Customer Reviews

Numark TTUSB Turntable with USB

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(69)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

I've been looking for a way to easily convert the old vinyl to iPod-ready MP3s. A bunch of my old LPs will never see the light of a CD so this looked like a great, one-step way of digitizing the old, round, black things with all the grooves.

Backstory: I'm a Mac guy, and I've worked with and taught audio production for a number of years so I more or less know my way around the audio world. That said...

This works quite well, but has a few limitations. Out of the box it plugged right in via the USB port and it also has stereo RCA jacks (such as would plug into the back of your tuner/amp) on the back. Drawback #1 is that the RCA jacks are hard-wired into the base of the turntable so if you don't use them (and are using the USB connector) there's no way to get rid of them. They dangle. This _could_ be causing a problem and I'll address that in a moment.

The turntable worked great, though I"m not sure why they put a pitch control on it if there's no strobe light to verify the speed of the unit. Sort of like putting a tachometer on a car with an automatic transmission. Why?

Beyond that, it has two speeds, 33 and 45 (with adapter) and the LPs sounded OK on the speed. If you are wanting to digitize your old 78s, you can record them at 33 and use the software (see below) to get them to the right speed.

Drawback #2: No tonearm cueing lever so you are manually dropping the arm onto the vinyl disk. Don't drink a lot of coffee before you cue your records, especially since it has a counterweight adjustment on the tonearm that make the tonearm almost wightless. It really tough (even without coffee) to drop that ultra-light arm onto the vinyl without bounce and shake. Be careful...

The audio processing software that ships with the unit is "Audacity," an open-source freeware that you can also download from the Web. If you are using an Intel Mac, make sure you download the new version, as the Mac software supplied on the disk is out of date. PeeCee users with Win2000 and XP should be ready to go. You can also use it with most other audio processing software apps.

Audacity software is a bit clunky, but it works OK for this task. I've used it for a number of years so I felt at home with it. If you are new to it you may not be comfortable with it for a while. But it does a good job and you can easily fix clicks, pops, and vinyl noise with the software. To make the final export to MP3 you also need to download MP3 conversion software (LAME...that's an MP3 encoder, not an opinion...and it's also free), as it's not part of Audacity. No biggie. Once it's downloaded and you link it once so Audacity can find it, you're done and it's forever invisible.

Drawback #3: There seems to be a very, very faint hum through the USB connection and I can't find the source. It may be a grounding issue but there is no grounding connection on this, a basically plasitc body and base. You don't notice the hum during the music, but if you listen it's there in the silence between the tracks. It may also come from those dangling RCA cables that you can't unhook. Until I can isolate and eliminate the hum, I'm just editing out the noise between the tracks with the Audacity "generate silence" command. Again, no biggie, but it's an extra step.

Once you've captured an entire side of a vinyl, you add "markers" to the recorded track to indicate the track breaks, hit Audacity's "Export Multiple" command, select MP3 (assuming you have downloaded the LAME software) and your ready for iTunes. It's slick.

Overall: The turntable works very well for my needs. A serious audiophile may scoff at it and be displeased with the minor hum problem or the lack of a cueing lever, but hey, the price is right. I'd give it a Five-Star rating if it had a cueing lever, detatchable RCA cables, and no faint hum between the tracks.

The idea of having a turntable plug directly into the computer is great! The idea of easily ripping LPs is even better! A few minor changes and this could be perfect.

Pros:
1. USB support
2. Supplied software easy to use once set up
3. good quality sound
4. replaceable cartridge (unlike its cousin, the ION turntable, also built by Numark)
5. No noticeable hum
6. 1/8" stereo input for copying cassettes or anything else.

Cons:
1. completely manual - no auto reject, so don't leave the room and forget the record, you will have a wrecked needle and a new groove dug in the record.

2. No cue lever - a hassle unless you are very careful each time

3. Power switch in back of unit for some reason

4. Software (Audacity) didn't work with Windows Vista, had to try 3 different versions of the software until I found a version that worked (version 1.2.6)

5. In order to use the computer speakers for any other purpose than the turntable, the Numark USB cable has to be unplugged, not just turned off. When it is plugged in, there is no sound from Itunes, or anything else. I tried changing the exclusive use setting in Control Panel but to no avail (anybody have an answer?)

This Numark USB turntable addresses a very old problem for me... that of easily creating digital files from selected tracks- from my 2000+ licorace pizza albums and vintage 45's.

There are good points to this turntable, and some negatives. The parent company (Numark) also markets the "ION 'iTTUSB" turntable. The differences (besides graphics & price) between the Numark and ION are: the ION has a PLASTIC platter; the Numark has a DIECAST & MACHINED ALUMINUM platter (better mass, for more consistent disc speed). The Numark TTUSB has an "S" shaped "tone arm," where-as the ION has a straight arm; the cartridge on the ION has a non-replaceable needle in the cartridge, where-as the needle IS replaceable on the TTUSB; the TTUSB has a rather rudimentary "speed control," which they call "pitch control," which the ION does NOT have. Here is where the differences end. BOTH are of (nearly all) plastic construction. BOTH are "belt-driven," as opposed to "direct-drive." NEITHER has "cueing" ability (which makes it easier to place the needle on an album, and selecting EXACTLY where you wish to place it), and both have an adjustable tone arm "mass weight," for placing the correct pressure on the needle (or stylus). The Numark TTUSB also has an "anti-skate" adjustment. There is NO (factory) dust cover available for either. Weight between the ION & Numark is nearly identical (12 lbs; shipping is about $1 per pound).

They both will come with a CD- which has "Audacity;" this is the software which IS the "go-between," and makes it possible for you to save your (digitized) audio tracks; it also helps you to edit any flaws out.

While the "TTUSB" is not a perfect solution, is IS a better solution than the ION; I found an ION for $106; the Numark I found was $120. While the dollar amout may seem expensive for what you are getting, what you are paying for here, IS convenience.

ONE OTHER thing: IF you do opt for the Numark TTUSB, do yourself a favor- invest in another headshell and buy an Audio-Technica cartridge with the elliptical, nude diamond stylus. IF you are going to record your prize music, do it right. The AT magnetic cartridge is superior to what you are furnished. You CAN swap pick-ups, and you WILL need a separate set-up (cart & needle) for your 78's. REASON? The 78 groove IS MUCH larger than the groove on the 33's & 45's. And also- they say that the cartridge comes "pre-installed" on the headshell... all well & fine, BUT you will NEED a special gauge to align the cartridge (on the headshell) for 0 (that IS "ZERO") degrees tracking error at 2-1/2" radius (from the spindle). The "jig" or gauge CAN be had. I'm glad that I readjusted the "factory assembled" headshell & cart, and have purchased the Audio-Technica cart & needle. My other 2 turntables are direct-drive (beltless), have cueing and an adjustable speed control. BUT they lack the USB connection.

Have FUN, and ENJOY.

I was aware that Numark makes much higher-end turntables so I was surprised to see this belt-drive system -- which many consider preferable to servo-driven platters - at such an affordable price. With the USB output, to boot. I was a bit skeptical, but having listened to it, and made a few recordings, I'm very impressed.

Cactus Chris gave a good explanation of the turntable's functionality and features. To his drawback list I would add the lack of a dust cover; that would have been a nice, easy feature to add.

On the plus side, although it's true that there is no cuing arm, one nice feature is the on/off switch to start the turntable (it is the oversized, black oval button you can see in the picture on the front left of the deck, and there is a duplicate button in the back left). This makes it much easier to cue your recordings by placing the needle on a stopped platter--visually making sure you are in the right groove at the start of a track before hitting the record button on your computer software--and then starting the record from a dead stop.

Anyone who recalls the old days of trying to record vinyl onto cassette tapes will appreciate how much coordination it took to cue a moving record while engaging the tape deck. This turntable makes the process one step easier.

Like Cactus Chris I too am on a Mac (OS 10.4.8) and the Audacity software is not much to look at. I assume the user interface is just as bare-bones on a PC. There are other audio editing software choices out there if you want to explore, but Audacity does the job just fine once you get a handle on the controls.

I was pleasantly impressed with the job the Audacity tools do in sampling, finding and erasing all pops and hisses in a vinyl playback, without much manual labor on my part. And it was pretty easy to edit tracks and export songs in WAV format for burning CD's and mp3 format, too, once I downloaded a free copy of LAME Lib off the Internet.

If you take your time with the software your first couple of times through, it all becomes pretty intuitive and you'll start to feel like an audio engineer pretty quickly.

One note: I installed a better quality cartridge & stylus on the turntable and can't speak to the quality of the Numark equipment that comes pre-packaged.

with this item. I was looking for a turntable, and came across this. I am glad I did. He can not only play his records via the stereo, but he can hook up the laptop to the USB cable and record his favorites to play in the car. Many of my husband's albums have not been released on CD yet, and some may never, but now he has them back! The instructions are pretty simple, though it took a few trial and errors to understand a couple of things. Note: On the bottom is a switch we didn't originally see that helped with recording. Make sure you notice it.

The turntable is excellent after one receives the revised instructions. The instruction booklet that comes with the turntable is wrong; contact the service number to get a revised version by email.

This turns out to be more than we expected. Installation was immediate and with just a little bit of a learning curve (mostly with design of CD) we were off and running working our way through stacks of old records! The quality of the turntable is excellent...very pleased

Bottom line; it works very well. It was a toss-up between this or the Ion... or go the fiddly/tech route with pre-amps etc (as I have no actual stereo).

My need was simple: digitize a load of thrift store vinyl, and either burn them to CD, or import them to iTunes.

Setup of the unit was easy -- 20 minutes. I don't honestly know that I installed the arm weight correctly, but it seems to play fine. Make sure to push it to the back and then do the clock-wise bit.

Software was a tad trickier... but got it working after going through the settings a second time. I have a standard soud card, regular desktop speakers and everything worked fine. It pays to read the manual carefully... one missed setting results in no sound anywhere, despite thinking you've set up everything perfectly.

Recording is a breeze... cue the vinyl, hit record, stop when done, and save your files. Audacity does have deeper levels, and offers various effects to enhance the recording -- most of which I've yet to experiment with.

They say it's best to 'normalize' all your recordings, and begin every session with a new stereo track.

The two minor drawbacks to the Numark are; no cover and no pick-up. Luckily my vinyl is not that valuable, so I'm not too bothered if I'm a tad careless lifting up or placing the stylus down. I also don't know if a better stylus would improve the overall sound.

As a standalone record player, the unit plays records fine via Audacity... make sure you check one of the settings on Audacity to get the input -- otherwise no sound.

The only question is; how best to save your files -- as .WAV or .MP3? Audacity offers both of course... but there are numerous methods for getting the best sound out of them -- convert to iTunes with AAC, or MP3 etc.

I tried both, and listened to them on the iPod... and they came out fine. Don't over amplify, or you'll get unnecessary distortion.

All in all, this is a worthy unit for the money. It gets the job done, and does it well. Audiophiles may look down at it's lack of major features ... but for most purposes, it's a great deal.

I read SO many reviews before buying this turntable (comparing all the different ones I could find) and this one sounded like it was easy for people to use--even non-computer, non-audio savvy people, and it's TRUE! Yes, the included software is not intuitive (but you get used to it relatively quickly)and yes, there is no dust cover (major inconvenience, as I have a cat who likes to climb on things--yet, somehow, she's learned to stay away from it). But that said--when I got it, I promptly transferred my old Shaun Cassidy & Superbubble records (hideous scratches, pops, and all) and they sound GREAT (not to mention, I can't even find MP3s or even CDs of some of those tracks anywhere). It was easy to clean them up and eliminate some scratches and pops that I was sure I'd have to listen to forever, without damaging the quality of the song itself. And my Beasite Boys sounded just as good, too.

I am comfortable around computer and audio equipment, but considering the non-intuitiveness of the included software, there was still a learning curve, but within a few hours, I felt like a pro (seriously!). And best of all: I have my record collection back! I feel like I've been let out of sonic prison, and it feels GREAT. And even better--the price of the turntable is amazing, considering that it has now given me the ability to transer my records (all 500+ of them--saving me easily $5,000 to digitize songs I may never hear again any other way). I cannot tell you how exciting it is to be able to listen to my records on my computer & ipod now. It feels ridicuously exciting and makes me SO happy! I'm so glad I made this purchase. Oh--and another plus--I now have the capacity to digitize my grandparents' 78s. Talk about a blessing--I'm thrilled!

As just a plain ol' turntable, the Newmark TTUSB is completely average and certainly a decent value for the price. However, if you're like me and you've been looking for a reasonably priced option to convert your LP collection to MP3 (or CD I suppose, but why bother with another dying technology???), I can't imagine a better option than this turntable.

There is a small amount of assembly required, but once you finish that (2 minutes to assemble, another 2 minutes to calibrate...the belt was a little tricky because I didn't read the assembly directions until I ran into trouble with said belt) and install the Audacity software (and download an MP3 converter if you don't have one already), it's smooth sailing from there. If your records are in good condition, it's truly as easy as playing the record, cutting the tracks and clicking the export command.

If your some of your records are a little worn, though, not to worry...after downloading a few plug-ins for Audicity (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) you will have an easy to use and wonderfully functioning noise reducer which will remove NEARLY ALL cracks, pops, etc without affecting any other aspects of the sound quality of the track you record.

For me, this will be a time consuming process (5 down...500 to go), but if you're looking to convert a record collection, I can't imagine a better product. The only thing that could have possibly improved this player would be a dust cover...a minor complaint for such a perfect little workhorse, though.