Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.
Thanks for any advice.

On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.

I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of them
out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive receiver? You'll
get much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

Pdk Pdk wrote:
Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.
Thanks for any advice.


It appears to be a pretty slick unit. It sells for $150.00
straight from the manufacturer. I wouldn't mind having one.

http://www.ionaudio.com/ionttusb

TDD

On 6/29/2009 10:17 PM spake thus:

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:38 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.

I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of them
out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive receiver? You'll
get much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)

I agree I found a Dual on Ebay for $20 and it looked brand new. All I
had to do was hook the cartridge output to the MIC IN on the sound
card with an RCA to 1/8" phono adapter and I was ripping vinyl.

Can't see how that could work well at all; microphone inputs aren't made
for magnetic cartridges. RIAA equalization and all that, you know.


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

Pdk Pdk wrote:
Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking
for. It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the
wrong thing.


Normally, the output from a turntable has to be amplified to record from it
via computer. If not built in (rarely) the amp can be obtained by piping
from turntable to a stereo then from stereo to computer. See my dandies in
sig for more info.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

wrote:
On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:38 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.
I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of them
out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive receiver? You'll
get much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)

I agree I found a Dual on Ebay for $20 and it looked brand new. All I
had to do was hook the cartridge output to the MIC IN on the sound
card with an RCA to 1/8" phono adapter and I was ripping vinyl.
Not quite. You really need
equalization. That's why you must run
it through
an RCIA preamp, or as another said,
through a receiver (which has the
RCIA equalizer). I'm sure there may be
software with built in equalization
to make it work directly, but I haven't
seen it. I briefly checked Adobe
Audition and didn't see it there.

Art Todesco wrote:
(stuff omitted)
Not quite. You really need equalization. That's why you must run it
through
an RCIA preamp, or as another said, through a receiver (which has the
RCIA equalizer). I'm sure there may be software with built in equalization
to make it work directly, but I haven't seen it. I briefly checked Adobe
Audition and didn't see it there.
Oops, I meant RIAA. RCIA is from
different life.

In article , Art Todesco wrote:
Art Todesco wrote:
(stuff omitted)
Not quite. You really need equalization. That's why you must run it
through
an RCIA preamp, or as another said, through a receiver (which has the
RCIA equalizer). I'm sure there may be software with built in equalization
to make it work directly, but I haven't seen it. I briefly checked Adobe
Audition and didn't see it there.
Oops, I meant RIAA. RCIA is from
different life.

Adult convert to Catholicism, are you?

wrote:
On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:38 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.
I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of them
out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive receiver? You'll
get much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)

I agree I found a Dual on Ebay for $20 and it looked brand new. All I
had to do was hook the cartridge output to the MIC IN on the sound
card with an RCA to 1/8" phono adapter and I was ripping vinyl.

Can't imagine how that would work. The signal is very low level so it
needs to be amplified and RIAA equalization needs to be performed.

wrote:
On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:38 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.
I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of them
out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive receiver? You'll
get much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)

I agree I found a Dual on Ebay for $20 and it looked brand new. All I
had to do was hook the cartridge output to the MIC IN on the sound
card with an RCA to 1/8" phono adapter and I was ripping vinyl.

Hi,
Phono input and line level mic. input is not equal!
Maybe tht TB had El Cheapo piezo cartridge?

On Jun 29, 11:37*pm, (Pdk Pdk) wrote:
* * *Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each. * *
* * * As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.
* * * *Thanks for any advice.

I'm just guessing that for $75 you're not going to get a really high
quality turntable. He'd probably be better served by spending his
money on a really good sound card for his computer and using whatever
turntable he already has, unless it's a real POS.

nate

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...
On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.

I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of them out
there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive receiver? You'll get
much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

"Sounds like it might be a real POS"

Great words of wisdom from someone who states he hasn't tries either of the
devices!!

I have the ION and got it for Christmas three yr. ago from my children.
They have been around for a long time and the price hasn't changed much in
that time ($150.00 range). The ION works well, but consider the fact that
after you have copied all your vinyl you have a very expensive dust
collector of the shelf. Mine is !!

Bill in Plano

On 6/30/2009 8:47 AM Bill Hall spake thus:

"Sounds like it might be a real POS"

Great words of wisdom from someone who states he hasn't tries either of the
devices!!

I admitted as much; what's your problem?

I have the ION and got it for Christmas three yr. ago from my children.
They have been around for a long time and the price hasn't changed much in
that time ($150.00 range). The ION works well, but consider the fact that
after you have copied all your vinyl you have a very expensive dust
collector of the shelf. Mine is !!

Well, then, if not a POS (I'll have to take your word for that), then
still needlessly expen$ive, as real turntables can be had for less than
$20 in many cases. (Especially if it becomes a dust collector as you say.)


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

On 6/30/2009 3:24 AM dadiOH spake thus:

Pdk Pdk wrote:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking
for. It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the
wrong thing.

Normally, the output from a turntable has to be amplified to record
from it via computer. If not built in (rarely) the amp can be
obtained by piping from turntable to a stereo then from stereo to
computer. See my dandies in sig for more info.

The Ion obviously has a built-in preamp; they're not just going to be
able to run the magnetic cartridge directly into the USB connector ...


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

Doug Miller wrote:
In article , Art Todesco wrote:
Art Todesco wrote:
(stuff omitted)
Not quite. You really need equalization. That's why you must run it
through
an RCIA preamp, or as another said, through a receiver (which has the
RCIA equalizer). I'm sure there may be software with built in equalization
to make it work directly, but I haven't seen it. I briefly checked Adobe
Audition and didn't see it there.
Oops, I meant RIAA. RCIA is from
different life.

Adult convert to Catholicism, are you?
Actually, a Catholic Church organist.

Bill Hall wrote:

"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...
On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.

I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of them
out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive receiver?
You'll get much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

"Sounds like it might be a real POS"

Great words of wisdom from someone who states he hasn't tries either of
the devices!!

I have the ION and got it for Christmas three yr. ago from my children.
They have been around for a long time and the price hasn't changed much
in that time ($150.00 range). The ION works well, but consider the fact
that after you have copied all your vinyl you have a very expensive dust
collector of the shelf. Mine is !!

Bill in Plano
There should be lots of turntable on
ebay and CraigsList. I sold, actually,
gave away, a nice turntable for $10. I
acquired a linear tracking Technics
for free, but had to invest about $20
for a new cartridge/needle. I also
acquired a very consumer mike mixer,
which has an RIAA input for phone
cartridge. I could also use my stereo
receiver, however, I wanted something
that I could use at the computer station
for capture.

On 6/30/2009 10:16 AM David Nebenzahl spake thus:

On 6/30/2009 3:24 AM dadiOH spake thus:

Pdk Pdk wrote:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking
for. It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the
wrong thing.

Normally, the output from a turntable has to be amplified to record
from it via computer. If not built in (rarely) the amp can be
obtained by piping from turntable to a stereo then from stereo to
computer. See my dandies in sig for more info.

The Ion obviously has a built-in preamp; they're not just going to be
able to run the magnetic cartridge directly into the USB connector ...

Not to mention that the Ion also contains its own A-D converter, of
unknown quality ...


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:38 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.

I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of them
out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive receiver? You'll
get much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)
That won't get the music onto CD or MP3. However, there are software
packages that allow you to pluf a standard turntable into a standard
sound card to do the deed.

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:44:42 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 6/29/2009 10:17 PM spake thus:

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:38 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.

I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of them
out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive receiver? You'll
get much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)

I agree I found a Dual on Ebay for $20 and it looked brand new. All I
had to do was hook the cartridge output to the MIC IN on the sound
card with an RCA to 1/8" phono adapter and I was ripping vinyl.

Can't see how that could work well at all; microphone inputs aren't made
for magnetic cartridges. RIAA equalization and all that, you know.
Not perfect, but it works. Might need a pre-amp with a mag cartridge.
Or use a cheap turntable with a Xtal cartridge.

On 6/30/2009 7:49 PM spake thus:

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:38 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.

I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of
them out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive
receiver? You'll get much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)

That won't get the music onto CD or MP3.

It will if you plug the receiver into the sound card. That's how I've
been doing it for years.


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

Bill Hall wrote:

I have the ION and got it for Christmas three yr. ago from my children.
They have been around for a long time and the price hasn't changed much
in that time ($150.00 range). The ION works well, but consider the fact
that after you have copied all your vinyl you have a very expensive dust
collector of the shelf. Mine is !!

Well, looks like you might have a chance to sell it now if you'd
like :-)


--
PB
"I suspect you're an arrogant little ****ant who grew up in the
Red Bull generation." - CJW

On Tue 30 Jun 2009 07:58:06p, David Nebenzahl told us...

On 6/30/2009 7:49 PM spake thus:

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:38 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

On 6/29/2009 8:37 PM Pdk Pdk spake thus:

Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.

As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if
anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking
for. It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the
wrong thing.

I'd be skeptical. Sounds like it might be a real POS.

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of
them out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive
receiver? You'll get much better results that way.

(But no, I haven't actually tried these devices.)

That won't get the music onto CD or MP3.

It will if you plug the receiver into the sound card. That's how I've
been doing it for years.

I use a small phono preamp that provides RIAA curve equalization and output
to the PC's sound card.



--
Wayne Boatwright
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chemicals, n: Noxious substances from which modern foods are made.
~Author Unknown

On 6/30/2009 9:09 PM Wayne Boatwright spake thus:

On Tue 30 Jun 2009 07:58:06p, David Nebenzahl told us...

On 6/30/2009 7:49 PM spake thus:

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:38 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of
them out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive
receiver? You'll get much better results that way.

That won't get the music onto CD or MP3.

It will if you plug the receiver into the sound card. That's how I've
been doing it for years.

I use a small phono preamp that provides RIAA curve equalization and output
to the PC's sound card.

Right, same difference.

I wonder if you can even buy those little preamps anymore? Used to be
able to get them even from Radio Shack (ugh).


--
Found--the gene that causes belief in genetic determinism

On Tue 30 Jun 2009 09:17:09p, David Nebenzahl told us...

On 6/30/2009 9:09 PM Wayne Boatwright spake thus:

On Tue 30 Jun 2009 07:58:06p, David Nebenzahl told us...

On 6/30/2009 7:49 PM spake thus:

On Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:51:38 -0700, David Nebenzahl
wrote:

Why not just get a *real* turntable (there are still ****loads of
them out there for sale) and run it through any inexpensive
receiver? You'll get much better results that way.

That won't get the music onto CD or MP3.

It will if you plug the receiver into the sound card. That's how I've
been doing it for years.

I use a small phono preamp that provides RIAA curve equalization and
output to the PC's sound card.

Right, same difference.

I wonder if you can even buy those little preamps anymore? Used to be
able to get them even from Radio Shack (ugh).



There are quite a few on the market, some costing hundreds. This is the
one I have.

http://tinyurl.com/mtdwth

--
Wayne Boatwright
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Soup and fish explain half the emotions of human life. ~Sydney Smith

Another thing to consider is s/w to separate an album to individual tracks
and probably some depopping s/w unless your vinyl is pristine.

"N8N" wrote in message
...
On Jun 29, 11:37 pm, (Pdk Pdk) wrote:
Looking to buy my brother something to record his old vinyl
collection onto a computer.
A local store has a closeout sale on Ion USB turntables for $75 each.
As a technical weakling, I'm consulting y'all to see if anyone's
tried this unit or has any ideas regarding what I should be looking for.
It seems like an easy to use unit, but I don't want to buy the wrong
thing.
Thanks for any advice.

I'm just guessing that for $75 you're not going to get a really high
quality turntable. He'd probably be better served by spending his
money on a really good sound card for his computer and using whatever
turntable he already has, unless it's a real POS.

nate