Pro-Ject Debut III USB Preamp Advice Options

[Engelsstaub]

I have the turntable mentioned in the title. I suppose it's no big news that the USB-out is sometimes too loud (no gain adjustment) with some vinyl (which results in clipping,) especially nearly every double-LP I own. Much to my dismay it also happens with a few regular ones like my mint original-pressing Black Sabbath "Mob Rules." For about 70% of my LPs it's fine, though "limited" to 16-bit resolution for recording.

My questions are these:

Would it be feasible to use something like the M-Audio Firewire Solo Amazon to record my needledrops from the preamp's RCA-outs to my Macintosh? (I'm using VinylStudio and it's pretty great IME.) If so, would I be able to effectively do so at 24-bit? (I don't imagine I hear any difference, but would like to do so for editing purposes.)

Any recommendations/good advice is greatly appreciated. (I wish I had researched this TT before I bought it. I'm considering trading it in later and getting a regular Debut III or something else in their line-up for under 800 USD...that's just not going to happen anytime really soon. I'm otherwise pleased with this TT's performance, so I wouldn't mind coming up with a good workaround. I get great results with many records and the hardware/software combingation.)

Pretty new to digitizing vinyl, so please forgive my ignorance.

[Apesbrain]

Absolutely, so long as you run the TT line level outputs into the "Phono" jack on the back of your preamp. You can take a signal for an external ADC from the main pre-amp out or the tape out. I do the former since there was for some reason a hum on the tape outs. For an ADC, I use the 24/96 Tascam 122 mk2. Total investment would be around $100 plus some cables if you don't already have them. (Note that for this ADC you need cables with 1/4" TRS plugs. Amazon has them; search "hosa cpr cable".)

Note: Actually the Tascam 144 mk 2 is cheaper on Amazon at the moment. Good deal!

This post has been edited by Apesbrain: May 10 2012, 20:35