Spring Break
Old meets new in mp3 ripping record player
By: Dennis Mongello
Issue date: 5/25/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Originally published: 5/25/07 at 1:18 AM EST
Last update: 5/25/07 at 1:18 AM EST
Originally published: 5/25/07 at 1:18 AM EST
Last update: 5/25/07 at 1:18 AM EST
The combination of old and new technology is an elegant thing.
On the one hand, you have the tried and true technology. It's got all the bugs worked out, it's cheaper, but also antiquated. On the other, you have the cutting edge. A new idea, an idea that promises to be better, but it just hasn't been tested by time yet. To me, that's the appeal of Numark's TTUSB turntable. It combines vinyl records with a USB digital audio interface, allowing you to hook it up right into your computer, no messy pre-amps, receivers or fancy speakers required. This will let you take all that great music you have on records and convert it into any digital format, like MP3.
I don't mean to say that records are antiquated though. They are enjoying something of a comeback recently. Due in small part to all the fall out of draconian DRM features that record labels put into CDs as well as the elevated cost of CDs. Also, some audiophiles claim that vinyl records still give a better sound than their digital counterparts. I'll have to see for myself after I go down to AKA Music and buy that "Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Black" record by Public Enemy I've been eying up to compare to my CD before I make any judgments though. Either way, this is just a matter of opinion. However, it is a matter of fact that a record's larger packaging allows the artists to go all out with big album art and the record itself can double as a canvas for extraordinary colored wax designs or picture discs. Add all this to the fact that there is a lot of music out there, even new music, released exclusively on records to show that they, and turntables, are here to stay.
The TTUSB has all the features you'll need for casual listening. It rotates at 33 or 45 RPM, but you can rip music from 78 RPM records too. It has pitch control and anti-skating control too. These are all the standard features that will appear on any turntable though. Unfortunately, the features end there. The selling point for this model is obviously the USB out in the back of the player. It'll plug into any computer and even comes with software to help get you started.
On the one hand, you have the tried and true technology. It's got all the bugs worked out, it's cheaper, but also antiquated. On the other, you have the cutting edge. A new idea, an idea that promises to be better, but it just hasn't been tested by time yet. To me, that's the appeal of Numark's TTUSB turntable. It combines vinyl records with a USB digital audio interface, allowing you to hook it up right into your computer, no messy pre-amps, receivers or fancy speakers required. This will let you take all that great music you have on records and convert it into any digital format, like MP3.
I don't mean to say that records are antiquated though. They are enjoying something of a comeback recently. Due in small part to all the fall out of draconian DRM features that record labels put into CDs as well as the elevated cost of CDs. Also, some audiophiles claim that vinyl records still give a better sound than their digital counterparts. I'll have to see for myself after I go down to AKA Music and buy that "Apocalypse 91: The Enemy Strikes Black" record by Public Enemy I've been eying up to compare to my CD before I make any judgments though. Either way, this is just a matter of opinion. However, it is a matter of fact that a record's larger packaging allows the artists to go all out with big album art and the record itself can double as a canvas for extraordinary colored wax designs or picture discs. Add all this to the fact that there is a lot of music out there, even new music, released exclusively on records to show that they, and turntables, are here to stay.
The TTUSB has all the features you'll need for casual listening. It rotates at 33 or 45 RPM, but you can rip music from 78 RPM records too. It has pitch control and anti-skating control too. These are all the standard features that will appear on any turntable though. Unfortunately, the features end there. The selling point for this model is obviously the USB out in the back of the player. It'll plug into any computer and even comes with software to help get you started.
