable. The feature that allows sampling from phono level inputs is intended just for that - quick sampling for effect, where the highest fidelity is not a priority. The SL 1 units primary function is to track control vinyl.

Connect your turntable to a phono input on your mixer. Then connect the master line out from your mixer to the SL 1 input and connect your SL 1 unit to your computer with the USB lead. Finally it's important that you go into the setup screen inside Scratch LIVE and select line input.

By using your mixer as a preamp and instructing your SL 1 unit to accept a line input you will get a perfect 16-bit CD quality recording.

RIAA equalisation
Before any piece of vinyl is manufactured the track has a minor treble boost and bass cut applied, this is known as the RIAA equalisation curve. When you play a record your phono preamp should have the ability to faithfully balance back the RIAA equalisation effect and hence return the track to it's original frequency response.

It's expected that every mixer with a phono preamp includes RIAA equalisation as it's an important feature. In reality higher-priced mixers will balance the RIAA effect to a better standard. If you are using a budget mixer it may be worth looking into using an alternative phono preamp. If you want to read more on what is the RIAA equalisation effect click here.

Using a third party device route

1. Some people may prefer to use an external phono preamp instead of their mixer. There are plenty on the market and deciding which one is best comes down to the more you invest the better the signal to noise ratio. The audio signal could then be sent into an external sound card, an SL 1 unit or the sound card in your computer to be digitised. Here are some links with further information on phono preamps.

2. Also on the market are small hardware devices that accept all number of analogue inputs, including phono. These devices will digitise the signal and send it via USB into your computer. Be careful and investigate these devices before you use them checking they do include the RIAA equalisation.

Preparing your records

It's well worth cleaning your vinyl properly and thoroughly as possible before you start. Cleaning off dust, grime and general dirt will reduce the chance of the needle skipping and you having to start recording again. Dirty vinyl will have more clicks in your recording so cleaning before you start will reduce the amount of time you spent editing the waveforms on your computer.

Use a specially designed record cleaning brush. Here is one of the most in-depth articles we found on how to clean your vinyl. After playing a record check the stylus tip, it's likely there will be a tiny amount of dust collected there.