Re: [ARSCLIST] USB Turntables

[Jeffrey Kane <jeffkane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Check with them to make sure they used a phono preamp. It's not beyond the
realm of possibility that someone simply plugged a turntable directly into a
computer sound card. That would assuredly lead to horrid results as the
output is not only very low in level but also still carries RIAA
equalization which would sound very thin and shrill.  The Rolls VP29 is an
example of a very low cost phono preamp. Note that this isn't a
recommendation; that's simply one of the cheapest phono-pres I know of
that's readily available. I'd want something quite a bit better for
archiving.

The USB turntables are nothing more than a mediocre or worse turntable with
an RIAA preamplifier and Analog to Digital converter inside that outputs via
USB interface. In short, it's all in one convenient package but the quality
is not what one could achieve via more traditional methods. 

Regardless of what method is used, you don't want LPs in the hands of
patrons, especially ones that can't be replaced. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christina Zamon
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 10:02 AM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] USB Turntables

Thanks Tom, good suggestion, but the reason we accepted this donation
was because these albums are not available on commercial CDs with the
exception of a few.  They are comedy LPs from the 1960s to the 1990s
that comprise half of the collection.  The total collection consists of
LPs and CDs and number close to 1500.

Thanks to everyone else for their suggestions.  I think I'm more
confused now then when I started.  I originally checked with our media
services department who had tried to convert some LPs about 5 or 6 years
ago using a regular turntable through a computer but they said that the
results were terrible.  They suggested I test the USB turntable as an
alternative to see if that works any better.  I've read mixed reviews on
using USB turntables vs. a regular turntable through a computer.
Everyone seems to have their own preference or reason for doing it one
way or another.

I'm still open to comments or suggestions on the topic.  Thanks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christina J. Zamon
Head of Archives and Special Collections
Emerson College
120 Boylston Street 
Boston, MA  02116
Tel: (617) 824-8679
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-----Original Message-----
From: Association for Recorded Sound Discussion List
[mailto:ARSCLIST@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Fine
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 7:55 PM
To: ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] USB Turntables

One key suggestion -- buy commercial CD's of everything that's in print.
You will avoid a very 
sticky copyright issue and it will be much less expensive than any
reasonable method of transferring 
LPs (if a transfer person's time is worth anything). See how much that
whittles down the number of 
needed transfers and then you can make better decisions. More material
than you think was or is 
in-print on CD's. If the collection is all or some classical music, also
make sure to check out the 
ArkivCD reissues at www.arkivmusic.com

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christina Zamon" <Christina_Zamon@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ARSCLIST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 4:22 PM
Subject: [ARSCLIST] USB Turntables


Our archives recently received 800 LPs from a donor and we are looking
into getting a turntable for access purposes.  We would like to have a
turntable that we can use for patrons to listen and for creating
reference/service copies on to CD or into a digital file so as not to
wear out or ruin the originals.  I've looked at several USB turntables
from Ion, Stanton, and Numark with various reviews and opinions.  Is
there anyone out there already doing something similar and what type of
turntable are you using?  We would like to spend less than $500.



Any suggestions?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christina J. Zamon

Head of Archives and Special Collections

Emerson College

120 Boylston Street

Boston, MA  02116

Tel: (617) 824-8679

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~