This USB Turntable will work with Windows 7, but there is one highly sensitive
setting, that I have, with experimentation, almost cured. I have detailed my experiences with the included software. Others have found the Audacity software better. The latest version, 1.3.14, is found here http://audacity.sourceforge.net
Sony Software: there is a basic
problem concerning the actual naming of the imported tracks. Even if recognised it is
impossible to name more than seven.
More than that, the programme will save the
tracks under their position on the disc and the album title only.
Also, often a list is shown of
the number of tracks that the programme found,
but one cannot always enter data in the displayed rows.
In one case, five tracks were found, but entries were only possible for three.
That the track discovery is open in a box on screen prevents editing the track
points.
The software that comes with the turntable, Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio 9 LE, installs easily.
It
is a 32-bit programme, originally for Windows XP.
The LP record stage, found under Tools,
is shown here:
(click to enlarge)
Follow the instructions, and note that one should pause and turn over the LP if
one prefers a set consistent with the original ordering.
In this case do not expect to be able to name more than a few of the tracks.
Assuming that they are all discovered, one can save the recording, but not all
of the titles.
The major problem is that when arriving at track recognition, the sound level
setting is very, very sensitive.
See
Experiences, below the Windows 7 set up.
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Necessary technical matters to make the turntable
work on Windows 7:
I am
using an X64 version of Windows 7 Ultimate. Computer: HP XW8200, 16GB ECC RAM;
several TB drive space.
Here is the Windows 7 Control Panel: the Sound applet is what you're after:
Here, under 'Sound', is what I see. Note that 'Speakers' are there twice. It is far better, if one
has anything in the front USB connectors,
to use the rear ports on your
computer for the Sony USB cable. Note, too, that the important item is the USB
Audio CODEC.
The next image shows, under 'Recording' how to reach 'Properties' for the
Microphone USB Audio CODEC
Clicking on Microphone for USB Audio CODEC brings this:
Ensure that under 'Listen' that the 'Listen to this device' box is ticked. Also, ensure
that your computer's speakers are
noted in 'Playback through this device':
Now, under 'Levels' make really sure that the Microphone indicator is at
the bottom end. Setting it at 2 or 3 seems to be best.
It depends on the LP whether the tracks will be recognised at level of 3. Two
works better, but the volume set by the software is noticeably lower, too.
Otherwise,
when recording at higher 'Microphone' levels there will be too much variation, the Sound Forge application
will show completely
blue, which is a sign of total distortion of the recording and the tracks will
not be found by the programme. Not good!
Under 'Advanced', pick which channels, bits, Hz you want. I want the highest, and
why not?
Ensure it is 2 channel, otherwise no stereo!
Questions? You could email
questions@mattoid.com. I trust that I have an answer!
Experiences
RIP Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) of problems
related to multiple sclerosis (2010-12-17).
Here is an
mp3 that I made using the turntable and Sound Forge, at a
sound level of 4. It has
been imported, using iTunes, from my computer to my iPod and it works,
except that only one named track is visible, although all are there. That means
that the sound level was set too high.
The mp3 is of the first Joan Armatrading LP (when she was 22; she became 60 on December
10th., 2010), 'Whatever's For Us', Cube Records HIFLY 12,
1972, and is not available on iTunes! It was named
the first track on side one. The second side is included in this forty minute,
50MB file!
An improvement! Here is the Joan Armatrading LP in several
tracks; there is an error at the end of the naming of tracks, but . . .
Mp3:
My Family/City Girl;
Spend a Little Time;
Whatever's For Us, For Us,
Child Star/Visionary Mountains;
It Could Have Been Better, Head of the Table/Mister Remember Me/Gave It
A Try/Alice;
Conversation/Mean Old Man/All the Kings' Gardens; and
what was left! The programme lurched when naming tracks for
the final four on the second side. The sound level was at 3. This set was
imported to my iPod successfully.
Another try has resulted in Sound Forge, using Richard & Linda
Thompson's 'Shoot Out the Lights', 1982, recognising three 'tracks' out of
eight! This is a really good folk rock LP related to the break-up of their
marriage! Track
one (4), track
two (3), track
three (1). Sound level of 3. At least it is playable!
Success! At a sound level of 2, I digitized Frank Zappa's 'Over-Nite
Sensation'. All the tracks were recognised:
Camarillo Brillo,
I'm the Slime,
Dirty Love,
Fifty-Fifty,
Zomby Woof,
Dinah Moe Humm,
Montana.
I followed that with Captain Beefheart's 'The Spotlight Kid': there was a partly
successful recognition of tracks. The third was separated into two. Plus, when
trying to name the tracks, it failed to add more than seven, just like the Joan
Armatrading example. Blabber 'n Smoke pauses abruptly after 46 seconds, which
confuses the software. So, that's a bug! The tracks with numbers following the
titles show up simply as numbers with the album title. Doesn't matter when one
is listening to them!
Here are 'The Spotlight Kid' tracks:
I'm Gonna Booglarize You Baby;
White Jam;
Blabber 'n Smoke 1;
Blabber 'n Smoke 2;
When It Blows Its Stack;
Alice in Blunderland;
The Spotlight Kid;
Click Clack 08;
Grow Fins 09;
There Ain't No Santa Claus on the Evenin' Stage 10;
Glider 11.
Furthermore: one might think that one could import one side, with up to seven
tracks, and then start another session with the other side (the LP having two
sides, same Title and Artiste for both). That's fine if the tracks are named by
you assuming that they are recognised by Sound Forge. But, if not, then a
conflict might arise with the remainder, which simply rely on assigned numbers.
On the other hand, if there are more than seven total tracks, one is able to
name them all, in general, by separating the sides. Swings and roundabouts.
It is clear that if one starts another session for the second side then the
numbering affects the natural placing of the songs on the original LP. When
importing to iTunes, the tracks all appear, but in whatever order it apparently
chooses. That happened with Cream's Goodbye, and The Paul Butterfield Band LPs.
It would seem that the most critical setting is for Sound Levels (see
illustration above).
I seem to be able to operate the turntable and software reasonably correctly with the level
set at 2.
At a setting of 3, too many track errors arise, but the music plays better.
There are too many recognition errors, no matter
how low the sound level is set.
One page of interest:
http://apcmag.com/sonys_usb_turntable_turns_lps_into_mp3s.htm
Oh? Not for sale at Sony Style any more? :
http://www.sonystyle.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665361524
It remains on sale on-line, at the sale price!
Caveats found by December 12th; I have been recording several LPs. It
is probable that some tracks will be recorded in two, or more, parts. Even if
they are
named in sequence, don't expect them to be imported into your iPod, or whatever,
in that sequence. This has happened too many times not to be a nuisance.
Also, I have begun recording one side at a time. This means that when imported
the two sides will be combined alphabetically and not as the record has them.
That's not, generally, of any real consequence.
Furthermore, the balance between having an adequate recording level has to be
balanced by the fact that anything set at 3 or higher will mean that many
tracks
will NOT be recognised. That is frustrating. Obviously the Sound Forge software
is purportedly designed for importing music. That the LP is under the Tools section makes me
wonder
how significant it is in the larger scheme of things to the programmers.
In my opinion, if it's there, it should work seamlessly. It does not, but it
does provide relative success.
December 13th., 2010: I sent in a review to Sony several days ago. It has not
appeared even after the 72 hour approval period.
So, something wrong with this article? I hardly think so!
Also, this URL was included in several emails to Sony Support. Sony stated they
really like constructive criticism.
What do you think?
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(click to enlarge)