Turntable Shopping
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Tech Talk
Forum Description: Discuss musical instruments, equipment, hi-fi, speakers, vinyl, gadgets,etc.
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=69889
Printed Date: November 26 2024 at 04:39
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Turntable Shopping
Posted By: Luna
Subject: Turntable Shopping
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 11:32
| Hello proggers! I am looking for a turntable on a very tight budget ($200>) I am looking for one that preferably can convert digitally to my computer, so any suggestions? |
Replies:
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 12:22
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I would avoid the cheap ones made by Ion and badged with various brands like Numark - they're not really up to "Prog" hi-fi standards.
Try the Project Essentials USB - it has USB connection to a PC and built-in Pre amp so you can plug it into any modern amp that doesn't have a phono input.... I have no idea how much they sell for in the USA - they're around £200 over here.
http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/6766 - http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page/moreinfo.cfm/Product_ID/6766
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Posted By: Luna
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 12:34
| Thanks! |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 12:37
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The old amplifier I was using croaked so I haven't been able to use my current turntable. Preamp recommendations anyone?
------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 12:40
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^ Got me there Brian - I use a battery powered one by QED but I think they've been out of production a long time now.
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Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 12:50
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I find the USB turntables are overpriced for what they are. I use a conventional turntable, with a dedicated MP3 recorder plugged into my Amp. This can also record from cassettes and Mini discs too, this enabling the digitising of the entire collection.
Slarti, you can still get amps with a phono stage; otherwise I'm sure the likes of Tandy in the US will have them. In the UK, Richer Sounds supply a pre-amp. I don't think they're particularly clever devices, they just amplify the weaker signal.
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 12:56
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^ the pre-amps do the RIAA equalisation too Bob - without that it would sound 'orrible. My sound card has a software RIAA plug-in, but I've never tried it.
And of course you could just connect the tape-out of the hi-fi to the audio-in of the PC and do away with the dedicated MP3 recorder. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 13:02
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I tried recording to the PC via the sound card, but I found the results to be poor. I got the MP3 converter box from Maplin. It has a USB slot for a memory stick, phono inputs, and a CD drive. It's simple in its construction, but I find the results to be excellent.
(Didn't know about the RIAA bit Dean, presumably an amp with a phono stage does this too)
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Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 13:09
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I bought a sound card of sufficient quality to record direct to the PC - I couldn't do any music production without it - with all these things it's a question of level matching to get the best results. I find the tape-out signal is ideal for PC input.
This article from Audacity's wikisite gives a good explanation: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Transferring_tapes_and_records_to_computer_or_CD#Special_note_on_connecting_a_standalone_turntable - http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Transferring_tapes_and_records_to_computer_or_CD#Special_note_on_connecting_a_standalone_turntable
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Posted By: Vompatti
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 13:10
| I've got the NAD PP-2 phono preamp. It doesn't cost much and does what it's supposed to do. |
Posted By: Dean
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 13:13
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^ I like NAD - they're like an elephant's bum - not neat, not pretty, but they're effective and do the job. ------------- What? |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 13:49
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Stupid question but can i just ask if you still have the ability to " fade" in and " fade" out with the MP3 recorders and also, what external port would you use on your amp if the aux port has been utilised by the mp3 recorder for instance?
I am about to venture into this arena for casette/vinyl digital conversion. ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 13:55
I kind of figured as much, but I'm guessing a preamp will run me much less that a new amp. Anyway, not a problem I can't work out for myself. But suggestions are always valued.  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Easy Livin wrote:Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: August 02 2010 at 21:05
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Take this for what it is worth (free advice). My old turntable (a belt drive) lost it's belt a few years ago. Looking for a replacement was a challenge. I finally ended up buying a Stanton turntable from Guitar Center for ~$200. The Stanton is primarily intended for club DJ's, which is to say it's a direct drive with among other accoutrements, a reverse button. I think it has a digital out, which I've not used, being that I do not have time to burn, I dunno, maybe 750 LP's to disk. Guess I could skip that BTO Greatist Hits, so it'd only be 749.
What's on my turntable? About a year's worth of CD's on top of it, being that I'm a lazy organizer. I am tempted to try reverse on the back-masked parts of FZ's WOIIFTM. I expect to lose my job in the next 6-8 weeks so I should have plenty of time on my hands to correct my current negligence.
The Stanton is a decent enough turntable. I mainly mention this as an option because reasonably priced turntables are getting harder and harder to find in yer usual stereo/hi-fi equiment store, but they are widely available in musical equipment stores, given that most people who make a living with music no longer actually play an instrument. The stores have stocked accordingly.
------------- Can you tell me where we're headin'? Lincoln County Road or Armageddon. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: August 03 2010 at 05:15
Kewl.  ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: August 03 2010 at 13:53
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I'm looking for a new turntable myself.......Agree either you find a $100 one or a $1800 one, not much in the middle. I've been looking online since the BestBuys of the world do not carry turntables. I went to one high end video/audio place and they told me they only order them as needed...meaning they will buy online from like Needle Doctor and charge me double.
It would be nice to have the whole USB thing but not critical for me as in the past I used GrooveMechanic to convert vinyl to CD's...its probably an outdated software now but it actually worked pretty good for me. The noise reduction portion did a great job with some old hissy, popping vinyl I had.
I think it was Stanton that makes a pretty decent USB turntable.....I'm not sure what I want to buy though.
Technics are very high priced nowadays due to the DJ/Club demand for them...
mehh -------------   
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Posted By: jimidom
Date Posted: August 04 2010 at 10:19
 Rega P1 gets my vote. You can probably find a used one out there under $300. ------------- "The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - HST |
Posted By: jeniffer
Date Posted: August 12 2010 at 04:27
| When you search for items online, you usually want to find the http://www.searchwebapp.com/ - lowest prices in the least amount of time, SEA Application giving us helps to find the product in best rates. The application make searching so simple. |
Posted By: Hawkwise
Date Posted: September 03 2010 at 18:58
to my pc in my studio room. oh and um All the USB Turntables ive heard suck.. ------------- 
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Thumbs up from me i like them so much i have two , one in my listening room, one in connected Posted By: GaryB
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 13:23
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Last Christmas my daughter gave me a Sony PS-LX 300 USB turntable. It came with Sound Forge Audio Studio 9.0 software and cost about $250.
So far, I have put about 225 LPs onto disc and have been very satisfied with the quality of the CDs.
After recording the album into my computer Sound Forge performs a clean-up which removes surface noise (pops, cracks, hisses) and maximises the volume. Then you burn the CD and that's it.
The only problem I have found is that it doesn't always separate the tracks accurately. This is not really a problem unless you like to skip tracks during playback (you have to use fast forward).
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Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 14:35
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^ What format does the USB data come in? ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Catcher10
Date Posted: October 05 2010 at 14:50
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I am very much interested in the new Audio Technica USB 120.....it is similar in appearance to the classic Technics 1200, but without the huge price tag. The reviews so far have been good on it especially at CES.....I think it will find itself on my Santa Claus list. Like most of us I have still a ton of vinyl I need to convert...... -------------
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Posted By: GaryB
Date Posted: October 06 2010 at 06:41
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Chris S - I'm not very techy but here's what I found in the Sound Forge manual. 1. Convert music to MP3, WMA, and more 2. Encode video to QuickTime, WMV, and other streaming formats 3. Create professional sounding podcasts |