I connected the line out on my soundcard (turtle beach santa cruz) to the tape out on my amp, which was connected of course to my record player. Now, i don't have an amazing amplifier or record player, but the results were shockingly crappy. Are there any vinyl ripping experts here who can tell me what they do and what might cause bad sound? (i mean, lots of noise/distortion)

Does it craps when you record (recording level too high / mic input instead of line in), or even when you listen to a record in the ampli (MM/MC switch set to MC instead of MM / turntable plugged into a line input instead of phono input / dead stylus) ?

hm does it sound as crappy as when you listen to it directly at your speakers?

it has always to be like that i think: phono out => preamp in => preamp out => a/d => pc

if it is not better at your speakers maybe your vinyl player is bad or the preamp

Sorry, but I believe you wrongly described how you did the connections:
>I connected the line out on my soundcard (turtle
>beach santa cruz) to the tape out on my amp

The correct is: Line IN(sound card) --> Tape OUT(amp)

Select the source to Phono(volume, tone, balance will not affect the signal) and when you play a disc the signal goes pre-amplified to your soundcard.
At this point adjust te recording level in your software(or Windows Volume Control-Mixer).
This way, the recorded wav will sound as good as the original.
On the Record Player, check its tone arm adjustments and the stylus condition(if its too old, replace it).
Record one big wav for each side and later trim the tracks via software.
I use and recommend Cool Edit 2000.

Grounding issues are common when combining old with new school equipment. You might have to de-earth your stereo or computer to eliminate earth leak noise. The safest way to do this is to remove the earth pin from a double adapter with plyers and then either plug your computer or stereo into it (this is so you do not have to damage the power plugs on your equipment).

This is often neccessary because X2 earth pins is a double minus which therefore equals a plus.

If it's loud hum - had some similar troubles with a Bang Olfusen turntable. Connect a wire form the ground of the turntable (if it doesn't have one, connect the ground on the RCA/whatver connector you have) to the phono preamp / amp's ground. Make sure that the pre/amp doesn't have its own grounding.

May I suggest and old favorite of mine?

Mike Richter's Page

Perhaps could be of help in your vinyl ripping endeavors.