I'm toying with the idea of getting a usb turntable to get some of my LPs on my CD jukebox. I have read a bit of salespeak about these units and wonder what to expect from them. If I get one, must I use the included noise-cancelling software or is there something better to be had? What results can I expect from these devices?

I would expect them to not sound very good.

If you already have a good turntable I would look at getting a high quality sound card with good recording fidelity.

I would expect them to not sound very good.

If you already have a good turntable I would look at getting a high quality sound card with good recording fidelity.
You mean something like an X-Fi?

You mean something like an X-Fi?
Uh.. no... I said high quality, not high priced.

Something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829121115

An X-Fi for not much more...in fact, it's less. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102188)

I would expect them to not sound very good.

If you already have a good turntable I would look at getting a high quality sound card with good recording fidelity.
Oddly enough, I collect vintage phonographs, record changers and turntables. Roughly 45-50 models from the fifties and earlier. RCA Victor, Webster/Webcor, The Voice of Music, Magnavox, Admiral, Columbia, Silvertone, and others. I have a 1916 Victrola and am working on getting an Edison (maybe next Christmas).
My only real option is a 4 year old Teac with a stock cartridge. I was thinking of something designed specificly for this type of recording. I have seen them at CC and on eBay, but I'm not tempted. I got outbid in the final seconds on a super sweet Optonica. I am upgrading my sc, but for other reasons. Would you say that the key to a good recording depends on the card and the cartridge?
By the way, I'm getting a 50" in Dell plasma. It arrives after Thanksgiving. Merry Friggin" Christmas.
Author Ambrose Bierce wrote of phonographs, "That irritating toy that restores life to dead noises".

An X-Fi for not much more...in fact, it's less. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102188)
That still doesn't change the fact that it's a Creative Labs piece of crap complete with their buggy drivers and all.

Oddly enough, I collect vintage phonographs, record changers and turntables. Roughly 45-50 models from the fifties and earlier. RCA Victor, Webster/Webcor, The Voice of Music, Magnavox, Admiral, Columbia, Silvertone, and others. I have a 1916 Victrola and am working on getting an Edison (maybe next Christmas). .

Seems ironic that you are looking for a POS TT. Have you considered increasing your budget to allow you to buy one modern TT?

SM

FWIW, I started to digitize my analog tapes and LPs using an internal Creative sound card. The results were horrible. Rather than screw around with different sound cards, I bought a stand-alone CD recorder. Originally, I got a used Pioneer off of Ebay. It died after a year, and I splurged on a new Marantz CDR-632 (~$550). But there are plenty of these things on Ebay for well under $200. With the Marantz, I can use any CD-R media (not just "Music CD-Rs") and I have gotten very good results. Although not free of digital artifacts, the CD-Rs I make are pretty faithful recordings of the source.

Also, many feel that more than just the cartridge will affect the quality of the sound for vinyl playback. Today, most turnatable manufacturers pay close attention to everything from the ability of the plinth and platter to reject vibration, to the quietness of the motor, to the characteristics of the tonearm and wiring, and especially the phono-stage preamplifier. These all have varying levels of influence on the sound you'll get from your wax. And don't forget a thorough cleaning of both the records and your stylus.

Seems ironic that you are looking for a POS TT. Have you considered increasing your budget to allow you to buy one modern TT?

SM
It could be argued that I own a great many record playing devices manufactured by the POS Corp. The fact is I am a collector only, so, aside from a quick test for functionality, some cleaning and cosmetics, these units are for display only and I rarely operate them.
A CD recorder and a modern TT are both great suggestions, ideas which I had not considered. Alas, I am already getting some big ticket items for Christmas this year(I sneaked a shameful peek) and to drop hints for another may not be the best course of action in my case.

DAK is back in business, if you remember them from the 70's and 80's, and they have a nice solution for getting your vinyl on cd. (The Newmark/ Ion usb turntables come with difficult software instructions.)

On the DAK site, there is a plug-in that lets you test the step by step instructions. The turntable is optional. The sytem is "get only what you need". It even works with laptops. Everything goes on a wav file.

Rather than start a new thread, I am hoping people here can be of assistance.

What turntable (brand, model) would people recommend for recording vinyl directly to my notebook's HD? Some songs will then be made into MP3s and others, burned to CDs. Quality of digital results is important to me.

I plan to move and do not want to move my entire vinyl collection. I do have a wonderful turntable (B&O), *but* it is already in storage and by having a turntable that plugs directly into my notebook, I can take some vinyl with me to record when I'm away from home.

Either a turntable that connects directly to my notebook or machine where vinyl goes directly to CD (regular preferred over music CD) is fine. If directly to CD, I can always copy to my notebook's HD later.

Also, are the cartridges that come with these good?

Is there a thread where USB turntables are compared to each other, rather than other methods? If so, I'm having trouble finding it.

Is there a thread where USB turntables are compared to each other, rather than other methods? If so, I'm having trouble finding it.

A ambitious project to provide a fair and thorough comparison among a variety of USB turntables is underway. You can see the current progress on this project athttp://www.knowzy.com/Computers/Audio/Digitize_Your_LPs/USB_Record_Player_Turntable_Comparison.htm

In the future audio files made from various music LPs and test LPs using various USB turntables will be posted and analyzed at this site.

Uh.. no... I said high quality, not high priced.

Something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829121115

Close, but no cigar. ;-)

This is probably the semi-pro audio interface that is most widely being used in the world today to digitize analog media:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829121120

Thanks! Off to check that thread out now.

For a better-than-beginner USB-TT look at this one:

Pro-Ject Debut III USB (http://www.musicdirect.com/product/80649)

You get a proven basic TT with a good arm and cartridge (Ortofon OM 5E).

I know the OP already packed the turntable, but for the others who already have a nice turntable, why don't you get a AD converter like this (http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-UCONTROL-UCA202-USBAudio-Interface?sku=702540)? You can take the stereo monitor out or pre-out from your receiver and hook it up to your computer using usb. If you use a nice turntable with this usb interface unit, it gives you a lot better sound quality than using a crappy usb turntable. I use a similar device in my home recording studio, and it works great.

I know the OP already packed the turntable, but for the others who already have a nice turntable, why don't you get a AD converter like this (http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-UCONTROL-UCA202-USBAudio-Interface?sku=702540)? You can take the stereo monitor out or pre-out from your receiver and hook it up to your computer using usb. If you use a nice turntable with this usb interface unit, it gives you a lot better sound quality than using a crappy usb turntable. I use a similar device in my home recording studio, and it works great.

Good question. I have personal experience with the USB device you recommended, and it does a fine job.