Know anything about USB turntables? Should I keep or return?

[baby_bear]

I have a ton of great old LPs that I would like to convert to MP3 and burn to CDs.
I received an ION USB turntable for Christmas that purports to do this, but just googling here
and there regarding USB turntables seems to make me nervous about this. I don't want to open the box and try it unless I really think it will work. I am not particularly savvy when it comes
to doing more than basic computer moves.

Any advice much appreciated!

b_b

[JohnnieGordon]

1. You actually don't need an USB ready turntable to digitize records

You can just hook your analogue connections at the back of your computer to your stereo. They made USB turntables to simplify the process. I didn't use a USB turntable and had no trouble digitizing my records at all. If you really want those records digitized, I'd give the USB turntable a try.

[Pierre.Suave]

3. That is far too general a statement

there are a lot of things that have to be in place for that to work.

[NashVegas]

7. You'd Need a Pre-Amp, Yes?

What did you use for grounding?

[JohnnieGordon]

8. Yeah, you connect the computer to your receiver, not directly to the turntable

A UBS connection would have higher sound quality, but since the source isn't digital anyway, I don't think it makes much difference. And none my vinyl-only stuff had excessive surface noise, so I'm not bothered that I didn't try to get rid of that.

[Pierre.Suave]

9. not all computers have the appropriate inputs for that

or the software...

this is what I used:

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/80652

here are some others:

http://www.musicdirect.com/category/271

[Pierre.Suave]

2. Why wouldnt it work?

Of course it will work, unless it is broken, then it wont work.

[leeroysphitz]

4. I think it would be fun project to archive all that old vinyl.

Knock yourself out and have fun.

[SeattleGirl]

5. I just got an ION USB turntable too.

I don't know why it wouldn't work.

[baby_bear]

10. Did you take it back or seek help?

I'm from Seattle, too. By total coincidence, my husband and I each bought the other an ION TTUSB - I bought an XL model from Brookstone and he an 05 model from Bed Bath & Beyond. I am afraid to open either one as I have been reading some negative things online about them. I'd be interested in what model you have and what went wrong (e.g., did it just not turn on or not connect to your computer or what?)

thanks
b_b

[asthmaticeog]

6. I have one. I like it.

I find it easy to use, it works just fine, and I've really been enjoying having MP3s of music I previously had on vinyl only. FWIW, there you go.

[baby_bear]

11. what brand/model do you have?

Hi asthmaticeog,

My husband bought an ION USB05 and I bought an ION USBXL. They are both sitting unopened under the tree. I only want to open the open I may want to keep or maybe neither if they are not good.
Sounds like you have had a positive experience. We are not particularly good when it comes to electronics.

thanks for your help

baby_bear

[asthmaticeog]

14. It doesn't matter what brand.

Seriously. The Ion, Numark (which I have) and I'm pretty sure even the Sony USB turntables are all the exact same unit with different brand names pasted on them. I don't know the difference between the 05 and the XL, I assume one has more features, like maybe line-level inputs or something?

It's not a heavy duty turntable - its construction is featherweight compared to some other turntables, and it has a belt drive motor (snobs prefer direct drive for a number of very good reasons). But none of that's a problem for a unit that's going to sit still next to your computer and not get lugged around. Mine has RCA outputs so I can use it with my regular stereo in addition to using it with my computer, but again, since mine's branded differently I don't know which one of yours it's equivalent to.

Anyway, once the software is understood (I'm going to go out on not very far a limb and assume it's Audacity, which shows the waveforms of the music visually, making it easier and more intuitive to edit) it's not difficult to make digital files of your vinyl. And if you have specific questions on using it, feel free to PM me, I use mine all the time and I have an OK grip on the basics.

[SoxFan]

12. Send it to me

End of your moral dilemma, and I get to digitize my out of print Sidewinders, Scruffy The Cat, and O-Positive albums.

Win-win!

[NV Whino]

13. I have one I bought several months ago

It works fine. I can even clean up the old 78s I have. The downside is that it is time consuming.