Help! USB turntables!

[Alpinestarhero]

Hi all! Its my dads birthday, so I'm trawling for gift ideas. I was going to get him a back protector, but havnt been able to get him out to try some on before I left home for uni. Anywho, I found a USB turntable

http://www.firebox.com/product/1401?src_t=t20

which apparently would allow the user to transfer their vinyl records (dad has plenty) onto a digital format, then he can burn them to CD and play them in his car etc.

Thing is, .orgers, does anyone think this is any good? is there something better?

Matt

[ooger]

Ha! Thats just nuts! Nice idea though!

Question is - think about the long term - if you ever need a lift somewhere when you go back home can you put up with whatever it is thats been securely archived to vinyl for the last 15 years?!

I've got a colour changing USB rocket on my desk.

Happy Christmas 2005 to me :D

[hovis]

i like the sound of that, as i have loads of vinyl. but, what would the sound quality be like? and would he want to transfer it? would it not be just as easy to download the tracks from the net?

[Alpinestarhero]

Hovis, dare I say it but you have come up with some good points, and not taken the oppurtunity to jab at me for my topbox :p

Not sure on sound quality, thats why i was asking incase anyone knew about these things...I guess sound quality will be that of the vinyl itself, and I suppose I might be able to get hold of some software to amend the quality of the sound, but then I dunno.

My dad dosnt do downloading, he;s not that computer literate...i just thought it would be cool for him. He;s got some great stuff on vinyl like led zep and some hendrix stuff and loads of other classic rock :smt047 so i wouldnt mind hearing it

Matt

[phil24_7]

Depends what make you get as to the sound quality. The good ones cost more but sound a helluva lot better in comparison.

Don't get me wrong, none of them will sound amazing unless you pay top-dollar (several hundred pounds) but you can get a reasonable sound.

There are many software programmes that can take the track you record and "clean" it up, removing crackles and background noise, some more effectively than others so find some reviews on the web etc.

The final recording will never be as good as a digital version but you can get it reasonably close if you spend time finding the right products and then setting them up correctly.

Regards