Looking for opinions on a turntable to transfer music to mp3

Hi, I am looking for a decent new turntable to transfer some records to mp3 format. I am looking to spend under $150, and I would also like it to be able to transfer 78's too. The one I have in mind at the moment is the Gemini TT 1100 USB. It can be found at http://www.geminidj.com/turntables The TT 1000 is basically identical and cheaper, but doesn't have a built in preamp or the USB interface. I don't really care about the USB part, but I don't own a preamp so the TT 1000 is out because of that. The Ion and Numark turntables are a little cheaper, but they don't play 78's for the most part and they seem to have lower quality cartridges and needles. The Gemini has an Audio Technica cartridge, and I already made sure I can get a 78 needle for it. I know it comes with Audacity, which I don't care for, but I already have Goldwave which I do like. I already have several record players, but they are just run of the mill BSR turntables, and a crappy Crosley knockoff so I want something better. Any other opinions/suggestions?

Josh

In my opinion, you are better off getting a vintage turntable to use and get rid of the USB turntable idea completely. Though there are some good USB turntables out there, they are NOT to be had for under $150! I use a delightfully simple set-up that gives great results and best of all, you don't even need to install anything except Audacity audio editing software.

I use a 1970s Hamilton 942 4-speed phonograph and insert one end of a male-male audio cable into the headphone jack (using a 1/4" adapter), the other end into the "line in" jack in my computer. I pull up Audacity, click "Record", play a test segment of the record on the Hamilton to adjust the bass, treble and volume to a recordable level, and then play the record in its entirety. When it's finished, you can trim and edit audio segments, remove clicks/pops and surface noise, and get a really good digital recording of your record without having to shell out big bucks for halfway-decent USB turntables.

All good turntables need preamps, because they have magnetic cartridges. Players that don't need preamps have either built in preamps, or use crystal or ceramic cartridges.

If you are going to do American records made before 1957, European records made before 1962 or records from the Soviet Union before 1975, you need either a special preamp (mono) with settings for the different recording curves, or a stereo preamp and a graphic equalizer (and info on how to set it). Each record company used its own recording curve before those dates, so the preamp had to be set for each record.

Information on how to play these records is available on my website at:

http://midimagic.sgc-hosting.com/mixphono.htm