[thunderbrick]

OK, what's the easiest way to copy my LPs to CD?  I don't want to use a computer, squeezebox, or a $100 POS USB TT.  Do I buy CD recorder?  Is there an analog-USB adapter?  RCAs to 1/8" stereo plug into my aged G5 Mac?  A microphone in front of my speakers?   

Simple is good.  Low priced is better.

Ideas?

I have a Rogue 66 pre and SOTA TT, FWIW.

Thanks!

'brick

[DaveyW]

Hi Thunderbrick,

A Pioneer PDR-609 has been a permanent feature of my set up for the last 15 years.



Like many CD Recorders it uses the Audio CDR/CDRW's.
I bought a pack of 5 Audio CDRW discs shortly after acquiring the recorder and still use them.

Make direct copies of vinyl (or radio, or whatever) then copy onto whatever format you then want  - digital storage or cheaper std. PC CDR's.

No need for any form of post processing or PC usage other than to store what you've done and no need to plug anything into a PC.

One other advantage of this unit is that you can use the on board DAC - plug a digital source via either std digital coax or optical lead and play through the unit as a source on your main system 

CD playback is not too shabby either.

I've never even thought about an alternative approach, does just what I've ever wanted to do.

Cheers
Dave

[Wayner]

I have this Tascam (it's new):

 

It does not require Music CD-Rs, just regular ones will work. The cassette side is nice for me as I have lots of people that want some of their cassette stuff put onto CD and it does a great job.

It also has a direct input for a MM turntable, as it has a built in phono preamp, not USB, but the regular RCA jacks, suitable for the low level signal of a phono cartridge.

Also, older recorders may have code problems with newer CD players, so getting one that is 15 years old is not a good idea.

I usually burn my LPs to a CD-RW and then stick it into the computer, where I have my Cakewalk ProAudio 9 software to clean the beginning and end of the tracks up. I don't alter the beginning other then to snip any groove noise, prior to the start of the music, and on long fade-outs, I may add my own fade out to keep noise down.

When you record onto a CD burner, you will have to manually index the tracks number (in-between songs) as the burner can't record music and an index at the same time, so you will hear a second of complete silence when you do the indexing. That may be annoying to some folks and it is the reason I bring the completed disc into my computer for editing that I have previously described.

Wayner 

[madog99]

Plugging into your Mac with the little splitter from your amp would be the cheapest way to go $3 . Download audacity or similar program and start ripping .
 But something cheap and not to bad is the Berhinger UFO202 for $30 .
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UFO202.aspx. I bought one and it does what it says and the sound from line out of my amp into the laptop was pretty good . I did not try hooking the turntable directly to it though which you can do as it is a phono pre also.

A step up would be the ART DJ usb model for about $80

All 3 of those options would be better than those plastic USB turntables but all require a computer !

[jimdgoulding]

I have this Tascam (it's new):

 

It does not require Music CD-Rs, just regular ones will work. The cassette side is nice for me as I have lots of people that want some of their cassette stuff put onto CD and it does a great job.

It also has a direct input for a MM turntable, as it has a built in phono preamp, not USB, but the regular RCA jacks, suitable for the low level signal of a phono cartridge.

Also, older recorders may have code problems with newer CD players, so getting one that is 15 years old is not a good idea.

I usually burn my LPs to a CD-RW and then stick it into the computer, where I have my Cakewalk ProAudio 9 software to clean the beginning and end of the tracks up. I don't alter the beginning other then to snip any groove noise, prior to the start of the music, and on long fade-outs, I may add my own fade out to keep noise down.

When you record onto a CD burner, you will have to manually index the tracks number (in-between songs) as the burner can't record music and an index at the same time, so you will hear a second of complete silence when you do the indexing. That may be annoying to some folks and it is the reason I bring the completed disc into my computer for editing that I have previously described.

Wayner 

Dang, that's sounds like the complete package.  Why would a person want to do that if I may ask.  Prosperity?  Sorry about your Vikings, old sport. 

[madog99]

Wayner , that is a nice unit , looks to be pretty flexible !

[marknoir]

It all depends how high of quality you want. Going into your Mac, as someone suggested, probably will not yield as good a result as using a stand-alone CD recorder. There are many available out there, consumer and professional. Consumer decks will record on music CD-Rs and RWs, professional decks will record on anything. I have used an old Pioneer-based HHB CDR 800, with a Stable Platter drive. But I found that you have to be carefull about the blanks. The cheapies do not hold up well. Shell out some extra money and use good quality archival or reputable manufacturer's more expensive blanks. Unless your computer has lossless ripping, and 1x speed burning, you'll get better results from a stand-alone CD recorder. There is a Tascam pro model on ebay new for under $400, and not so pro for less. Do not buy portable Marantz or Superscope units - they suck. Used HHB units as well as Pioneer are also good.