Customer Reviews

INport

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was thrilled to find this device, although I understand that serious audiophiles may want something more sophisticated, as noted in some other reviews here.

I had been looking for a way to copy my vinyl records onto CD, but the advice I got from audiophiles sounded like techno-babble gobble-de-gook to a low tech person like me. Then I discovered this little device, which worked like a charm.

Within minutes I had it hooked up to my laptop, installed the software, and connected it to my stereo system. In practically no time I was copying old records, ripping tracks from VHS tapes and DVDs, as well as audio cassettes.

You will need separate CD burning software, but I found that Windows Media Player worked fine. The software that comes with the device (LPRecorder and LPRipper) are used to do the copying and editing and they worked fine for me. More demanding users may want to purchase more sophisticated software that can clean up old vinyl tracks. (I do not recommend any of Roxio's products for this purpose as they have repeatedly failed on my computer, but other software is available).

LPRecorder is used to record your music; you can adjust the volume recording level and it has a "pause" button that works like the ones on cassette decks. LPRipper allows you to edit tracks, separate tracks if you are recording an entire album, and add fades. You can continually monitor the recordings until they are exactly the way you want them, adding your own fades and edits if you like. Once the tracks are saved in LPRipper, you can open them in Windows Media Player and then click the "Add" button to permanently install them there, add them to playlists, burn them onto CD, etc.

After a few days of playing around with this thing I felt like an expert and was compiling CDs of all sorts, which sound just great to me. However, I'm not an audiophile with a high-end stereo system; if you are, this device should still work for you, but you may need some of the additonal items mentioned by other reviewers (a pre-amp, additional audio software, and a shorter patch chord -- Yes, this one IS awfully long, but I suspect the manufacturer wanted to enable users to connect computers to stereo systems that may be located in different rooms).

Finally, I found the tech support people very helpful and responsive. Communicating with them by email cleared up one or two minor questions I had. They even recommended additional free software that could be downloaded and used in place of their own.

Happy recording!

I first bought the ADS Instant Music to try an convert some cassettes, and the idea behind the product was great, and the software was fantastic. But with Instant Music I had some serious feedback issues, and ADS support was basically non-existant! I saw the INport product here on Amazon and figured I would give it a shot. The INport product works great! I simply plug the INport adapter into the PC with a USB cable, and then hook up my stereo with the RCA Adapters, and push play on the cassette. It's so easy...even for a non-technical guy like me! The ADS product was just as simple, but the feedback issues I had to try and deal with made the process a real nightmare. The big difference between the INport and the ADS product, is that the INport device is grounded, meaning it shield the product from all electronic interference. The only thing holding me back from giving the INport 5 stars, is the software that comes in the package. I found the ADS Nero software very user friendly, and quite a bit less complicated. So while I put the ADS hardware back in the box, I am keeping the ADS Nero software, and just using the INport device instead. If you have alot of vinyl or cassettes that you want to convert, then I would recommend the INport device, and then see if you can get a hold of the Nero software. That's the best combination I have found.

Opened the package, read the short manual once, then followed the manual for installation. I used the included RCA cord also to connect the device to my Sony stereo. I then rebooted the computer, and then installed the included software. Made the proper changes in the Control panal, and tested it. It worked flawlessly. It completed eliminated the 'hum' that I was previously getting when connecting my stereo (Sony STR-DE845) to my Creative Soundblaster card on my Dell Dimension 4400 windows XP. This stereo is the amp for my surround sound, television, phono player, DVD, VCR. All distortion, hum, buzz, whatever you wanted to call it, was eliminated. And I had tried several different methods. An excellent device, worth every penny.

I have an extensive LP collection that I am currently
converting to music files. This is a relatively inexpensive
device and software that does a decent job without going to
insanely expensive hardware and and software combos. I had to
overcome several problems though, and I deducted one star for
the lame manual and accompanying software. The hardware device
itself works flawlessly when hooked up right.

I'll be as direct a possible. DO NOT buy this product if
you are not comfortable doing things like routing cables and
using your Windows XP's control panel. You will cry in your beer
and make it taste bad. The ability to read instructions is a
plus, too...

This product was designed to work with the LINE OUT jacks
on your existing stereo amp. The setup is fairly simple. BUT..

As my stereo is nowhere near my computer, I decided to
run my turntable direct to my computer. Here are the things
to do to make things work right - 1. You MUST use a preamp to
boost the phono cartridge's signal. I'm using a Recotron SP2.
It's no big deal, about the size of a pack of cigarettes and
about $15. 2. You MUST ground the turntable to your other com-
ponents unless you like 60Hz hum. I used my turntables ground
wire on one of the RCA jacks on the LINE OUT side of the
preamp - works fine. 3.If you are using just a turntable, you
will NOT be able to hear your live LINE IN unless you do what
I did, which is get 2 RCA "Y" adapters to plug into the RCA
side of the INport. You run a couple of RCA lines from the
splitters to a 2xRCA into 1/8" miniplug and plug it into your
LINE IN on your souncard.(Radio Shack has these off-the-shelf.)

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS on how to get into your Sound
Devices and choose "USB Device" for default recording device
and your computer's setup (I.E. "Realtek 97"or whatever) for
playback. If you don't, you'll get silence.

For software, I am using Microsoft Plus Digital Media
Edition. I bought the cheap version as I only wanted the
Analog Recording software, not all the other stuff. It's easy
to use and the noise reduction feature works pretty well. I
didn't like Xitel's recording software. I am converting
to .WMA format for use in the Windows Media Player. Others
probably want to go MP3 or whatever.

I had to learn how to "trick" the noise reduction feature
into working right by starting the recording, then starting the
turntable from "Off" into the first cut of the side. You have
to do this with older or worn records so the software can get
usable levels for the noise reduction to work. You usually also
have to manually edit where a song begins and ends.

Well, I'm recording and ripping like crazy. Thanks INport!

I resorted to buying the Xitel INport after I'd found it difficult to obtain Pinnacle's Clean Plus (perhaps it's no longer being made). Pinnacle's Clean Plus was comparably priced (usually cheaper) to Xitel's INport, had better hardware and software than INport, but alas it was unavailable.

Where INport succeeds:

1. I was able to input audio from both a cassette deck and a turntable and get it onto my hard drive. I didn't notice any extra noise or hum being added in the process, so in this sense INport got the job done.

2. I didn't have any problem whatsoever with the software or hardware insofar as getting it to do what it was supposed to do.

Where INport falls short:

1. The hardware (a little silver box that connects your left and right audio input to the USB port on your computer) does NOT have a built in pre-amp. For a software package that is seemingly designed around the idea of converting vinyl LPs to computer files, this is a big shortcoming. The seemingly unavailble Pinnacle Clean Plus hardware included a built-in pre-amp.

2. The accompanying software is extremely lame. It is functional in only the strictest sense of getting the audio onto your computer. It allows for extremely little manual control over the dynamics of the audio being "INported." The software is extremely basic and does NOT include any "cleaning" filters that one would expect of such a package. Again, considering that this is being marketed as a way to convert your vinyl to digital format, one would think that they would give you a way to remove some of the pops and snaps that almost every vinyl LP in one's collection is likely to have.

3. If you don't already have CD burning software, INport isn't going to help you there either. This wasn't a problem for me, but those expecting to get a vinyl to CD transfer straight out of the box might be disappointed. It will get from vinyl to computer, but that's it.

Selling for $70 at most places, the aspect of INport that I was most disappointed in was the software. Prior to purchasing INport, I was already aware of the fact that it didn't contain a pre-amp (but again, I couldn't get Clean Plus anymore), but I expected a bit more from the software than what little this package delivers.

I found the psychological aspect of the packaging to be quite humorous, as the small silver box and software CD are accompanied by a needlessly long (contributing more signal loss than I imagine would be made up for by the gold-plated plugs) patch cord to connect your stereo component(s) to the silver box. You probably already have a better cord lying around your house. "Wow, I really could have used a pre-amp and a comprehensive software package, but at least I have this huge cable."

I am going to have to buy some additional audio recording software in order to clean up the audio files that I have created. That leaves me quite unimpressed with this product for the price. Unless you are absolutely desperate to get your turntable hooked up to your computer, and you have tried everything else already, I do not recommend this product.

The main thing about this item is that it just works. It uses only line level inputs, so if you're trying to rip LPs, you will need an RIAA preamplifier. The manufacturer makes no secret of this, though, and anyone who owns a turntable probably has something to plug it into for a line output. Or, if you need a cheap but pretty good one, you can haunt eBay, or see here:

http://www.paia.com/riaa.htm
Some soldering required. For those still inexplicably using Windows ME, time to move on up. You'll be glad you did. As to sound quality, all I can say is that it sounds as good as the source signal allows. I only gave it 4 stars because the bundled software is pretty rudimentary, if adequate. The utility for splitting a file into tracks is not all that reliable, but they never are, and that doesn't trouble me much. It does not include any sort of a burner, but there are any number of them out there, some pretty good ones freeware. Perhaps this is partially in relief after my dismal experiences with the ADS RDX-150, but I am very pleased with this item.

I can say without hesitation that, were it not for my discovery of the Xitel INport, I'd STILL be stumped on how to make my own music CDs. Some of this PC peripheral stuff just reduces me to a babbling fool at times, but this little silver marvel turned out to be a happy surprise.

Hooking up the box is a snap; it comes with a special USB cord whose other end connects to one end of the device and at the opposite end is a pair of common RCA jacks; you connect a supplied cable between these and the appropriate jacks on the back of your stereo rig; fortunately my stereo is in the adjoining room and the cable has length to spare. For me, the jacks on the back of my receiver work fine unless I want to copy a cassette tape, then I have to attach them to the tape deck. This involved some trial and error but I got it figured out. Working the on-screen controls and adjusting the recording levels is pretty easy; I learned to start the recording and then rush over to my stereo to get a song going before the recording shuts off after too long a period of recording dead silence.

Learning how to split/join/trim the tracks took longer to figure out, but after a bit of re-reading the instructions, things began falling into place. If I can figure it out, it should be a cinch for the young techies. A word of advice: this INport, when connected to your PC's USB outlet (preferably a more conveinent front one) bypasses any built-in sound card, so when you're not actually recording, disconnect it when playing the finished cut(s) through the Windows Media (or whatever) Player or you'll hear nothing through your PC speakers.

Regarding the reviewer who complained of a lack of a built-in software filter to remove pops and scratches, I downloaded the DAK DePopper2 for a modest price and it makes for an acceptable companion to my INport. Finally, I too use Windows Media Player to burn my song lists to discs. Now all I need to do is save up for a car with a built-in CD player instead of a tape player.

All in all, this little INport box and its few accessories are proving to be an indispensible godsend in my efforts to get my old vinyl/tape stuff upgraded to 21st Century media preservation. Thanks, Xitel!

This a great product for the price. It will work on an Apple Mac running 10.3.8 - 10.4.1 (as of 5/27/05). It's not listed as being so. Felt Tip Software's "Sound Studio" works beautifully to use as recording software. It only costs $50. It's easy to use/has great features.

INPort performs exactly as advertised. It's simple to set up and the software is very user friendly -- provided you read the clear and understandable directions. The supplied 30 foot cable probably costs more than the actual device, but unless you keep your computer in the same rack as your stereo equipment, the long cable is necessary, so you'll be happy to have it. I've got hours of old audio tapes that I am now transferring to CDs thanks to this great device. My $65 was well spent on this product.

Every day I work with a 17,000 watt sound system in a planetarium theater. Due to the power of the system and the dynamics of the dome shape it can take a lot of work to get audio that sounds nice and clean in there. For years we've been relying on DAT tapes, but we were hoping to move to computerized audio, and the INport has finally solved our problem. It finally allows us to move data off our old DAT tapes (not to mention reel-to-reel, cassette tapes, CDs and LPs) with beautiful fidelity, and elminate the buzz and hum it can pick up moving through our soundboard. It's great to finally have a solution to this problem! Xitel can rest happy knowing they made a product that's useful in a professional audio-engineering environment.

As for their software, I tried it a little bit, but it didn't have all the functionality I wanted. I used the freeware Audacity instead. Just set it to use the INput as the line-in and it made the work much easier.

If you're an amateur looking for the hardware you need to move sound off your old audio sources, or a professional who needs to preserve fidelity on digital tranfers, INport is the best product I've ever worked with for these purposes.