The best quality will probably be a good "regular" turntable connected to a phono preamp (does the RIAA equalization so it can be used with normal RCA/stereo jacks) and patched into some sort of recording device. It can be a CD recorder or a soundcard line in. I actually want to do this in the future. My grandfather had a bunch of records that are mostly collecting dust that I'd like to digitize. Much of it is no longer available otherwise.
Most of the sub $100 USB turntables are pretty crappy.
Check this link out: http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/21PCGJR9SBLQP
In reply to RossD:
Since it works fine with one computer and not the other, I'm assuming the problem lies with the software. So as far as I know, the turntable is fine. I do have another standard turntable also, if that matters.
Guys, thanks for all the help, but please understand that I know little to nothing about this stuff. When you use abbreviations or technical terms, I most likely have no idea what you are talking about. I know what USB and RCA are, and pretty much nothing else. So please assume you are talking to a 3rd grader.
Equalization:
It is a method of filtering the electrical waveform so that sounds of certain frequency ranges are made louder or softer. The bass/treble controls on stereos are a very crude/general version of this.
RIAA equalization:
The RIAA (Recording Industry Artists of America) created a standard equalization for the tracks on LPs for ??? reason (I think it was to fit more audio on a record, though.) To play back LPs properly, you need to reverse that equalization for things to sound as intended. This is what the phono input on old stereos did. Other devices, tapes, CDs, etc., didn't have this RIAA equalization like the LPs, so they don't need the RIAA equalization. Thus, if you're pumping a turntable output to an input that is not a specific phono input, it will sound distorted. That's why a turntable needs a phono preamp. The preamp turns the turntable output to a standard line-in/line-out output.
RossD
PowerDork
11/19/13 9:54 a.m.
In reply to scardeal:
Yup, and Bravenrace that was the point of putting a non-USB turntable in the Phono part of the receiver then Tape Out/Preamp Out to the sound card. The receiver does the RIAA preamp part. Then you just use an open source sound recording program. Listen to a side of a record, cut up the songs into individual files, save and name. Not quite plug and play but way easier to control the sound quality and the finished product, if you ask me. I usually dislike programs specialized for individual products for stuff like this. They're usually crap and buggy, ie. probably your problem.
In reply to scardeal:
Okay, but then why does my current setup seem to work fine through my son's PC? I have no problem with the sound quality of discs I've burned using this method, I just can't get it to work on my PC.
What are the specs for your son's PC vs. for your PC?
In reply to 1988RedT2:
They are both the same age and capability, although they aren't the exact same computer. They both run XP. Beyond that I would have to check.
