usb turntables

February 3, 2008

Hi,

Does anyone have an opinion as to which inexpensive usb turntable is the

best? I've read a couple of reviews, and all I got was confused. Also, do

you have a suggestion for software that will remove most of the noise?

Thanks for your help

--

sandy j

February 3, 2008

Re: usb turntables

They ( USB turntables ) are a fairly expensive item. Do you intend to

simply convert your Vinyl recordings to digital or actually play albums

with it ? Most of the USB turntables include a version of Audacity that

can be used to remove "Pops-&-Clicks" and other noise.

Personally, I have a standard turntable and a RIAA Pre-amp setup to

convert vinyl to digital. Both items together cost less than $70. I guess

the convenience of USB with a built-in pre amplifier for ~$160 might

be worth it - but not if you're simply converting a small collection of

vinyl records.

"sandy j" <sandyj@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:2C928EBF-86CA-48E0-982D-2D3DDFB11EC0@microsoft.com...

> Hi,

> Does anyone have an opinion as to which inexpensive usb turntable is the

> best? I've read a couple of reviews, and all I got was confused. Also,

> do

> you have a suggestion for software that will remove most of the noise?

>

> Thanks for your help

> --

> sandy j

February 3, 2008

Re: usb turntables

Thanks for your speedy response. I want to convert my vinyl to cd. I've

read several articles about using RIAA preamp and felt I was a fish out of

the water (a few years ago I read another article stating you could blow your

sound card if not done exactly right). I think I have about 100 to 150 lp's

to convert, and I've seen usb turntables on line for lowest $8?.?? for a low

end ION and STANTON for about $149.??. I like the idea of using the preamp

(do you also need to have speakers plugged into the amp?) , but I'm not as

technical as I use to be.

Thanks for any additional help you can provide

--

sandy j

"R. McCarty" wrote:

> They ( USB turntables ) are a fairly expensive item. Do you intend to

> simply convert your Vinyl recordings to digital or actually play albums

> with it ? Most of the USB turntables include a version of Audacity that

> can be used to remove "Pops-&-Clicks" and other noise.

>

> Personally, I have a standard turntable and a RIAA Pre-amp setup to

> convert vinyl to digital. Both items together cost less than $70. I guess

> the convenience of USB with a built-in pre amplifier for ~$160 might

> be worth it - but not if you're simply converting a small collection of

> vinyl records.

>

> "sandy j" <sandyj@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:2C928EBF-86CA-48E0-982D-2D3DDFB11EC0@microsoft.com...

> > Hi,

> > Does anyone have an opinion as to which inexpensive usb turntable is the

> > best? I've read a couple of reviews, and all I got was confused. Also,

> > do

> > you have a suggestion for software that will remove most of the noise?

> >

> > Thanks for your help

> > --

> > sandy j

>

February 3, 2008

Re: usb turntables

I have an older JVC table plugged into the phono

inputs of an older low end receiver. The tape out

of the receiver plugs into the Line In of the sound

card. All rca plugs.

I then use Audio Grabber to record the Line In and

store as WAV files on the PC. Nero burns them

as audio CDs.

Currently recording some really old Miles and Sonny Rollins.

February 3, 2008

Re: usb turntables

An RIAA Pre-amp is used to correct the mastering of Vinyl recording.

Generally, an album is mastered with a reduced Bass level. The Pre-Amp

restores a Flat response curve to the recording. Without a Preamp any

vinyl recording will have a "Tinny" sound to it.

I'd check around for a used turntable and amplifier. You can probably

get one for far less than a USB unit. The only questionable thing might be

the quality of the Cartridge/Needle in the turntable.

Conversion is a time consuming process. You have to capture audio,

clean it up, save to proper output format and then add Metadata to the

individual tracks. Unless the albums are "Rare", it might be simpler to

get them as downloads from services such as Rhapsody or iTunes but

with those you have to deal with the dreaded DRM.

"sandy j" <sandyj@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:644F0B9E-B3CE-4EEF-8171-DAAE2FF740BF@microsoft.com...

> Thanks for your speedy response. I want to convert my vinyl to cd. I've

> read several articles about using RIAA preamp and felt I was a fish out of

> the water (a few years ago I read another article stating you could blow

> your

> sound card if not done exactly right). I think I have about 100 to 150

> lp's

> to convert, and I've seen usb turntables on line for lowest $8?.?? for a

> low

> end ION and STANTON for about $149.??. I like the idea of using the

> preamp

> (do you also need to have speakers plugged into the amp?) , but I'm not as

> technical as I use to be.

>

> Thanks for any additional help you can provide

> --

> sandy j

>

> "R. McCarty" wrote:

>

>> They ( USB turntables ) are a fairly expensive item. Do you intend to

>> simply convert your Vinyl recordings to digital or actually play albums

>> with it ? Most of the USB turntables include a version of Audacity that

>> can be used to remove "Pops-&-Clicks" and other noise.

>>

>> Personally, I have a standard turntable and a RIAA Pre-amp setup to

>> convert vinyl to digital. Both items together cost less than $70. I guess

>> the convenience of USB with a built-in pre amplifier for ~$160 might

>> be worth it - but not if you're simply converting a small collection of

>> vinyl records.

>>

>> "sandy j" <sandyj@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:2C928EBF-86CA-48E0-982D-2D3DDFB11EC0@microsoft.com...

>> > Hi,

>> > Does anyone have an opinion as to which inexpensive usb turntable is

>> > the

>> > best? I've read a couple of reviews, and all I got was confused.

>> > Also,

>> > do

>> > you have a suggestion for software that will remove most of the noise?

>> >

>> > Thanks for your help

>> > --

>> > sandy j

>>

February 3, 2008

Re: usb turntables

Hi Nick,

Thanks for replying to my query. I have an old turntable, but I think it

may need a new belt, and I don't have an extra amp. The one I have is wired

and stapled in place and I would need a blue print to undo it. Do you know

anything about preamp R. McCarthy spoke of? Oh! Do you need to have extra

speakers, or will the sound come from the computer speakers while

recording/burning?

I didn't think anyone was still listening to Sonny Rollins or Miles. I

don't have much if any jazz, most of my collection if you want to call it

that, is 60's 70's & 80's, some of which hasn't been put on cd, and in the

end it will be cheaper to make my own.

--

sandy j

"nick" wrote:

> I have an older JVC table plugged into the phono

> inputs of an older low end receiver. The tape out

> of the receiver plugs into the Line In of the sound

> card. All rca plugs.

>

> I then use Audio Grabber to record the Line In and

> store as WAV files on the PC. Nero burns them

> as audio CDs.

>

> Currently recording some really old Miles and Sonny Rollins.

>

February 3, 2008

Re: usb turntables

sandy j wrote:

> Hi Nick,

> Thanks for replying to my query. I have an old turntable, but I think it

> may need a new belt, and I don't have an extra amp. The one I have is wired

> and stapled in place and I would need a blue print to undo it. Do you know

> anything about preamp R. McCarthy spoke of? Oh! Do you need to have extra

> speakers, or will the sound come from the computer speakers while

> recording/burning?

I just use the computer speakers to monitor the process.

As for a receiver, I have picked up a few at local thrift

shops for $5 and $10 per. As I am just using the pre-amp

section to go out thru tape out, quality seems unimportant.

Right this minute I am recording an OLD dave brubeck thru

a Vector Research stereo receiver (with an old slide-rule

radio dial). The receiver replaces the pre-amp that

R. McCarthy spoke of.

February 3, 2008

Re: usb turntables

>Does anyone have an opinion as to which inexpensive usb turntable is the

>best? I've read a couple of reviews, and all I got was confused. Also, do

>you have a suggestion for software that will remove most of the noise?

>

>Thanks for your help

Hi,

My own personal set up is a Rek-o-kut CVS-14 to my receiver's Phono

In's and outputed to my Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. I've been using Adobe

Audition to remove noise and for granular editing. I used to use Cool

Edit since WAY back and it's now become Audition. Diamond Cut also has

a piece of software that is supposed to really blow away the features

in Audition. Check it out here: http://www.diamondcut.com

Have you seen reviews of the Audio Technica unit? I am a subscriber to

Sound and Vision magazine and saw a blurb on it, there's one online

here:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/columns/2543/gadget-gary-audio-technica-at-lp2d-usb-lp-to-mp3-converter.html

I did once see a couple other USB turntable models but it's all about

your needs I guess. DO you only need 33 1/3 and 45 RPM? 16 RPM? 78RPM?

- Thee Chicago Wolf

February 3, 2008

Re: usb turntables

From: "Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.>

< snip >

|

| I did once see a couple other USB turntable models but it's all about

| your needs I guess. DO you only need 33 1/3 and 45 RPM? 16 RPM? 78RPM?

|

| - Thee Chicago Wolf

16rpm ?

That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

--

Dave

http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html

Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

February 3, 2008

Re: usb turntables

You get on low battery. :)

"David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in message

news:uQtEW0qZIHA.4808@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> From: "Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.>

>

> < snip >

>

> |

> | I did once see a couple other USB turntable models but it's all about

> | your needs I guess. DO you only need 33 1/3 and 45 RPM? 16 RPM? 78RPM?

> |

> | - Thee Chicago Wolf

>

> 16rpm ?

>

> That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

>

> --

> Dave

> http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html

> Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

>

February 4, 2008

Re: usb turntables

David H. Lipman wrote:

> From: "Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.>

>

> < snip >

>

> |

> | I did once see a couple other USB turntable models but it's all about

> | your needs I guess. DO you only need 33 1/3 and 45 RPM? 16 RPM? 78RPM?

> |

> | - Thee Chicago Wolf

>

> 16rpm ?

>

> That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

Was used many years ago for "spoken word" recordings.

Tony

>

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February 4, 2008

Re: usb turntables

From: "Tony Meloche" <labombarda@hollow.oak>

>>

>> 16rpm ?

>>

>> That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

|

| Was used many years ago for "spoken word" recordings.

|

| Tony

That makes sense as the fidelity at such a low speed could not be good.

OT:

I have a recording of my mother from WWII. It is in the form of a recording made on a

special mailer for US troops in WWII. The recording was made on some kind of semi-soft

material laid on the cardboard mailer and once the audio recording was made you could fold

it up, place a stamp on the outside and mail it like a post card to the serviceman.

--

Dave

http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html

Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

February 4, 2008

Re: usb turntables

>16rpm ?

>

>That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

There were old 14" and 16" transcription records at that speed.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

February 4, 2008

Re: usb turntables

>That makes sense as the fidelity at such a low speed could not be good.

>

>OT:

>I have a recording of my mother from WWII. It is in the form of a recording made on a

>special mailer for US troops in WWII. The recording was made on some kind of semi-soft

>material laid on the cardboard mailer and once the audio recording was made you could fold

>it up, place a stamp on the outside and mail it like a post card to the serviceman.

My folks had a bunch of these from Europe but they were kind of

plastic or something. I think their grandparents gave them to my

parents. It was crazy old-school.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

February 4, 2008

Re: usb turntables

From: "Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.>

>> 16rpm ?

>>

>> That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

|

| There were old 14" and 16" transcription records at that speed.

|

| - Thee Chicago Wolf

Then they for business and not for commercial use ?

--

Dave

http://www.claymania.com/removal-trojan-adware.html

Multi-AV - http://www.pctipp.ch/downloads/dl/35905.asp

February 4, 2008

Re: usb turntables

>>> That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

>|

>| There were old 14" and 16" transcription records at that speed.

>|

>| - Thee Chicago Wolf

>

>Then they for business and not for commercial use ?

I don't think for commercial. Mainly just used for things like spoken

radio broadcast type show things and mainly vocal interviews.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

February 4, 2008

Re: usb turntables

Thee Chicago Wolf wrote:

>>>> That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

>> |

>> | There were old 14" and 16" transcription records at that speed.

>> |

>> | - Thee Chicago Wolf

>>

>> Then they for business and not for commercial use ?

>

> I don't think for commercial. Mainly just used for things like spoken

> radio broadcast type show things and mainly vocal interviews.

>

> - Thee Chicago Wolf

I recall that those old large turntables in radio stations in the 1930s

were much slower than 78, 33.33 or perhaps even 16.67 rpm. The discs

would hold a 15 minute program on one side. This was before microgroove,

so the stylus radius was the same as for 78rpm commercial records. Back

in those days, most of the afternoon programs were only 15 minutes long,

and some were actually distributed to the stations on disc, rather than

by phone lines, so that they could be aired to match local conditions.

Strangely, some programs were sent as manuscripts, with local people

reading the parts; at one time my father in law was Jack Armstrong, the

All-American Boy in his home town. That is my ancient history for the day.

Allen

February 4, 2008

Re: usb turntables

The date and time was 2/3/2008 8:00 AM, and on a whim, sandy j pounded

out on the keyboard:

> Hi,

> Does anyone have an opinion as to which inexpensive usb turntable is the

> best? I've read a couple of reviews, and all I got was confused. Also, do

> you have a suggestion for software that will remove most of the noise?

>

> Thanks for your help

Hi Sandy,

I heard the Stanton T.90 was a pretty good one. There is some concern

over ones that have a plastic platter. But then again once you transfer

your records, you may never use it again, and plastic may be fine for

that length of time.

--

Terry R.

***Reply Note***

Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.

Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.

February 4, 2008

Re: usb turntables

Allen wrote:

> Thee Chicago Wolf wrote:

>>>>> That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

>>>>

>>>> There were old 14" and 16" transcription records at that speed.

>>>>

>>>> - Thee Chicago Wolf

>>>

>>> Then they for business and not for commercial use ?

>>

>> I don't think for commercial. Mainly just used for things like spoken

>> radio broadcast type show things and mainly vocal interviews.

>>

>> - Thee Chicago Wolf

> I recall that those old large turntables in radio stations in the 1930s

> were much slower than 78, 33.33 or perhaps even 16.67 rpm.

Are you sure of that, Allen? I thought some of the old broadcast

transcription disks ran at near 78 rpm, but had to be so large (like perhaps

16 inches in diameter) to be able to go for 15 minutes on one side. (I'm

thinking of some of the material that was also shortwave broadcasted and/or

delivered overseas to our troops during WWII, like Command Performance, or

GI Jive).

This is not to be confused with some of the 16 rpm records used for speech

that came a bit later, I think (but I'm not sure about this)

> The discs

> would hold a 15 minute program on one side. This was before microgroove,

> so the stylus radius was the same as for 78rpm commercial records. Back

> in those days, most of the afternoon programs were only 15 minutes long,

> and some were actually distributed to the stations on disc, rather than

> by phone lines, so that they could be aired to match local conditions.

> Strangely, some programs were sent as manuscripts, with local people

> reading the parts; at one time my father in law was Jack Armstrong, the

> All-American Boy in his home town. That is my ancient history for the day.

> Allen

February 6, 2008

Re: usb turntables

"David H. Lipman" <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote in message

news:uQtEW0qZIHA.4808@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> From: "Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.>

>

> < snip >

>

> |

> | I did once see a couple other USB turntable models but it's all about

> | your needs I guess. DO you only need 33 1/3 and 45 RPM? 16 RPM? 78RPM?

> |

> | - Thee Chicago Wolf

>

> 16rpm ?

>

> That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

>

It's actually 16 2/3 RPM, but it was rarely used except for some voice only

recordings. Now I do have a couple of boxed sets of Columbia 80 RPM records

(circa 1927) and a set of pre electric recording His Master's Voice label

records that don't specify what speed they play at. 78 didn't become a

standard until around 1930, and even then 78 was actually 78.26 RPM in the

USA and 77.92 RPM in Europe.

February 6, 2008

Re: usb turntables

"Thee Chicago Wolf" <.@.> wrote in message

news:7i0dq3t0np247dqajqnstvm7u0cr8ak0ep@4ax.com...

> >That makes sense as the fidelity at such a low speed could not be good.

>>

>>OT:

>>I have a recording of my mother from WWII. It is in the form of a

>>recording made on a

>>special mailer for US troops in WWII. The recording was made on some kind

>>of semi-soft

>>material laid on the cardboard mailer and once the audio recording was

>>made you could fold

>>it up, place a stamp on the outside and mail it like a post card to the

>>serviceman.

>

> My folks had a bunch of these from Europe but they were kind of

> plastic or something. I think their grandparents gave them to my

> parents. It was crazy old-school.

>

There was also something called 'Melody Cards' that you could buy (late 50's

to early 60's), write a greeting and the address on one side and then post

to someone. The other side had a plastic lamination with a recording

pressed into it which could be played on a standard record player (at 45 RPM

IIRC).

February 6, 2008

Re: usb turntables

"Allen" <allen@nothere.net> wrote in message

news:47a73613$0$22572$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...

> Thee Chicago Wolf wrote:

>>>>> That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

>>> |

>>> | There were old 14" and 16" transcription records at that speed.

>>> |

>>> | - Thee Chicago Wolf

>>>

>>> Then they for business and not for commercial use ?

>>

>> I don't think for commercial. Mainly just used for things like spoken

>> radio broadcast type show things and mainly vocal interviews.

>>

>> - Thee Chicago Wolf

> I recall that those old large turntables in radio stations in the 1930s

> were much slower than 78, 33.33 or perhaps even 16.67 rpm. The discs would

> hold a 15 minute program on one side. This was before microgroove, so the

> stylus radius was the same as for 78rpm commercial records.

Actually there was no standard 78 RPM stylis radius. The 0.003" radius

normally encountered was a compromise that worked reasonably well with most

record labels, but in fact the requirement was different between labels.

Here in the UK, Columbia required a 0.0028" stylus and His Master's Voice

required 0.0032". The smallest that I know of was 0.0018" and the largest

0.0042". This latter would barely play with a "standard" 78 stylus. This

is often the reason why home reproduced 78s seem to have distortion on the

louder passages of music. Played with the correct stylus, the distortion

almost disappears. A dedicated 78 collector will most likely have 4 (or

more) styli to cover most of the encountered records. The better cartridge

manufacturers will supply these, though they usually have to be specially

ordered. Steel needles for wind up gramophones generally come in one

radius.

February 6, 2008

Re: usb turntables

"M.I.5¾" <no.one@no.where.NO_SPAM.co.uk> wrote:

>There was also something called 'Melody Cards' that you could buy (late 50's

>to early 60's), write a greeting and the address on one side and then post

>to someone. The other side had a plastic lamination with a recording

>pressed into it which could be played on a standard record player (at 45 RPM

>IIRC).

Those floppy 45s used to turn up in magazines once in a while, as ads

or whatever. In the early PC era, computer magazines would distribute

programs on these things. You were supposed to put the floppy 45 onto

your turntable, record it onto an audio cassette, then read that into

your computer! This was the dark ages, when 8-bit computers used

standard portable audio cassette recorders as an I/O device.

--

Tim Slattery

MS MVP(Shell/User)

Slattery_T@bls.gov

http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

February 6, 2008

Re: usb turntables

"Terry R." <F1ComNOSPAM@pobox.com> wrote in message

news:uWqhfO1ZIHA.5784@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> The date and time was 2/3/2008 8:00 AM, and on a whim, sandy j pounded out

> on the keyboard:

>

>> Hi,

>> Does anyone have an opinion as to which inexpensive usb turntable is the

>> best? I've read a couple of reviews, and all I got was confused. Also,

>> do you have a suggestion for software that will remove most of the noise?

>>

>> Thanks for your help

>

> Hi Sandy,

>

> I heard the Stanton T.90 was a pretty good one. There is some concern

> over ones that have a plastic platter. But then again once you transfer

> your records, you may never use it again, and plastic may be fine for that

> length of time.

>

The difference between plastic and metal is nothing to do with longevity of

life. The platter of the turntable needs to be made from a heavy material

for speed damping purposes (minimisation of 'wow and flutter'), but at the

same time needs to be non magnetic (to avoid interfering with the stray

field from most modern magnetic cartridges). The material of choice is

bronze. Certainly the turntables on which master discs are cut would be

made from nothing else.

February 7, 2008

Re: usb turntables

Allen wrote:

> Thee Chicago Wolf wrote:

>>>>> That's one standard I never heard of and I had plenty of "old" 78's.

>>>>

>>>> There were old 14" and 16" transcription records at that speed.

>>>>

>>>> - Thee Chicago Wolf

>>>

>>> Then they for business and not for commercial use ?

>>

>> I don't think for commercial. Mainly just used for things like spoken

>> radio broadcast type show things and mainly vocal interviews.

>>

>> - Thee Chicago Wolf

>

> I recall that those old large turntables in radio stations in the 1930s

> were much slower than 78, 33.33 or perhaps even 16.67 rpm.

Are you sure of that, Allen (or whoever)? I thought some of the old

broadcast

transcription disks ran at near 78 rpm, but had to be so large (like perhaps

16 inches in diameter) to be able to go for 15 minutes on one side. (I'm

thinking of some of the material that was also shortwave broadcasted and/or

delivered overseas to our troops during WWII, like Command Performance, or

GI Jive).

This is not to be confused with some of the 16 rpm records used for speech

that came a bit later, I think.