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ION USB Turntable (record player)

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ThreadKiller View Drop Down
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    Posted: 01 Dec 2008 at 1:37am
For the first few Christmases after I married in 1978, my wife and I would pick up one or two Christmas albums each year, and we usually had a stack of them on the stereo whenever we were decorating the apartment, wrapping gifts, baking cookies Smile etc. Over the years, we dismantled my old component stereo to make more room for kids' books, games, etc. so we haven't been able to listen to these albums for quite awhile.
 
Many regulars on this board are about my age (i.e. early 50s or above), and might also have a few treasured vinyl LPs or 45s around the house.
 
If so, this is a nifty thing to have...
 
 
It's pretty simple. You install a program on your PC, plug in the turntable, connect its USB cable to your PC, and you're ready to go. You click Record, start playing a 33 or 45 phono record, and it records on your computer a digital sound file. When you're done, you can export the recording to one or more mp3 files, which you can then burn to a CD or store on an mp3 player.
 
Also includes a second cable with regular phono plugs so you can attach it to a boom box or stereo and use it as a conventional turntable if you wish.
 
It comes with two software programs, basic and advanced. The basic one would suit most peoples' needs, I'm sure. I tried the more advanced program, Audacity, which allows you to filter out the pops and clicks from scratched recordings, and do a few other tricks. The setup guide and software guides included are pretty clear and helpful. They're also included in PDF format on the software CD. Nice!
 
It does involve a bit of time if you want to split the recording into separate tracks like a normal CD, but only a little. You also usually have to type in your own album and track information, because you can't find the data on the web for most of these albums, unless they've been re-released on CD at some point. Still, once it's done, it's done, and will always be in your digital music library.
 
These are available online but also at the big box electronic stores. One caveat...if you can find the model with a dust cover, get that one. Mine didn't have one and I have to keep a plastic bag over it when not in use.
 
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Thor View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Dec 2008 at 1:49am
I've considered this, as I have about 2,000 albums.  Then I thought "Goddamn!  I have 2,000 albums!"
 
The idea of converting them one at a time, 40-50 minutes per, overwhelms me.  Then, there's the sound quality that's not quite as good.  Oy vey.
 
ThreadKiller, I mentioned this a few times here (Nite Raidah mentioned it to me originally):
DVD Videosoft allows you to convert songs on Youtube into audio files.  You can set it up to go right into your iTunes account.  It's all free!  That's what I've been using to get music that I don't own (or may only have on vinyl) into my iTunes.  And, as you know, Youtube has a wealth of songs posted...some very hard to get.
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jimbo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Dec 2008 at 2:33pm
That sounds like a pretty cool gadget, but what do you do with it after you've converted all your albums to mp3 files? It's pretty much done it's job at that point. What I would like to see is a small adapter type gadget that hooks up to your old turntable's RCA jacks & allows you to plug THAT into a USB port.
 
That'd be better (for me anyway) than buying yet another large, bulky electronic item.
 
I like the concept, theough.
 
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote HollyRock Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Dec 2008 at 9:35pm
My husband was able to do that.  He somehow linked a turntable up to the PC, and recorded a bunch of LP's then saved to CD.
 
I think there was some sort of pre-amp, or something else, between the turntable and PC.
 
I should probably ask him how he did that.
Let's try not to be boring, mkay?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ThreadKiller Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Dec 2008 at 2:48am

Originally posted by Jimbo Jimbo wrote:

That'd be better (for me anyway) than buying yet another large, bulky electronic item.

Aw, come on! I was creating something of great sentimental value to my wife (and me, of course) so it was a worthwhile investment. You don't have many chances in life to get that "Oh, honey, that's so sweet!!!" response from buying an electronic gadget! Big%20smile
 
Originally posted by HollyRock HollyRock wrote:

My husband was able to do that.  He somehow linked a turntable up to the PC, and recorded a bunch of LP's then saved to CD.
 
I think there was some sort of pre-amp, or something else, between the turntable and PC.
 
You're right Holly, that's the secret. I did try recording from my old turntable, before buying the ION. Normally, I'd have just run a cable from the Line Outs from my system's tuner/amp to the PC using an adapter on the PC end. But, my tuner had died several years before. Connecting the turntable without some sort of pre-amp won't work because the signal is so weak.
 
And Thor, thanks for the tip on the Videosoft thing. I'll check it out.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote musicman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Dec 2008 at 3:04am
Originally posted by Jimbo Jimbo wrote:

That sounds like a pretty cool gadget, but what do you do with it after you've converted all your albums to mp3 files? It's pretty much done it's job at that point. What I would like to see is a small adapter type gadget that hooks up to your old turntable's RCA jacks & allows you to plug THAT into a USB port.
 
That'd be better (for me anyway) than buying yet another large, bulky electronic item.
 
I like the concept, theough.
 
 
 
 
 
Jimbo, you crack me up.  You're so cheap, ahem, I mean frugal.  Wink
 
Seriously though, that's what I do.  Haven't had a turntable in years, mine broke, bought one at a yard sale for a couple of bucks, still had an old pre-amp laying around.  Attached one of those CD to stereo adapter cables and got a cheap mp3 editor program.
I revived some songs from a stack of records people gave me.
 
 
 
Originally posted by Jimbo Jimbo wrote:

What I would like to see is a small adapter type gadget that hooks up to your old turntable's RCA jacks & allows you to plug THAT into a USB port.
 
Here you go Jimbo, 5 bucks on Ebay.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jimbo Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Dec 2008 at 3:11pm
Originally posted by musicman musicman wrote:

Jimbo, you crack me up.  You're so cheap, ahem, I mean frugal.  Wink
 
It's not so much the cost as it is not wanting another electronic device that's too big to just toss into a drawer taking up space & collecting dust once I'm done using it.
 
That adapter cable thing can be rolled up & stuck in a box or a drawer with all my other adapter cables & forgotten about until it's time to use it again.
 
And no dusting required.
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 Dec 2008 at 4:25pm
That would be one of my problems, too.  The other is that I just no longer have the patience to convert vinyl to a more modern format.  A few years ago, I would have.  A few years ago, I was still making cassette tapes, for Chrissake!
 
Besides, at this point, I already have just about every song/album I want already on CD or in iTunes.
 
But my beloved turntable is still hooked up just three feet away from where I sit, and I do occasionally use it!
 
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tiz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2008 at 12:19am
Originally posted by Thor Thor wrote:

I've considered this, as I have about 2,000 albums.  Then I thought "Goddamn!  I have 2,000 albums!"
 
The idea of converting them one at a time, 40-50 minutes per, overwhelms me.  Then, there's the sound quality that's not quite as good.  Oy vey.
 
ThreadKiller, I mentioned this a few times here (Nite Raidah mentioned it to me originally):
DVD Videosoft allows you to convert songs on Youtube into audio files.  You can set it up to go right into your iTunes account.  It's all free!  That's what I've been using to get music that I don't own (or may only have on vinyl) into my iTunes.  And, as you know, Youtube has a wealth of songs posted...some very hard to get.
 
 
 
Another place to convert YouTubes. I've converted a few into .wmv's. Something you might look into.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2008 at 4:01am
I will!  Thank you, Tiz.
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote shebazz Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Dec 2008 at 2:43am
Just use a mini plug to RCA adaptor, plug it into either your microphone port or a line in if you have it, and download Audacity (it's free). You can get this cable at Radio Shack or Wally World. It goes from the standard RCAs to a headphone looking jack. I go from my computer to my stereo with the same thing, and the sound is great. Personally, I wouldn't trust the USB->RCA thingy, as the analog->digital conversion of your sound card is likely much better. Just my 2 cents.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Dec 2008 at 3:07am
Originally posted by ThreadKiller ThreadKiller wrote:

 
 
If so, this is a nifty thing to have...
 
 
 
 
I just got a catalogue in the mail today that has this product in it.  There's also one for about $350 more that will burn a disc in the turntable.
 
Also, there's an Ion cassette deck that converts cassettes to MP3.
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hezadancer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Dec 2008 at 6:56am
I think I'm the only one in my generation going in reverse, I'd like to have some of my MP3's on vinyl Embarrassed
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Thor Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Dec 2008 at 3:28pm
Originally posted by Hezadancer Hezadancer wrote:

I think I'm the only one in my generation going in reverse, I'd like to have some of my MP3's on vinyl Embarrassed
 
You can do that!
 
 
 
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hezadancer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Dec 2008 at 9:18pm
I figured there would be some sort of custom record place out there. Kinda costly, but it would make an awesome Christmas gift for me.
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