Numark TTUSB Turntable with USB

You can transfer all you old records to mp3 easyly. You can ear you lp in your stereo and much more.

If you only have a limited amount of Vinyl that you would like to put on CD this set up might be just the thing for you, especially now that the selling price has tumbled from the original MSRP.

I have always used dedicated CD recorders ( like a cassette deck but instead of cassette tape it uses blank CD ) and a high quality conventional vinyl playback system to transfer records to Compact Disc format. Although this may cost you a bit more for all of the equipment, if you are dealing with thousands of 45 RPM singles and a few hundred LP Albums, for me this is the preferred method.

When I found an offer of having the Numark TTUSB brand new from an authorized dealer for $80, plus a $20 Numark Factory Rebate I jumped at it so I could see how to record directly into a PC and have it burn discs.

One initial dissapointment was the inavailability of any kind of mechanical or electrical specifications on this turntable. No audio, stylus or cartridge specs, nothing at all ! I find this kind of unusual in comparison to how Turntables were described years ago when they were the only game in town. For the marked down price however I still felt compelled to buy this item.

The performance of the Turntable itself played back through a conventional audio system is quite pleasing. I was a bit skeptical in finding that it comes equipped with a .6 mil conical stylus where in the past .7 mil was more standard and is better if dealing with records that have been " well played " with a lot of wear in the groove. I was also a bit skeptical of the 3.5 Gram maximum tracking force of the stylus. Most of my equipment tracks at 4 Grams which can be better suited for playing of well worn records. Initial playback of some 50 year old well worn 45's gave me pleasing and impressive results, all things considered. I verified the stylus pressure with a Neuses stylus pressure guage and maxed it out to 3.5 Grams. I may eventually put a Shure M44-C cartridge in this TT but for now the factory equipped no-name economy cartridge and stylus are doing a fine job for me. The Economy lower compliance tone arm is also better suited for playing old and worn records and getting the best possible sound out of them sometimes.

With the variable speed control set to its midpoint detented position proved to give speed accuracy as determined by my strobe disc.

In addition to the built in Analog to Digital converter providing the USB output, it appears there is also a built in " Phono Stage " pre-amp for the magnetic cartridge so you should not have any problem using this TT on nearly any conventional stereo amplifier of receiver.

The installation of the software seemed straightforward and easy enough. I made one test recording with a 45RPM single and when I though I had finished there was no sound when I tried playing it back on my PC. The software works in conjunction with iTunes and you have to be connected to the Internet. I found that after recording and before playback, the USB plug from the TT has to be disconnected from the PC.

It took more fanagling to figure out how to get the recording from my iTunes and burn it onto a CD in the PC. Somehow I was able to get the files into my Windows Media Player and burn them to disc from that.

In comparison to using a dedicated " CD Recorder " all of this takes an immense amount of time by comparison. The TTUSB system works and seems to do a good job but I think I will stick with my dedicated CD Recorder, easier and less time consuming.

Despite the Clunky Software the TTUSB comes with, at the discounted ( below $100 ) price the turntable in itself is worthwhile and the USB part does work, if you have the time to go through all of those steps from Vinyl to CD. For a small collection of records to be put on CD or for occasional use it seems very cost effective at the below $100 price !

With this kind of price reduction they may just want to sell them out as maybe they did not sell that well at the original price. Grab one while they are still available !

It's easy to transfer vinyl records to your computer with this turntable. You will need the software and instructions in order to work the turntable, i.e., you don't just plug it into your computer and transfer the tracks. The software is a little bit tricky, but it you follow the directions, it works fine. It takes a long time to record your library because the records have to be played in real time. You will have to edit out the "pops"...you remember, the "pops" that we all ignored when vinyl was the only medium. Since our ears are accustomed to digital for over 20 years, the "pops" are very noticeable, annoying, and impossible to ignore. These can be edited without noticing any skips in the material.

I purchased this Numark turntable with the intent of converting some rare vinyl records to mp3. I was pleased with the results however wanted to post a couple of comments. Firstly, don't waste time with Numark tech support-- they are utterly useless. Knew less than I did. Secondly, if you have an external webcam you might have some issues. I had to disconnect the webcam to hear the records being played. I recorded some music from cassette tapes but the cable needed for transfer does not come with the turntable.

I bought the Numark TTUSB because I could not, at the time, find anyone who had the ION TTUSB in stock. When it became quite apparent that the platter was molded off-center -- the recorded pitch "wobbled" -- I contacted Numark to figure out what to do. They sent me one reply telling me I had either installed the belt incorrectly or had the settings wrong (neither of which I did, nor could either be the cause of the symptom). They would not respond to any follow-up emails.

This model appears to be a badly manufactured knock-off of the ION USB turntable.

Safe yourself a headache and just by the ION turntable.