Customer Reviews

Audio Technica AT-LP2D-USB Fully Automatic Stereo Turntable with USB Output, Includes Recording Software and Dual Magnet Cartridge

5 star:		(98)
4 star:		(52)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

First, I'm not sure if the previous reviewer had his sound card input set correctly, or if he forgot to switch this turntable's pre-amp switch to the correct setting, but mine sounded great. Also, I elected to use the RCA output on this and not the USB... maybe he was having audio-quality problems with the USB part? Many users seem to have an issue with static and otherwise poor audio when using the USB connection. Instead, I suggest using the RCA output on this unit connected to your PC's audio-in jack for the best sound quality. Please read on...

I've never even owned any LPs before, but I recently got a real craving for some mixes that only appeared on DJ-only LPs. So I purchased a few, along with this turntable so I can rip them into MP3s.

Everything arrived on the same day, so I was like a kid in a candy store. All I can say is HOORAY!

There are two versions of this Audio-Technica turntable... one has USB capabilities, and the other (which is a bit less expensive) does not. However, even with the USB output, there are also good old RCA outputs on this turntable. The turntable also comes with two RCA to stereo 3.5mm mini-plug adapters: one male adapter (for connecting to stereos, powered speakers, or a mixer with 3.5mm mini jack inputs), and one female adapter (for connecting to amplified speakers or other devices with a mini-plug). Basically, you can connect this turntable to almost anything without having to go out and purchase additional cables or adapters.

The unit has three buttons on the front: start, stop, and up/down. I'm sure you can guess what each of these does. This is an automatic turntable, so the arm is controlled by the buttons (no need to manually lift and place the needle back down).

The turntable also has a pre-amp switch, for either "line" or "phono" output. This way, you can connect it to most devices, whether they have an amplifier or not.

The setup of the turntable itself is pretty easy. Follow the instructions to easily place the platter onto the turntable and pull the drive belt onto the motor spindle (illustrations are included).

I elected to connect the RCA cables to one of the adapters, and connected that to the "line-in" mini-jack input on my digital sound card. Technically, I didn't need to purchase this more-expensive USB version of the turntable since I am not using the USB output, but that's beside the point :)

There are two CDs included in the package: one for Cakewalk Pyro 2004/2005 (commercial software), and one for Audacity (open source software). Cakewalk Pyro is NOT compatible with Windows Vista, so I installed Audacity (check their website for newer versions if desired).

After installing Audacity, I selected my input source ("line-in"), put the first LP on, and heard exactly what I was hoping to hear... high quality music and sound. So I restarted the LP, hit the record button in Audacity, and waiting for the song to finish. Then I hit the "stop" button in Audacity to stop recording, quickly and easily trimmed a bit of the dead space before and after the song, and exported it to a high-quality, high bit-rate MP3.

For the money, I couldn't have asked for anything better. Everything sounds crystal clear, and couldn't be easier. I highly recommend this product. If you have a line-in jack on your sound card (which most do), and would like to use that, save yourself a few bucks and go with the model that doesn't have the USB output. I'm not sure if the other model comes with a CD for Audacity (maybe only Pyro), but Audacity is an open-source free download on the web anyway. Either way, you won't be disappointed.

Happy ripping! :)

The non-USB version of this turntable appears here:
Audio-Technica AT-LP2DA LP-to-Digital Recording System

I purchased the Audio-Technica AT-LP2D USB turntable through Amazon from SkyBox-USA. Item arrived on time and was so easy to set up and use as part of my normal stereo system. USB cable is 6 feet so we left it connected to turntable all the time and feed it out the side of the stereo cabinet to connect to laptop.

Pyro software is very user friendly (I have a PC). My son loaded the Audacity software on his Mac and began making his own recordings too. The manual that came with this product allowed us to set up in 30 minutes and we began digitizing the first album immediately. First evening we digitized 4 albums. The turntable and software created excellent recordings. Allows editing, cleaning up and marking tracks at the click of the mouse. An LP takes about 40 minutes to play (and record). It then took about 3-5 minutes to clean up and mark, and another 4 to burn the CD. You can keep the "raw" digital project data on your hard drive until you are satisfied with the recordings (MP3 or CD).

Since this version of the turntable also has the USB feed out the back, we connected as our normal turntable and connect the laptop "in parallel" to make the recordings. We were enjoying listening to the music through the stereo amplifier and speakers at the same time we were recording.

I received this as a gift a few months ago. I loaded the software, plugged the turntable into my computer (had to assemble some parts, but it is pretty straight-forward) and started playing my music. The sound is great and the recording very easy. The software - audacity - is fairly simple to use, but you have to research the instructions on the internet because they do not come with the software disk. They are readily available though.

The turntable is pretty solid. It has what look like shock absorbing feet as you see on high quality electronic components. The turntable is aluminum (not plastic) with a rubber mat that sits on it to protect the LP. It has a much-needed dust cover which some do not come with. There are three buttons: up/down, start and stop. The start button lifts the arm, starts the table turning and gently sets the needle on the record. Stop does the reverse. Up down, simply raises or gently lowers the needle. There is never a need to touch the arm of the turntable, which is a major benefit to your records by minimizing the likelihood of your causing scratches by setting down or lifting the needle manually. The arm does return automatically at the end.

Great product and would highly recommend.

Received this for Christmas 2007 from wife - with help from me of course. Past reviews mixed, so I was hesitant. But, after using it, the previous bad reviews were way off.
First, the product was shipped on time, well packaged, no damage.
Second, the phonograph. It looks good, sounds good and works perfectly. Clear controls, dust cover, vibration resistant, this thing is better than my $200.00 phonograph from the 80's. (Todays price probably well over $500.00) Plug in for headphones, USB port, prewired for stereo system connection, it has it all. As for the sound, you can't improve the sound of the vinyl; bad record, bad recording. You can clean it up a bit, but if you have deep gouges in your record there is no hope for making it sound like a digital recording. I'm trying to preserve my collection, not cut new digital recordings for sale.
Last, the software. Everybody has their favorites, so this package comes with two separate recording programs. If you don't like one, use the other. I see other reviews whining about how hard one or the other is to use. Neither is difficult. They work like 75% of the software you buy off the shelf at the computer store. Oh wait, they are the software you buy off the shelf, Included ! In the package ! No waiting !
Overall, this would be a great deal even if the price was higher.
Recommended for preserving those old memories.

I was wondering how well this would work with some of LP's that have been used and abused over the last 40 some years. Took it out of the box, loaded the Cakewalk Pyro software and connected the turntable and speakers to my computer and set to work recording a 37 year old LP.
The turntable worked great, the software was reasonably easy to work with and soon I had my first digital transfer. The sound was clear and even surprised my son when he heard it, I can now salvage the 400 to 500 LP's that I have collected over the years.
You can't beat the price or the product if you are looking for a way to save a collection that you have amassed over the years and wish to continue enjoying.

Why did I wait so long to get this?? Less than forty five minutes out of the box and I had my first MP3 track transferred from an LP record that will assuredly never find it's way onto CD. I use Mac OSX and setting it up couldn't have been easier, quite literally plug & play ready. It took me longer to clear a space off on a nearby printer stand so I could have it within arms reach than it did to assemble the parts.

Heck I'm not even using the software that came with the unit because I was already familiar with Belkin's Final Vinyl freeware (look for it in the Mac/OSX section of CNet's http://www.download.com) from doing cassette to digital transfers. This works even better than transferring from a cassette deck because there's a little pre-amp built into the unit, and using Final Vynil's "auto" sound level setting I made my first 32bit AIFF file format recording in less than an hour out of the box. Drop it onto iTunes, select "Convert to MP3" at the KPS rate you prefer (160kps is fine for my needs) and BINGO!! I'm grooving to a song from my LP collection that I literally haven't heard in over 20 years. Nice.

That may sound a little techie and those just getting into analog to digital audio transfers should probably stick with the included software which comes with a very easy to understand manual -- I just gambled that the sound quality with Final Vinyl would be at least comparable and am quite pleased with the results. I had been thinking about getting a USB turntable for a couple years now and am kicking myself for not having done it sooner: Like many others who have suddenly found themselves in their 40's I have quite a substantial vinyl collection and am looking forward to pawing through it all looking for stuff that warrants resurrection.

People may scoff at the idea if reverting to LP records in the age of the iTunes store but dude, those old King Crimson LPs who's cuts were remixed for CD are next on the stack, can't wait to hear them again and compare them to the more modern versions. And I am going back to mom's house tomorrow to dig out my stash of 7" 45rpms with B-side tracks by Queen and such that have never had authorized CD releases, because sure enough the turntable will work with both 7 and 12 inch, even has a 45rpm spindle adapter & a variable speed control.

So the long and short of it is that if you've been considering investing in a turntable system specifically to convert your stash of vinyl for the iPod age this one will do the trick. You can even use iTunes to make CD burns of the selected tracks if you want. The turntable's plugin works great with Mac OSX with no additional installations, and may indeed open up a new horizon for younger music fans who have always wondered why certain snooty music purists still say vinyl is the only way to hear certain older recordings.

5/5

Nice unit - it's sturdy with a steel turntable and well built catridge unit. My husband is one of those people who kept their records flawless and the sound as a turn table alone is just excellent - and we havent' hooked up speakers yet that was just his laptop speakers.

The tracks moved eaaily over for conversion and dumped to CD just fine. Haven't tried MP3 yet but I'm sure it will be good.

This unit has a USB. Some companies are selling units with the same model number on the box but when you look inside, it is has another number in addition. Make sure you get the USB especially if you have a laptop because most laptops don't have a sound card to conect to.

Great price. Well packed. My husband is loving it - it was a terrific 50th birthday gift.

I absolutely love this product. Straight out of the box, I was able to starting recording my LPs as I already had the Audacity program. After a little minor adjustment with the sound, I was off and running. On my first go around, I recorded 4 LPs. Additionally, I love the fact that this player comes with an automatic arm, a hard plastic cover which helps to keep the dust at bay, and the USB output are exceptional. I have no intention of using the Cakewalk program as Audacity works just fine for me! A++++

Overall I am very satisfied with the quality and value of this turntable. The turntable itself has very good sound for a unit in this price range. I was (eventually) able to make some really nice recordings with it after some tweaking of the setup.

First off, I tried using the USB setup. Unfortunately, I could never get recording controls to appear in the Mixer for the USB Audio Codec (which the turntable connects through), so I could not control the input level when recording with the bundled Cakewalk software. However, I found that the Audacity software (which is bundled and also freely downloadable) does have a built-in level control along with the ability to monitor the recording in progress, which Cakewalk does not have. Unfortunately, I also found that there was some sort of radio frequency being picked up on the USB input, which I could never get rid of. Eventually, I ended up bypassing the USB input and passing it through my stereo into the line input on the computer, which gave me good results.

Now, onto the real kicker--once the audio has been recorded onto the hard drive, the Cakewalk software does a fantastic job of cleaning up the background noise and pops. Two caveats, though: You have to make sure you don't go overboard on the sensitivity when cleaning up the audio, otherwise it turns kind of muddy, but I got good results going about halfway on the sensitivity; also, the cleanup process is somewhat awkward until you get used to it. Make sure when cleaning up that you turn off the cleanup for clipping--if you have clipping that is a problem, it is better to simply re-record at a slightly lower input level, because filtering out clipping does not yield very good results.

I found that the best results came by using either Audacity or Wave Repair (also freely downloadable) to do the recording via the line input, then starting a new project in Cakewalk and loading the audio files into it to do the track splitting and cleanup. This process is somewhat more unwieldly than just doing the quick two-step record/cleanup directly in Cakewalk as it was designed to do, but good results are possible with a little work. If you only have USB and not line input available, I can't guarantee you will get as good results, but that is not to say it is impossible.

If price is an issue, I doubt you will do a whole lot better than this turntable.

Read the reviews which were favorable so bought this model as the price seemed decent. Big issue - there is no anti-skate adjustment which means unless you have a perfectly flat record (not possible with vinyl), the arm will skate across towards the center. Forgetting to add a counter-balance adjustment is unforgivable. Do not buy this turntable -- invest in a better quality one that actually plays records! Back it goes.