Can I use my Nakamichi cassette deck to record on tape into a Schiit Freya plus preamp?


I have a newer model Freya Plus preamp but it does not have tape IN or output for tape on it. No tape monitor button present on this very nice sounding preamp. I want to record off records like the old days and just wondering if this is possible. Am using a phono-stage with a restored Dual 1249 turntable. I can enjoy the sound just on playback right now using the turntable but I want to record. Can you help? 

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just to record, luckily your preamp has 3 sets of outputs (1 pr xlr, 2 pr rca labeled se single ended). I didn’t read the manual, presumably all active, (possible/perhaps a menu setting activates/deactivates them)

 

you could use one of the rca out to the cassette deck in, and use any line level in the freya from the cassette deck’s out which is adjustable line level.

gotta watch your volume controls, because both the freya’s output and cassette deck’s input volumes would be in line, as well as the cassette deck’s output volume when listening to it.

experiment until you find a strong enough but not too strong setting out of the freya. you would need to do preliminary test to select recording level on the cassette deck for each LP, possibly a particular track would benefit from individual adjustment, especially if a compilation LP, perhaps record each track separately if you need for best results.

test, record/pause: watch cassette deck meters, then start over: freya using it’s input from the phono; freya out to the cassette deck

now the question: other freya xlr or rca out, or freya xlr out: active, listening? you would be listening to the cartridge/phono, hearing what the cassette deck was receiving; not listening to the tape as a proper tape monitor loop allows you to do.

recording level: you want as strong a signal as the tape type can handle, even occasional momentary dips into the red, but not too strong that the signal ends up distorted. practice, too low a signal, playing it too safe results in more tape noise. Find locations on the LP of portions of strong dynamics, check/set it there.

 

btw, your separate phono stage (after it’s riaa eq is done) is line level out. you can run that straight into your cassette deck, skip the freya,

or, put a two way splitter, 1 out to the freya, 1 out to cassette deck.

or an A/B switch, phono to switch, A to the freya; B to the cassette deck.

advantage: all 3 skip the freya volume control.

Connect a Sony SB-500 tape recorder switch box between the phono stage and the Freya+ preamp to add tape looping functionality.