ee109274 Posted September 14, 2023 Posted September 14, 2023 Hello! I'm trying to figure out a way to plug a very old Nakamichi CR-3A cassette player into an analog to digital converter that has a USB output so I can stream real time to Roon. Is this possible? Anyone have any ideas about equipment? Thank you!
frednork Posted September 14, 2023 Posted September 14, 2023 @andyr does this from his TT. am sure he will be along soon to give you the down low. 1
andyr Posted September 14, 2023 Posted September 14, 2023 (edited) 9 hours ago, frednork said: @andyr does this from his TT. am sure he will be along soon to give you the down low. Absoloootely, Mark! Although I still get occasional glitches happening - usually solved by a reboot of my PC. 11 hours ago, ee109274 said: Hello! I'm trying to figure out a way to plug a very old Nakamichi CR-3A cassette player into an analog to digital converter that has a USB output so I can stream real time to Roon. Is this possible? Anyone have any ideas about equipment? Thank you! Hi Erik, Yes, you can stream your cassette playing through Roon - as Mark said, I do this with my vinyl. But if you are going to do this ... can I suggest you take the final step and implement a "FIR filter overlay" (ie. DSP) in Roon, which will make your spkrs more resolving (and so, better sounding). There are a few steps in this process - but, if you get into trouble, you should be able to get some help from Roon experts here ... or on the Roon Forum. #1: Can you set the sampling rate in your A2D converter? I set mine to 24bit/96kHz - but, given your music is coming from a cassette player ... I suspect 16bit/48kHz will be appropriate. #2: You need two pieces of (free!) software to use with Roon: 'Icecast', and 'BUTT' - 'Broadcast Using This Tool'. When you download Icecast, various files will be loaded into an 'Icecast' folder; the file you need to fire up is "icecast.bat" - and the easiest process is to make a short-cut for this on your desktop ... so you can simply double-click on it. I downloaded the BUTT file to my desktop. These two need to be fired up before you launch Roon - first icecast ... then BUTT. What you then see on your screen is this: #3: Roon has a "My Live Radio" command - which has an "Add station" command. Mine looks like this: #4: So when I select "Vinyl" ... Roon plays the stream coming in through the USB cable from my A2D converter - as a local radio station. Good luck! Andy Edited September 14, 2023 by andyr
stereo coffee Posted September 14, 2023 Posted September 14, 2023 Surely it is easier to use a small FM transmitter from the source to a AM/FM Tuner. I am sort of comparing what has been suggested as trying to get to the shop 5 minutes away by going the opposite way around the earth to get there.
ee109274 Posted September 15, 2023 Author Posted September 15, 2023 Thank you but I need specific recommendations on A2D converters
andyr Posted September 15, 2023 Posted September 15, 2023 1 minute ago, ee109274 said: Thank you but I need specific recommendations on A2D converters I wouldn't have thought so - surely, any A2D converter which outputs USB will do? (My A2D converter is a kit from Uwe Beis - so mine is probably not a contender for you.)
davewantsmoore Posted September 15, 2023 Posted September 15, 2023 15 hours ago, ee109274 said: Hello! I'm trying to figure out a way to plug a very old Nakamichi CR-3A cassette player into an analog to digital converter that has a USB output so I can stream real time to Roon. Is this possible? Anyone have any ideas about equipment? Thank you! The only way to do "real time" ... is using the "radio station" method (tricking Roon into thinking the USB audio input is a "Radio Station"). Otherwise, what you might be looking to do, is to record your cassettes to digital files, and then load those audio files into your Roon library. If you are looking to do that, then you can record the USB input, using some audio-workstation software, for example: Audacity. You can edit the "file tags" inside Audacity, or using other "tag editing" software .... this will mean that when the files are loaded into Roon, it knows what they are (because you put all the Artist / Album / Track info inside the file). 1 hour ago, ee109274 said: Thank you but I need specific recommendations on A2D converters Budget?
aussievintage Posted September 15, 2023 Posted September 15, 2023 21 minutes ago, davewantsmoore said: Budget? Yes, because you can get devices under $50 that will do the job
ee109274 Posted September 15, 2023 Author Posted September 15, 2023 Well if $50 for an a2d will work then that’s fine but I could go up to $200 or so
aussievintage Posted September 15, 2023 Posted September 15, 2023 (edited) 5 minutes ago, ee109274 said: Well if $50 for an a2d will work then that’s fine but I could go up to $200 or so Sure it will work. This one is under $20 - just depends what you want https://www.amazon.com.au/UGREEN-External-Headphone-Microphone-Desktops/dp/B01N905VOY/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1ZPN401L2HR6L&keywords=usb+sound+card&qid=1694759645&sprefix=usb+sound+card%2Caps%2C262&sr=8-6 Edited September 15, 2023 by aussievintage 1
ee109274 Posted September 16, 2023 Author Posted September 16, 2023 That a2d is currently unavailable and takes mic jacks instead of rca, which I know there are adapters but they degrade sound quality
aussievintage Posted September 16, 2023 Posted September 16, 2023 (edited) 3 hours ago, ee109274 said: That a2d is currently unavailable and takes mic jacks instead of rca, which I know there are adapters but they degrade sound quality It is in stock and available here. Many adapters have sufficient flexibility and gain control to handle any signal from line level to microphone. I only posted it only as an extremely cheap example. Do a little searching of your own, you'll find plenty. As for sound quality, what do you require? I have a different cheap one I bought to compare and experiment with, and I think you would be surprised. But as I said, do some searching, and find something a bit more to your liking. Edited September 16, 2023 by aussievintage
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