DAK: 8 Reasons against USB.

In My Humble Opinion
1

“Use your PC Soundcard. Your turntable or ours.” So says DAK Industries:

http://www.DAK.com/LP_To_Cd_Mp3

I have a great turntable, so it’d be nice to use it to transfer my old LPs to MP3 format.

Anyone have any experience with the DAK system? Feedback requested :slight_smile:

Thanks!

2

If you have a turntable and a sound card with audio in, all you need is a phono pre-amp.
Your link is busted, but I’d never buy anything from DAK - overpriced crap.

3

Thanks for the input about DAK and overpriced (I can’t get the ding-danged link to work) - I did find a site for a free download of Audacity, which sounds like something I can handle - I’m also looking for near idiot-proof…I’m relatively comfortable with technology, but this kinda intimidates me a little, thus, the feedback request…

4

a stereo compact (amp, radio) will have phono inputs and tape in/out. these units can be had for the taking or purchased for a few dollars at thrift stores and rummage sales. they may have been discarded due to being underpowered or some problem using with speakers. the phono preamp in them might work just fine. connect the tape output to the soundcard line input.

Audacity is a fine and good program to use.

5

I know you said you already have a turntable, but just as a data point, I recently bought this one from Ion which is a turntable with a built-in CD burner and also has a USB connection so you can copy tracks directly to your computer. It works fine for me.

6

Thanks, **FBG **- I’ve been looking at the Ion turntable, too - I’m not an audiophile by any stretch, just would like to be able to listen to my LPs on the iPod, so while I expect decent sound quality, I’m also rather a tightwad and am investigation how to use resources currently at my disposal - that said, haven’t ruled out getting an Ion turntable.

7

Thanks, johnpost - I actually think I do have an old stereo compact I’d completely not considered which might work - thanks for the feedback about Audacity. I’d prefer to use equipment I already have and not spend much if any cashola on this project - will take a look at my stereo compact when I get home.

8

I had no idea Drew was still hawking weird niche things. Anyone else remember the Bone Fone and his private label cassette tapes?

9

I got my Ion turntable a year or two ago, and I adore it. It came bundled with Audacity, which is available free anyway. Audacity is easy to use – proof being, I can use it! I’ve been happily converting all my old vinyl to digital. Be sure to use the “click removal” feature in Audacity: it bloomin’ works!

(Oh, the Ion turntable has a tiny volume control knob, hidden in the back. I had to contact Ion and get them to explain that to me.)

10

Based on all this very excellent feedback, methinks I’m gonna just buy an Ion Turntable and save myself some footwork. If Ion has dummy-proofed the transfer process, that’s probably what will work best for me. Thanks everyone!