Topic: Most simple/cheap/small device to record/rip vinyl?
A dumbass question perhaps but I'm kinda lost:
Since I moved six months ago I still haven't figured out how to do when it comes to recording/ripping stuff from vinyl.
Earlier I had my "music computer" (desktop) next to my turntables/mixer and the computer was on all the time.
No problem.
Now In my new home I have the turntables/mixer/vinyls downstairs in the livingroom and my computer upstairs.
My computer is now some years old, noisy and a bit weird (turns off by itself sometimes) but it has a decent soundboard (most of you wouldn't call it decent, I guess, but at least it's a soundboard...) capable of dealing with the recording/ripping in an OK way.
My girlfriend has a laptop (usually downstairs) but it has only integrated sound on the motherboard and I guess that's not good enough. She uses it frequently and I don't wanna be demending on that it's not occupied.
The options so far have been:
1. Permanently put the desktop computer closer to the turntables. That's not gonna happen, I'm afraid. My girlfriend has accepted my vinyls in the livingroom, the computer stays upstairs Actually I agree with her.
2. Temporary bring the computer downstairs when i wanna record something. I've done that once when I had a sickday. Lot of work though, unplugging and bringing the gear downstairs.
3. Connect the two with cables running up my staircase. I've done that once (haha) but running up/down to start/stop turntables or press record/stop in the software was fun the first five times or so...
4. Buy an decent soundcard for the laptop and record onto it. See girlfriend dilemma above.
5. Buy another small computer with OK sound and use it for this task. Naah, sounds too expensive plus I don't want it in the livingroom.
Some background:
I have no interest in doing this "seriously". I don't make any music and don't wanna spend a lot on great equipment, at least not for the moment. I live with my girlfriend and our 2 year old son and we will have one more child soon.
There will be no time spending the nights sitting by the computer recording stuff and/or mixing records frequently.
My goal: It would be nice to one in a while, maybe only for 30 minutes or less, be able to put on some records, ripping them to mp3 to put in my old ipod nano, or do a quick mix and in some simple way record it.
Actually, I don't even wanna put on the computer to be able to do that.
Today with all the cheap flash memories and stuff, I would like to just connect some small simple device to the mixer (one cable), "press rec" and start the vinyl. Then after the record/mix is finished, I just press stop on the device and "save".
Then when I feel like it, I can hook up the device to the computer (USB) and transfer the files onto it (already in wav/mp3 or similar format) and perhaps edit and name the files.
I'm good with 192/256kbps mp3 or so.
No tricky converting of audio formats. Should be as simple as possible.
Is there some small gadget up for the job? I wanna be able to put it in my pocket and it should be simple to use.
Like a USB stick but with a rec/stop button
Or it could be a mp3 player with record function. Do the new ipods have that?
Way back a tape/MD-recorder could have been the option but today flash memory must be the best, no?
Hard drive is an alternative, but I prefer flash.
It would be great if the device works on battery as well as external power, perhaps usb connector that I can connect to the electrical outlet using an adapter.
Would be nice too if I could bring it when I occasionaly play vinyl as a DJ in some club, to discreetly record the mixes. With or without external power (depending on the length of the recorded set, I guess)
Just plug it into the "tape" output on the mixer and record, no need to make room for a laptop among all the gear.
As I said at first: This might be a stupid question.
Perhaps there are no good stuff for this, that's why people use laptops, don't they?
Or I haven't thought of the obvious alternative already availabe?
It's gotta be cheap too. I have no advanced demands when it comes to sound quality, it's not ment to be used professionally, just for fun.
Simple, mobile and cheap.
Any good ideas?
Violets are blue,
All of my base,
Are belong to you.