I'm looking into buying a turntable or set of turntables and a mixer. The reason is primarily because I want to collect the P on vinyl and get some of the rare tracks, instrumentals, and b-sides that aren't available on MP3.
The most logical decision for what I want to do is to buy a USB turntable. However, the ones I have found seem to have different issues. Some don't have an automatic arm when the record stops, so if you leave the room, your needle will be ruined. Others don't have a line out for monitors/speakers. Any recommendations?
The other alternative would be to buy a cheap DJ package from Stetson or Numark. I'd occasionally like the opportunity to scratch but don't really have the time or desire to get into mixing music. I know these can be hooked up to a computer but it might require more effort than it is worth given my overall intention.
Thoughts?
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EP
Joined: Mar '05
Posts: 134Posted 17 years ago #buy a vestax handytrax!! must need for vinyl diggers -
Unregistered
Posts: 195Posted 17 years ago #if your not planning on djing or playing out. pretty much any turnable new or old will do the job you need - ie jus playing records
p.s there is not much exclusive to vinyl that you cant get as mp3, -
P fan #1
Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 3,255Posted 17 years ago #Vinyl may not have many exclusives, but the sound quality is often different on a record. There is an extra mastering process that happens a lot for CDs that gets excluded for vinyl. And if you're looking to record vinyls to mp3s, the quality of the turntable affects the final quality of your mp3s.
The best thing is to buy a turntable with a built in strobe, so you can match to the right speed, and hook it into a good sound system/pre-amp/mixer/etc., then go out and buy a sound card that lets you hook it into your computer (like the better Creative Audigy SoundBlaster X-Fi series stuff). USB is cool and all, but the RCA cables are how I get it done.
All told, DVD-audio is the best right now (because it can be uncompressed with more channels, etc.), .wav files are next, CD-audio after that, and mp3s/aacs are like the bottom of the pile...
...and vinyl is just a level all its own, especially for the folks around here. When I'm diggin', I don't need to find sh!t clean, I just need it to rock the f**king' house. I don't mind crackle or hiss. Especially if you're buying music that's pre-digital. -
Unregistered
Posts: 195Posted 17 years ago #jaykursiv said: yo no disrespect, but why are you talking someone out of buying vinyl on the P forum?
im not!
hes just saying that he wants to collect the P on vinyl and get some of the rare tracks, instrumentals, and b-sides that aren't available on MP3.
im sayin that they are all available on mp3, and are not exclusive to vinyl. -
new cat
Joined: Jun '08
Posts: 21Posted 17 years ago #true, although any b-sides realeased after they switched to Tres Records and later Gold Dust are yet to be released on mp3, such as "Nothing at All" and "Suite for Any Major Dude." also rarities such as the Trip 7" and Taking Me Places 7" might be hard to find, if even possible, on mp3. -
P fan #1
Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 3,255Posted 17 years ago #I don't have Taking Me Places, but the other three, I've mp3ed my records so I could get them on my iPod. The Trip sounds especially nice. "SAVE A BUCK OR TWO! SAVE A BUCK OR TWO!" -
12
Joined: Jul '06
Posts: 95Posted 17 years ago #TheLAConnection said: buy a vestax handytrax!! must need for vinyl diggers
I was going to get one of those but found the Numark ones to be much better - for a start they're 12"x12" so fit into a record bag if you go out digging, plus the HandyTrax seems to have a metal rim on the edge of the turntable platter - I was playing a record on one and put my finger on it to stop and read the label, next thing I know there's a ring mark on the other side of the record from the bloody platter! Not pleased it'd done that to my Brian Auger OP!
I wouldn't mind one of these beauties though:
Built in faders and EQs, designed by Q-Bert himself. He even rocks them at his shows, you can hold them at any angle and play them like a guitar and sh!t!! -
7
Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 37Posted 17 years ago #mark james - simmbiotic said: trust me its all on the internet, officially released or not.
Really? Can you get The Trip on mp3 online? Can you get Home or The Come On on mp3 online? Those are just 3 examples but even if you could somehow download them online i would not because hunting down that vinyl is what its all about(plus its nice to have a hard copy of the track). Also, there are very few people who download and upload mp3s online that collect rare vinyl, convert it, and upload it in mp3 format(if you're not willing to pay for mp3s then you're not likely to buy vinyl either). Also crate diggers usually have more love for the artist and are not likely to agree with making rare tracks from vinyl available for everyone to download at no cost.
In the words of Thes One: "I work too damn hard for you to f**king download it" -
P fan #1
Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 3,255Posted 17 years ago #I agree. There's a lot you can't get on the 'Net in mp3 form. Next Step II single, The Trip, Mission: Home, etc. I'm not as honorable as you (GrandFinEx), though.
The difference between me and GFX is that I probably will download a lot of it. I'm guilty of a lot of Net downloading, DVD/Vinyl audio ripping, and recording of streams (YouTube, etc.). But I still try for the real thing every last time. I'm audiophilic enough to tell between a 256 kbps MP3, vinyl, and CD Audio. To me, inferior sh!t bugs the hell out of me, so I never stop digging until I fine the genuine article. And I never share what I rip. I've got a damn good quality rip of "The Trip" from my 7" on my iPod, but ya'll won't see it.
Example: I dl'ed AMV1 before I got the real thing (and paid over $100 for it). Right now, I still have two or three tracks by PUTS & friends that are not the genuine thing, but I've paid for the rest. I recorded "40 Oz. Session" (Kidd Lexus, Tha Brothaload) straight from You Tube, but I have no clue where to dig for that one. Is it even in a hard copy?
I got nothing but love for the P, but when it comes to rarities, but I'm just a little kid who's scoping out the presents before the 25th. I feel like dl'ing is just shaking the wrapped (rapped?) ones before my own personal Xmas comes at some back-alley record store.
I'm losing record stores fast up in urban Sac, and I can't get to SF as often as I'd like. One of the two major record stores is closed now (it was the one on the cover of DJ Shadow's "Entroducing..."). I used to dig in there a lot. Am I making excuses to be a download punk here, or you know what I'm sayin'? -
Unregistered
Posts: 195Posted 17 years ago #TheGrandFinalex said:
mark james - simmbiotic said: trust me its all on the internet, officially released or not.
Really? Can you get The Trip on mp3 online? Can you get Home or The Come On on mp3 online? Those are just 3 examples but even if you could somehow download them online i would not because hunting down that vinyl is what its all about(plus its nice to have a hard copy of the track). Also, there are very few people who download and upload mp3s online that collect rare vinyl, convert it, and upload it in mp3 format(if you're not willing to pay for mp3s then you're not likely to buy vinyl either). Also crate diggers usually have more love for the artist and are not likely to agree with making rare tracks from vinyl available for everyone to download at no cost.
In the words of Thes One: "I work too damn hard for you to f**king download it"
yes its all on the net, free for the taking, you just aint spending enough time with the right keyword searches to get the goods you need. it pays off. try downloading off other people as aposed to downloading of a site or through some wack software like limewire.
but i totally agree your points and thes ones's lyric, they work very hard to make the product. and we owe it to the to pay for it.
i own most of PUTS back catalogue either on cd or vinyl since "the next step" in 97 right up to the latest, so ive paid my dues to them.
i dig for vinyl just as hard as the next cat.
but for me though, if my friends have it already, ill usually take the mp3s. find some great sh!t he aint got on vinyl , then return the favor. hip hop is about sharing for me.
no harm done, just 2 hip hop fanatics having fun.
i always wanna find the next new thing. downloading of the internet helps me wade through to pick out all the gems quickly amongst all the crap that is out there.
because of this im knowledged up and ready next time i hit a record fare or store. ill buy the record i downloaded and enjoy it on vinyl in its glory.
if you stay faithful and never download anything illegally then respect to ya. but you will never get to hear a lot of hip hop in your lifetime that will just pass you by and you will be none the wiser it existed.
in not saying the internet is the only way to find out about new sh!t, cos i grew up without the internet and the only way to find out about great music back then was to go and see local djs play and network with them and just chat about hip hop.
but today, there no question that the internet has opened up the world for people who may live miles away from hip hop scene across the country. -
7
Joined: Oct '08
Posts: 37Posted 17 years ago #SactownConnection said: I agree. There's a lot you can't get on the 'Net in mp3 form. Next Step II single, The Trip, Mission: Home, etc. I'm not as honorable as you (GrandFinEx), though.
The difference between me and GFX is that I probably will download a lot of it. I'm guilty of a lot of Net downloading, DVD/Vinyl audio ripping, and recording of streams (YouTube, etc.). But I still try for the real thing every last time. I'm audiophilic enough to tell between a 256 kbps MP3, vinyl, and CD Audio. To me, inferior sh!t bugs the hell out of me, so I never stop digging until I fine the genuine article. And I never share what I rip. I've got a damn good quality rip of "The Trip" from my 7" on my iPod, but ya'll won't see it.
Example: I dl'ed AMV1 before I got the real thing (and paid over $100 for it). Right now, I still have two or three tracks by PUTS & friends that are not the genuine thing, but I've paid for the rest. I recorded "40 Oz. Session" (Kidd Lexus, Tha Brothaload) straight from You Tube, but I have no clue where to dig for that one. Is it even in a hard copy?
I got nothing but love for the P, but when it comes to rarities, but I'm just a little kid who's scoping out the presents before the 25th. I feel like dl'ing is just shaking the wrapped (rapped?) ones before my own personal Xmas comes at some back-alley record store.
I'm losing record stores fast up in urban Sac, and I can't get to SF as often as I'd like. One of the two major record stores is closed now (it was the one on the cover of DJ Shadow's "Entroducing..."). I used to dig in there a lot. Am I making excuses to be a download punk here, or you know what I'm sayin'?
No dont get me wrong im not trying to come off as a saint here I trade cds with friends and download occasional songs from an artist im not familiar with(and if i like the artist i ALWAYS buy the album). However i was just saying that in my opinion its worth it to hunt down and buy the hard copy of a rare vinyl yourself rather than download the mp3s online.
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