Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: Recording on USB turntable (Ion) (Read 4113 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Recording on USB turntable (Ion)

Ok, just got my Ion turntable. So far pleased. Had the standard problems getting everything to work & understand what needs to happen to get it to work.

Turning record -  it records it as track 5 ( or such) then I delete it, but song count OS missing track 5, it jumps from 4 to 6.
Now I am ending after first side, labeling as "Side A", then do again as side B etc. so iTunes has each "side" A & B .... tracks 1-4

Wanting tips on ripping and using my new toy.
Thanks,
Glenn
 

Recording on USB turntable (Ion)

Reply #1 –
Quote from: Glenn young on
Ok, just got my Ion turntable. So far pleased. Had the standard problems getting everything to work & understand what needs to happen to get it to work.

Turning record -  it records it as track 5 ( or such) then I delete it, but song count OS missing track 5, it jumps from 4 to 6.
Now I am ending after first side, labeling as "Side A", then do again as side B etc. so iTunes has each "side" A & B .... tracks 1-4

Wanting tips on ripping and using my new toy.


Seems like the source of your problems is the software, not the turntable.

It would be cool if people put themselves in the position of the people they are asking for help. Right now we've got a misidentified problem on a mystery turntable (ION has over a dozen in their current product line) using mystery software.  Lots of luck with that!

Under those conditions, I have no choice but to recommend investigating Audacity (freeware) as an alternative for the current unknown but  apparently balky recording software.


Recording on USB turntable (Ion)

Reply #2 –
in iTunes, right-click the song (or album) and select Get Info.  That will bring up a Window and you can change the track number, etc.  (I'm not sure if that changes the information embedded in the audio file, or if it only updates the iTunes database.)

Or, Mp3Tag can edit your tags/metadata (most file formats, not just MP3s).  But you might  have to delete the files from iTunes and then re-add them to make iTunes "forget" the old information.)


Quote
Wanting tips on ripping and using my new toy.

This page has lots of information about digitizing LPs and software recommendations for cleaning-up the "snap", "crackle", and "pop".


My usual overall approach is to digitize both sides of the record, then join the two sides to make one big WAV file.

I do all of my processing (click removal, normalizing, optional EQ, etc.) on the one WAV file.

For removing clicks and pops, I use Wave Repair ($30 USD) which was developed by the author of the above web page.  It does an audibly perfect job of removing most  vinyl defects and in the manual mode it only "touches" the audio where you identify a defect.    But, it usually takes me a full weekend to clean-up a digitized LP so I'm going to try one of the more automated applications next time.

Then, I split it into individual songs and I create MP3s.  (If I'm making a CD, I'll leave it as one WAV file and use a cue sheet to mark the tracks.)

Finally, I use Mp3Tag to add the artist/title/album/etc.

Recording on USB turntable (Ion)

Reply #3 –
Transferring an LP to digital: Not nearly as easy as the sellers of USB turntables would have you believe.

Recording on USB turntable (Ion)

Reply #4 –
Quote from: KozmoNaut on
Transferring an LP to digital: Not nearly as easy as the sellers of USB turntables would have you believe.

Doing anything properly: rarely as easy as doing something badly.

Recording on USB turntable (Ion)

Reply #5 –
Quote from: JabbaThePrawn on
Quote from: KozmoNaut on
Transferring an LP to digital: Not nearly as easy as the sellers of USB turntables would have you believe.

Doing anything properly: rarely as easy as doing something badly.


Given the SQ of your typical low end USB turntable, what is the basic quality of the LP playback?  The digital file will be no better, except for editing and tic and pop removal, but the LP-philes tell me that the tics and pops don't detract from their enjoyment...

Is this representative?

Analysis of USB Turntables

Recording on USB turntable (Ion)

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Arnold B. Krueger on
Given the SQ of your typical low end USB turntable, what is the basic quality of the LP playback?  The digital file will be no better, except for editing and tic and pop removal, but the LP-philes tell me that the tics and pops don't detract from their enjoyment...


I've digitized several albums using a Thorens TD-105, then a Technics SL-1500 and currently a Technics SL-1210 Mk2, and I consider all three to be very good turntables. I have only ever done very minimal tick/pop removal to get rid of the most offensive distractions during quiet sections and obvious effects of deep scratches. Usually the background noise has been way too quiet to bother with. Audacity's click removal filter, noise reduction filter and a 20Hz high-pass filter have been all the tools I've needed, and the high-pass filter is really more of a precaution in case of rumble than anything else.

I think doing too much processing can 'dull' the sound quality and remove too much of the actual music, especially if you go overboard with the noise reduction. I don't care that needledrops have a little bit of noise and a tick here or there, that's part of the package. If I wanted a perfect copy, I would search for a proper digital release (if it even exists for the album in question).

However, in one case I did add just a bit of dynamic compression even after normalizing, since it was an LP of trucker songs that a friend wanted to listen to while driving. It was way too dynamic to be heard properly over road noise, so I had to squash it a little.

Quote
Is this representative?

Analysis of USB Turntables


They repeat some common misconceptions, such as belt drive being inherently superior to direct drive, and that you want as low tracking force as possible to save record wear (slightly too low is actually much worse than slightly too high). Other than there, there is a lot of decent information on that page.

They do have good points about avoiding ceramic cartridges and that you will probably be best served with the Pro-ject or one of the many USB DJ turntables from Numark, Stanton, Audio Technica etc. (all made by Hanpin Electron), if you absolutely want USB connectivity.

Personally I'd much rather spend the money on a good second-hand turntable (and I did), if you have any sort of RIAA pre-amp or a stereo with a pre-amp built in. You'll get more for your money that way.

Recording on USB turntable (Ion)

Reply #7 –
Wow! Great response to my questions - Thank You all! Will need a few days to digest the info.

Now I ask a iTune question - I was writing track names in on a recorded album and clicked something and it went ahead and posted info on iTunes ....l now I have several "unknown song" in listing. I know I should be able to change that and update info .... But how? .......

At the moment, these albums are only showing up in "most resent" file and not under the artist name yet .... When does that happen? Close & reopen? No did not work. Reboot computer?

No pops and cracks at the moment ....l using new "old stock" I find. .... Never been played, but plan on recording some old 78 records I will need to wash extensively.

I was surprised that ION uses magnetic coil needles, not ceramic! ..... At least that is a plus. I had an album that they talked between tracks and had to manually change tracking, so I just lifted the arm and dropped it right back, ION dropped needle ever so slow and carefully. I have found software is lacking some, but has basics there and is easier than my original "RIP" software. But years have gone by. I have been trying to switch to computer stereo system as much smaller in print on home. My first music only computer with surround sound with 400 CD's on it was a start. Now to get the 2500 LP albums onto computer. Well that was 10 years ago. Used my stereo system and normal turntable to record, but RIP software had glitches where you had to click a button for each track separation at just the right time. So ended up with just whole sides of music with no labeling. The ION is much better with automation, but still lacking. Will try other software to see if it works. Turntable only works with ION software, as far as I know, I know it has to be on to get sound.
Thanks again,
Glenn

Recording on USB turntable (Ion)

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Arnold B. Krueger on
Is this representative?

Analysis of USB Turntables

For a start, it equates anti-skate with balancing your tonearm. Hmm.

As for turntable choice, there are lots of little black boxes on the market these days that'll do the A-to-D thing, so you don't have to be limited to turntables with built-in converters. Mind you, if you want an all-in-one setup, the Pro-Ject USB is likely to be a good choice for listening as well as recording. I've tried a couple of their decks and I think they are really rather good.

I use a modified NAD 533, which is effectively a Rega P2 with a different badge. The signal goes into a Terratec iVinyl and from there into the computer. Software is Audacity (free, and does all you need for this purpose).

The automated click removal tool has varying results. Sometimes, it doesn't affect the clicks, sometimes it removes the clicks but alters the sound and sometimes it works satisfactorily. I tend just to use it on fade-outs/fade-ins/track gaps, then deal with clicks in the music manually. Some LPs are never going to sound clean (2nd-hand Richie Havens albums are, for some reason, particularly bad). New releases and some 2nd-hand records are clean and need virtually no work other than splitting into tracks.