Minidisc Music
Everything You Should Know About USB Turntables
The USB turntable is the modern incarnation of the old style vinyl record player or gramophone. They take the old principle of playing a vinyl disc and connect it to a computer via a USB connection. The major bonuses of this is that it is possible to record the vinyl record into a computer media file format to be included on your iPod or to turn your old vinyl records into CDs.
I recently removed my extensive vinyl collection from the loft and attempted to play them on my record player but sadly the machine would not work. A quick trip to the electronics shop and I was told that there was little hope of fixing my old friend and I was told that if I did try and get it repaired it would cost me as much as getting a new one. I was definitely not happy about the prospect of selling my prized records at the car boot and as a result invested 100 pounds on a new USB turntable. I was pleasantly surprised as the new device kept the same quality of sound as my old record player but with the added bonuses of increased reliability and modern USB capacity.
The History of Sound recording
The gramophone disc was first introduced as a commercial product to America in 1889. In the following years the discs became increasingly popular. After the first world war these discs became the most popular format for recording and this remained so for many years. In 1948 the Ampex 200 became the first commercial tape recorder and the use of the magnetic tape Technology that this method boasted soon became extremely popular.
By the late 1950s the 78rpm gramophone discs were being replaced by the 12 inch LP vinyl discs and the 7 inch 45 vinyl disc. The cassette arrived on the scene in 1964 and began to erode the popularity of the vinyl record. Tapes remained the popular choice for people for the following years with portable tape players and walkmans becoming a real favourite. The CD was first released in 1982 and has been a very popular option since. In 1992 the minidisc was introduced. These discs used digital technology to record music onto but never achieved the same level of popularity as tapes despite the fact that they were easy to record onto.
Whilst CDs still remain incredibly popular there are a number of music playing formats that utilise computer media formats. This has seen music imported onto mp3 players and iPods. These devices allow thousands of songs to be stored and carried around on a tiny portable device.
Like traditional record players the USB turntable lets you listen to vinyl discs through speakers and plays them in the conventional way – with a needle that runs over the discs. However it has the modern benefit of a USB connection which can be joined to a computer. This means that the vinyl can be played through the computer or can be recorded into a modern MP3 format.
The software that is available for the computers enable the sound that is recorded to be manipulated. This means you can remove the grainy sound from your vinyl recordings or take out jumps and scratches in the music. It can also enable you to record from your vinyl into a stereo format.
The US turntable can cost anything between 50 pounds and 500 pounds depending on the level of sophistication you are after. Generally the cheaper end of the market are adequate for people that do not want to perform complex functions. Anything around the 100 pound mark will provide enough sophistication for most vinyl players.
About the Author
Expert disc jockey and distributor of numark, pioneer and technics dj equipment and the USB turntable. Shaun Parker has been involved in the music scene for many years.
Hi-Minidisc MZ-RH1 Feature Showcase
|
|
Sony MDW80PL 80 Minute MiniDisc MD Premium Gold (Single) $1.78 The Sony’s MDW80PL 80 minute MiniDisc provides the highest a premium level of performance. This is the longest recording length of MiniDisc available. Shock Absorbing Mechanism helps isolate the disc from vibration. Sony MiniDisk the absolute best way to record your music. Available in singles at some authorized Sony dealers and retailers…. |
|
|
100 ULTRA THIN 3 Mini-Disc CD / DVD Cases #CDBR30 – Clear w/ Frosted Clear Back (Gamecube, Mini, Game Disc, Boxes) $28.00 These are 3″ ultra thin jewel boxes. The jewel boxes are BRAND NEW and in excellent condition! They measure 3.7″ x3.5″ x 0.2″ (a.k.a. 93.98mm x 88.89mm x 5.2mm). These are very thin jewel cases that have the tray built into them. They are clear with a frosted clear back. They are perfect for storing your mini-disc CDs, DVDs, or Gamecube games! THESE WILL NOT HOLD A REGULAR 5″ CD, THEY ARE FOR 3″ M… |
|
|
Power 2000 MEM-1 Aluminum Memory Stick Card Case $8.49 Adorama Digital Media Aluminum carrying case for Memory Sticks is constructed of high strength aluminum with rubber molded lining for maximum protection. Dimensions 4″ w x .75″ D x 2.8″ H… |
|
|
Coby CA-747 Dual Position CD/MD/MP3 Cassette Adapter $2.99 COBY DUAL POSITION CD/MD… |
|
|
Walkman Car Connecting Pack for MD Walkman and CD Walkman (Model# CPA-9C) $6.00 The Sony CPA-9C cassette adaptor allows you to connect your minidisc or CD player to a vehicle cassette player. While this Sony product works best with Sony CD and MD players, the adaptor will operate with non-Sony products as well. There are a couple of key features to this adaptor which make it a fine choice. The first notable feature is the spring-loaded head. The head will automatically adjust… |
|
|
Sony ECM-DS70P Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone $48.00 Sony’s ECM-DS70P Electret Condenser Stereo Microphone is a high quality microphone for recording on Digital Media such as MiniDisc, DAT and NT Recorders. The ECM-DS70P features plug in power operation, uni-directional stereo recording, direct connection to recorder, gold plated plug, small sized and lightweight. Main FeaturesManufacturer: Sony CorporationManufacturer Part Number: ECMDS70PManufactu… |
|
|
The Best of James Taylor $7.70 Any good singer can interpret a song, but it takes a stylist to make it his own. James Taylor is a stylist. This 20-track anthology obviously can’t chronicle much more than the hits and high points of Taylor’s career, but it nonetheless captures the artistic essence of a performer who’s become a virtual synonym for “singer-songwriter” since his emergence in the late ’60s. A lot of ink has been spi… |
|
|
The Very Best Of Cher $9.97 CD includes: Believe If I Could Turn Back Time Heart of Stone Just Like Jesse James Save Up All Your Tears After All (Love Theme from Chances Are) – Duet with Peter Cetera I Found Someone One by One Strong Enough All or Nothing Song for the Lonely Take Me Home The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss) All I Really Want to Do Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) Half-Breed Gypsies Tramps and Thieves I Go… |
|
|
Tuscany: A Romantic Journey $10.98 Take a romantic journey across the fabled landscape of Tuscany with these beautiful, orchestral recordings of Italian classics. 1. O Mio Babbino from Gianni Schicchi – Puccini 2. Con Te Partiro – Sartori 3. Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana – Mascagni 4. La Donna E Mobile from Rigoletto – Verdi 5. Un Bel Di Vedremo from Madama Butterfly – Puccini 6. Nessun Dorma from Turandot – Puccini 7. Inter… |
|
|
ROBOTECH REMASTERED ANIMINI 1.1 (DVD MOVIE) In the midst of a global war, a giant alien spacecraft crashes onto the Earth at tiny Macross Island. The war gives way to peace and cooperation in light of this improbable situation. In the 10 years that follow, the spacecraft, dubbed the SDF-1, is studied and rebuilt. But the peace is short-lived when an alien armada arrives to reclaim their missing ship. Rick Hunter, a young pilot, is drawn… |
