Category: accessible Devices
I'm looking for a usb turntable that's mac compatible that's farely inexpensive, but have no idea as to a good brand that would be easy to set up/operate, considering the fact that I don't know a thing about these. I found a ton of them on amazon, which all most of them stated that they convert final to mp3 format, but they were either way out of my price range, or the ones I did look at had so many mixed reviews on them that I was really hesitant to buy them.
I'm just looking for something simple that I can convert a few albums for my 4-year-old, that I had when I was a kid, that are out of print now and can't be found anywhere else, so would love some info if someone could please share some.
dont get a USB turntable. the qualety wont be there for your vinyl .
ok, what would you recommend then? That's pretty much the only option I have unless there's something else you can recommend.
first how much can you spend?
i i'd suggest a te teghnics, but they can b very pricey.
Well, considering the fact that I have a 4-year-old, I'd say $100 or less. I got an audiotechnica model for Christmas, but apparently requested the wrong model, because it wasn't a usb model, so am preparing to have it shipped back to amazon.
I like its design, considering that it has a felt mat that you put the record on as opposed to the old-fashioned plastic ones we al grew up with.
i dont know of software for the MAC, but an idea might be to get a phono preamp and hook the turntable direct into the puter. if your mac has a line in on its sound card, this should work. i just think your USB option would first cost more.
Ok, first of all, I'm not sure what that is you're talking about unfortunately, sense I'm not that tech-savi when it comes to turntables. I have a macbook pro, and not sure what jacks are what and where, so my apologies that this isn't much help here.
The one I got for Christmas is apparently meant to connect to a stereo system, which we have, but it's in Hannah's room, which would be a huge inconvenience, considering the fact that I'd constantly have to take my laptop as well as the turntable back and forth from my room to hers to avoid making sure she doesn't do something to mess it up, have no idea how to hook it up properly in the first place sense it came with about 2 sets of cables that look exactly alike, and probably would have to keep her out of her own room for a while while I work on converting the records which I wouldn't want to do sense it is actually her room, so think a usb model would probably be easier unless someone knows something I don't.
I I don't know anything about USB turn tables however if you did want to connect a standard turn table you could do it through an interface called the Griffin IMic: http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Technology-7725-IUAI-Audio-Interface/dp/B003Y5D776/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388416100&sr=8-1&keywords=griffin+imic Which allows you to connect non usb audio devices to your mack using the USB port. You would need a stereo Y connector which would have two phono plugs which are the kind coming from the turn table also called RCA plugs and one 8th inch Minnie plug. Audacity is a free audio editing program that would allow you to record the audio to your computer. I use the iMic for recording bass tracks in to audacity and it's quite good.
first you'll need sited h h helpt to help you with your jacks and and such.
What is the moddel of your turntable?
there is a small box that exist that take the line level from the turntable and brings it up to the level that is needed for audio for your sound card.
the levels that turntables produce is very quiet, so they make what's called a phono preamp to bring the levels up louder.
this preamp plugs into the wall to give it power.
on the box are two sets of feamale RCA jacks.
one is probably labled output, and the other labled input.
the turntable probably has RCA male plugs coming out of the unit.
you need to take the turntable and plug it into the input jack of the phono preamp.
then you would need a cable of RCA stereo male to 1 8" stereo male to plug from the output of the preamp, to the line in on your sound card.
some sound cards have a combo mike/line in connection.
if your turntable has a ground wire coming out of it, you'll need to have that grounded to be sure you dont have a horible hum in your recording.
this USB device the wolf person is telling you about, does it have a phono preamp switch built in?
without having loud enough levels, you wont hear the audio.
i hope this helps and if not i'll try again.
JH, that would be Woof and yes it has a switch to go from a line to mic input so most likely she shouldn't need a pre amp but may I say a good idea and suggestion if needed.
I'm using a macbook pro, so no sound card to plug into. As for everything else, That's so over my head that I have no idea what you're talking about.
I had a friend tell me he didn't think it was worth it in the long run to get one, considering the fact that first of all, what I'm trying to convert, are mostly old read-along albums I wasn't lucky enough to be able to find on youtube, and a couple out of print albums Disney came out with that had stuff on them that you can't find this day and age, that he has the capability to convert and would be willing to do for me, considering the fact that most of them are short, and wouldn't need splitting u, so may not even go that route.
woof, a line level input isn't loud enough for turntables. phono input and line level input are different.
she's have to get your device, then get a phono preamp on top of it.
if you have someone that is willing to do it for you, that'd be great.
as for sound cards, your MAC book pro deffinetly has one.
you hear sound out of it, dont you?
if you hear sound out of your mac book pro, it has a sound card. dunno if that would be internal or external.
is the MAC Book pro a desktop or laptop?
from what i've seen on laptops, there are two jacks that are 1?8 mini stereo jacks.
one is a headphone output that can connect to stereo headphones, or you could use this jack to connect to a receiver or speakers.
the other jack (which is also a 1/8" mini stereo jack is either a mick jack, or a combination mick/line in jack.
this jack excepts a mono microphone, or a stereo line in plug, (such as one that would go from your phono preamp, a cassette deck or any number of other devices.)
would you like me to post links as to what you need to purchase?
If you have someone who's willing to do it for you, I don't think I would waste any money.
USB turntables are usually of a lesser quality, anyway. They're made with cheaper parts, less durable styluses, etc. A lot of times, when you purchase a USB turntable, you're paying extra for the included software, which is crap, considering that most ship with Audacity, which is a free program to begin with.
I would recommend what JH said if you were planning to convert hundreds of albums yourself, but, frankly, it sounds like you just need a few to be done.
Just back them up on CD's so that you're not likely to lose them, and you should be fine.
Ahh, ms. Turtle, I must defend Audacity as an extraordinarily accessible find in the world of recording software especially for us musicians. I've completed some amazing projects with it. If you ever want to hear something let me know. It's a great piece of software.
I would just use a regular turntable that has the RCA patch cord, and get an RCA to minny plug adapter, so you can plug it into the computer's onboard card if the microphone jack also doubles as line in.
but byran that might not work if she doesn't have a phono preamp since the levels of the turntables output section is a phono level and not a line level.