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04 Aug 06 - 04:44 PM (#1801714) Subject: Digital tuntable for vinyl records From: Wesley S At $15,000 I'll wait until the price comes down a bit. But the technology sounds interesting. From a story in Business Week magazine Turntable story New Life For Those Dusty Old LPs The Laser Turntable brings out the best in ancient vinyl, but it will cost you For years, a wonderful and really obscure song, Bobby Woods's Love is My Business, would often pop into my head. Woods recorded the song in 1959, and I found it on a vinyl record compilation of songs from his label, Ace Records, in a London shop about 20 years ago. But as I switched from records to compact discs, Bobby Woods vanished from my collection. The album never made the transition to CDs, iTunes (AAPL ), or even file-sharing networks, and my copy was relegated to a box in the basement. Advertisement Then I took ELP Corp.'s Laser Turntable home for a spin. This $15,000 gizmo plays old vinyl records much the way CD players read compact discs. Slip a vinyl platter into the Laser Turntable's tray and a laser reads the grooves. After an easy 15-minute setup, I ran down to my basement to dig through boxes of old records. In a few minutes, I was listening to Woods croon about trying to win back his love. Of course, turntables never really went away. Retailers and Web sites catering to audiophiles continue to stock the limited number of models that remain in production. Their owners often brag about the "warmth" of the sound they get from analog vinyl recordings that they claim has yet to be reproduced with digital technology. Perhaps they're right. But in the 1980s I joined the masses, discarding my turntable for a CD player. I got tired of replacing the belts and needles. I also fretted about cherished albums becoming too scratched or warped to play. Most record stores stopped stocking LPs as interest waned. CDs were easier. The Laser Turntable makes vinyl viable again. What's so slick about the device is that it makes records just as easy to play as CDs. It's a snap to skip from one track to the next and even pause in the middle of a song or scan through it. What's more, you can do it with a remote, sitting in a lounge chair across the room. Try that with your old turntable. The device uses five lasers to detect the grooves, position the other lasers, and pick up sound. And unlike a traditional turntable stylus, it doesn't wear on your records. The lasers can even adjust for warps and scratches so records don't skip or repeat. BIGGER THAN A BREAD BOX The technology was actually developed 20 years ago but never found a market because of technical challenges and its prohibitive cost. Each machine is made by hand, so don't expect the falling prices typical in consumer-electronic products. ELP, based in Saitama, Japan, has sold about 1,000 units, 80% of them in Japan. It recently found a U.S. distributor, Audio Turntable Ltd. (laserturntable.com). As nifty as it is to reacquaint yourself with your record collection, a few caveats are in order. You'd think ELP would have come up with a sleek design befitting this audiophile's dream, which costs the equivalent of a downpayment on a small home. Instead, it's a bulky box, nearly 19 inches square and towering 7 in. high, with altogether pedestrian buttons. While the Laser Turntable can play 78 rpm records and 45s in addition to the standard 33 1/3 rpm platters, its lasers can only read black vinyl. I was really eager to play a limited edition Elvis Costello promo disc that Stiff Records released in 1977. But it was pressed on clear vinyl and the Laser Turntable had no clue what to do with it. Last, remember that a laser reads everything. That means a bit of dust will sometimes come through your speakers with a pop. For the review, ELP provided me with a $500 record vacuum, which seems a must-have for the turntable. With a clean record and an array of lasers to read it, Bobby Woods never sounded so good. |
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04 Aug 06 - 05:20 PM (#1801742) Subject: RE: Digital tuntable for vinyl records From: Barry Finn It all sounds too nice until you say the price. I still have my old turntable & have had to replace the needle a couple of times over the years. Some day I'll take my collection to Charlie Noble & Judy B, when I can afford it & have them put them to CD, far cheaper than buying this laser player, though a nice toy to those that can shell out that much for a non necessity. Barry |
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04 Aug 06 - 05:37 PM (#1801755) Subject: RE: Digital tuntable for vinyl records From: KathWestra For $399 from Hammacher Schlemmer or Sharper Image or Brookstone or one of those glitzy gadgets-you-never-knew-you-needed stores, you can get a machine consisting of a turntable that is capable of recording the vinyl (33.3, 45, and 78 rpm) you're playing directly onto a CD, without involving your computer, using any special cables, or doing anything even slightly challenging to a non-geek. You can't do it with a remote, but you CAN record only the songs you really want from the record(s) onto the CD. I saw this thing in the SkyMall catalog on my last flight to D.C. Beats $15K! Kathy |
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04 Aug 06 - 06:25 PM (#1801787) Subject: RE: Digital tuntable for vinyl records From: nutty I was recently looking at a turntable that had a USB connection, allowing direct connection to the computer for recording LP's etc. The price (UK) was around £100 but I think if I ever get round to digitising my record collection, the outlay may be worth it, |
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04 Aug 06 - 06:30 PM (#1801792) Subject: RE: Digital tuntable for vinyl records From: Richard Bridge I WANT one (but not at that price) the ability to beat warp is divine. I am sure there are also pop defeaters out there that work on the principle of displaced reading heads being switched to avoid the bad "bit". A collection of quite a lot if vinyl singles is waiting for this to become affordable..... |
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04 Aug 06 - 06:39 PM (#1801807) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: nutty I've found the info ....if any one is interested USB turntable |
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04 Aug 06 - 07:03 PM (#1801824) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Bill D That one is limited: "Delivery details: This product can only be delivered to addresses within the EU." it seems it is not available yet...a bunch of places offer to ship it when it's ready. This tells more |
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04 Aug 06 - 11:30 PM (#1801955) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Zhenya I've recently been looking at something similar on Amazon.com (U.S.). They sell it for about $90 (U.S. – and there's a hefty shipping fee. Some stores also sell it for about $100.) It has several recent user reviews, all very favorable. I haven't been above to find any formal commercial reviews. . I'm curious if any Mudcatters know anything more about this. Product Description You may heave hemmed and hawed, remaining recalcitrant that digital music will never hold. It's here and, with the popularity of MP3 files is very much here to stay. So how can you convert your old vinyl recordings to CD, DVD, or MP3? It's easier than you think! Audio-Technica brings its legendary quality and audio fidelity to the digital realm with the creation of the new LP-to-Digital Recording System. In the box, you'll find everything you need to transfer your classic LPs to digital files: Audio-Technica's AT-PL50 stereo turntable, complete with built-in switchable phono preamp that allows direct connection to your computer; Cakewalk PYRO software; the AT6012 record care kit; an audiophile-quality phono cartridge; and an adapter cable. The system is perfect for creating CDs and MP3 player files that get your old tunes off the shelf and into your portable player. So clear your closet shelves and take your vinyl discs into the digital mode for greater appreciation where ever you go. Here's a link to the main Amazon page: Audio Technica LP-to-Digital Recording System (and in case that doesn't work, as the original link is very long, you can look it up on the Amazon site yourself – search on "Audio Technica AT-LP2D LP-to-Digital Recording System" Here's a more detailed list of the technical specifications": Technical Details |
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05 Aug 06 - 03:55 AM (#1801994) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Richard Bridge I think the Audio-Technica does not deal with warp or snap crackle and pop. |
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05 Aug 06 - 04:56 AM (#1802007) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: GerryMc for me, the worst bit about the transition from vinyl to CD was the ommission of the 'interval'. Records were put together as two seperate performances. Turning the record over was an integral part of the listening experience. Some records that are now released on CD don't work for me as the songs are effectively in the wrong order. Sure, you can hit the pause button but it's not the same. And I can't read sleeve notes on CD jackets without me reading glasses! Bring back the LP |
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05 Aug 06 - 09:15 AM (#1802068) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: danensis Don't the newer Iriver recorders allow direct recording to MP3 from a phono input? John |
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05 Aug 06 - 10:07 AM (#1802085) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: danensis Let's see original cost around £10,000 written off over say four years, that's £2,500 a year. Presumably recording has to be done in real time (or does it?) so at three sides an hour, eight hours a day, five days a week that's 60 LPs a week, or 3000 a year. So you'd have to charge around a pound an LP, not taking into account labour charges and interest on the original investment. Assuming you could get round the copyright laws, and the punters were willing to pay say £5 an LP for material they already owned, it sounds like a nice little business. John |
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05 Aug 06 - 11:18 AM (#1802106) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Clinton Hammond "At $15,000 I'll wait until the price comes down" It's not likely to... It's more likely that some few of these will be sold, and then the puny market for them will be flooded and if anything the price will go up.... "Turning the record over was an integral part of the listening experience." Only because it HAD to be.... same with 8-tracks, 'spinning' in the middle of songs.... " Bring back the LP" While you're at it, bring back the vacuum tube, the unfiltered cigarette, asbestos insulation, "Father Knows Best" and the rest of the "Good Old Days" that are, in fact, neither. |
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05 Aug 06 - 04:17 PM (#1802296) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: GUEST,Jim Or, for about $11, you can download a program that will convert anything going over your computer's speaker system to an .mp3 (or other format) file. Then, hook up your amp's line-out to the line-in on the computer's sound card, and Bob's your uncle. I've been using it to (slowly) convert my old LPs into something I can listen to on my Ipod. Here's a link: http://www.wieser-software.com/index.shtml |
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06 Aug 06 - 08:30 AM (#1802632) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: RangerSteve I have the machine that Kathwestra mentioned. I got it from Amazon at 100.00 dollars less than what Hammacher-Schlemmer was asking. The only problem I have is that you sit there while you're recording and press a button after every song, otherwise the machine won't add the tracks. The copies sounded perfect to me. If you get one, read the directions and make sure you get #XACTLY the right kind of CD discs. It's really picky about that part. |
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06 Aug 06 - 10:03 AM (#1802662) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Zhenya Re Audio-Technica mentioned above: Well, it claims to take care of clicking, hissing, etc. Don't know about the warp issue - or if it really does any of this in real life: "Special features: DeClicker (removes clicks, pops, and crackles); DeNoiser (cleans hiss and hum)". I have a good sound card which will do a lot of the recording/editing (but it won't split up the tracks, which is a feature I really want.) However, my stereo is in another room from the PC, and I'd need to run a cable of at least 35 feet. There's no place to just leave that lying around, so I'd have to set it up each time I was going to use this. I'd thought about various ways to do this (including getting a laptop and just bringing the computer over to the stereo!) but getting a separate dedicated turntable to put next to the computer seemed like the easiest solution in my particular case. Having everything come in one package for about $100 would be great… if it really works. (There's always that catch...) Zhenya |
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06 Aug 06 - 10:11 AM (#1802665) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: GUEST,leeneia The typical person who owns vinyl belongs to the reading-glasses group. As one of those people, I would go for the unit with controls I can actually SEE. I own an RCA unit which is supposed to transfer LP's and tapes to audio CD's, but it doesn't work too well and I don't recommend it.I wrote the mfr asking for clearer directions, but they never answered. |
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06 Aug 06 - 11:41 PM (#1803157) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: GUEST,Jim Well, I have a laptop, so my computer is wherever I am. I have the RCA to mini-pin cable permanently running out of my amp, ready to plug into the sound port of the computer whenever I want to convert some LPs. I'm definately of the "reading glasses group," but was (and am) an early adopter of computer technology, so perhaps I'm more comfortable than others might be with the software-only method. Still, it works for me, although I'd have to get other software to clean up scratches and pops; I never bothered to do that when I was making cassette tapes though, and haven't been motivated enough to do it these days, either. |
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06 Aug 06 - 11:41 PM (#1803158) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: The Fooles Troupe "I'd need to run a cable of at least 35 feet." Another idea rather than cables is to setup a small FM audio transmitter next to the player, and an FM receiver next to the computer, and then run the sound into the PC. There some technical problems that need to be addressed, but if you have a reasonable quality FM stereo that you can use, you can get small FM short range transmitters easily now (often used to hook up iPods etc to to car stereos etc), you used to have build up kits a while ago. |
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07 Aug 06 - 01:25 AM (#1803220) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Liz the Squeak Ah.... how well I remember the days of sitting next to the record player with a microphone and a tape recorder, frantically miming 'Ssshhhhhhhh' to any family member who was even breathing heavily.... I'm another one of the vinyl/reading glasses set (although my eyesight is such that I need glasses to look for the record shelf, but not to see the writing), but I'm happy to convert to CD/MP3... it's just that I have all these wonderful songs on LP and cassette that really need to be listened to. LTS |
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04 Jun 21 - 01:06 PM (#4108773) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Stilly River Sage I found an unopened box at my local thrift store with a lightweight LP that has a USB cable intended to send the signal directly to the computer. The box boasts that it will convert LPs to MP3s. It comes with a small CD with audio software and the instructions indicate that this is a version of Audacity. When I send the signal to the computer, I'll use Nero to process it, and there I can save it to something larger and more durable than MP3s. Once you have the data in the computer then you can massage it, removing hiss or pop, etc. The heavy lifting of this kind of work is in the software. And if you search on "Audacity" in the forum you'll find a lot of chatter. There's another thread, also old, with a lot more discussion: Help: transferring vinyl to CD or computer. |
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04 Jun 21 - 03:28 PM (#4108805) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Stilly River Sage Okay. I went in circles trying to find some of this via the linked threads at the top of the page. |
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04 Jun 21 - 03:37 PM (#4108808) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: punkfolkrocker https://www.google.com/search?q=best+USB+turntable+with+preamp+line+out+2021&oq=best+USB+turntable+with+preamp+line+out+2021&aqs |
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04 Jun 21 - 03:39 PM (#4108809) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: punkfolkrocker Line out from reasonable budget price turntable with built-in preamp to digital recorder, like a Zoom... |
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04 Jun 21 - 05:31 PM (#4108820) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Bonzo3legs But why bother, download from Spotify using Tuneskit Music Converter which costs about £15. |
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04 Jun 21 - 05:49 PM (#4108825) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: robomatic I went through a period of heavy conversions, not sophisticated, but accurate enough for my old but good ears. Did Reels, Cassettes, LPs. My old reel-to-reel is probably out of condition permanently, but I think I could manage cassettes and LPs if I had to. Not aware of any equipment that does not require a computer for the conversion/ storage part. We are getting past the point when a lot of this is being done and you can expect fresh from the factory equipment to do it. There are plenty of devices around and a diminishing number of people competent to do the work. This applies also to photography/ slide conversion as well. |
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04 Jun 21 - 05:54 PM (#4108826) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Stilly River Sage Now if they made a reel-to-reel to digital I'd be set - I have a lot of original material stored away from Dad's house. |
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04 Jun 21 - 06:17 PM (#4108829) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: punkfolkrocker Any audio equipment with line out or headphone output, can be recorded directly into the line ins of affordable digital recorders like the Zooms... |
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05 Jun 21 - 10:43 PM (#4108991) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: cnd SRS -- PFR is right. If your reel to reel recorder has any sort of output channels on it, all you need is a simple RCA to 3mm jack cord (like this) and you can plug it straight into your computer. Also, Audacity can export way more than just MP3s. WAV and FLAC are two it offers which are both lossless. |
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07 Jun 21 - 05:20 PM (#4109243) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Stilly River Sage I have the mini jack cables and such (also lots of RCA variety). I wonder if a pre-amp is something required for that? |
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07 Jun 21 - 05:48 PM (#4109248) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: GUEST,Greg F. Thanks to all the folks that provided input on my original query now deleted by F88k knows who for F88k knows what reason. Your assistance is appreciated especially in light of this latest surge of mindless deletions. All best, Greg F. |
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07 Jun 21 - 06:08 PM (#4109256) Subject: RE: Digital turntable for vinyl records From: Bill D I have two... one that is self-contained and one that requires an external software program. (I use Audacity). Both work ok for any sound input, but the self-contained unit Teac-AD-RW900-Cassette-Recorder has many more buttons & options and requires study. (many other links.Seems to be available used..etc.) I have used it to make MP3s of mini-cassettes from an old answering machine |