Hello,
This is my first post in this forum, what I've read here so far has been very helpful. I'm trying to setup a laptop server to get all the music (albums, 45's, cassettes, reel to reel and CD's) that I have in one place and one format so I can easily hear what I want when I want without a lot of setup involved. I have resisted the IPOD thing but I'm coming to the realization that digital is the best way to go from this point on. So I'm trying to build a digital "jukebox" to play whatever through my current setup. I have a Windows XP laptop with a 1.5Ghz processor & 1 GB RAM plus a 500GB USB Western Digital disk drive for storage. My first dilemma is finding and figuring out which interface adapter I need to convert a line level signal to WAV or FLAC or whatever I decide to use other than MP3. I can run both of my turntables through my mixer and port a line level signal to whatever device I decide on. The also goes for all my tape decks. So a hookup for a magnetic cartridge turntable isn't required. I've been looking at the system that DAK offers and was curious if anyone knows anything about it. My setup would require an (extra cost) USB adapter for input signals but all the spiffy ads they have on their web site describe exactly what (I think) I need. I don't know yet about using a USB sound card for play back. My laptop has a stereo headphone connection but I've never hooked it up to my sound system. So does anyone out there have any advice or suggestions? I have approximately 11,000 tracks to convert. TIA for any suggestions / help received.:music:

The E-MU 0404 USB is a very nice playback unit, and has recording ability. Under $200. Might be an option.

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?product=15185

dew.

I can't help, but I like what you've done with the cabinet. :thmbsp:

OMG dude.....seriously, if i were to walk in to your house and see that setup, i'd gawk and stare at it like i would a woman probably to almost a creepy degree...that is a BEAUTITFUL rig....and..I happen to be the kind of guy who's hardcore analog to the degree i'll plug my computer up to it and go "and now it's got a digial component"..I wish I lived closer..I'd LOVE to come over and help you just for the chance to play with that rig.

Anyway, I will tell you that basically all you need is a good USB recording interface..and while i've been having issues getting some of thier devices to work in 64-bit, i assume you're running 32-bit XP and wouldn't have any issues...so, look at some of the M-Audio stuff. I picked up a USB Transit for about $90 that has excellent input and output at 96khz/24-bit, so it makes an excellent semi-external ADC/DAC solution. All you need is a RCA-to-mini-trs (headphone-jack) to hook it in to your system...and from the looks of it, I'm sure you know how to pipe analog line-level around. The Transit will digitize your line-level signal and pipe it to the laptop. However, since it's a USB 1.1 you can only have 96/24 by using only the input or output at once. It's got a control panel app that lets you change it on the fly...but I've never found that an issue since it lacks any mixing that allows you to monitor it, i always used it in either input-only or output-only.

If you stick to CD-quality of 44.1khz/16bit, all you should need is a good USB device and an audio editor. Most devices you buy come with some sort of an editor....Audacity is free and I know of a decently-priced full-featured editor...but if you need advice on that later, I can give it to you. With the transit, for example, you also have the option of recording in 96khz/24-bit, which gives you more dynamic range and higher frequency response than a CD. It's what I do all my analog conversions in, but then again, people say I'm nuts...but the point is if you decide to use a digital format other than standard CD resolution, 500 gigs probably won't be enough...and it might be pushing it for 11k tracks in FLAC..I'm not sure. I have a music collection that tops around 16k tracks, but it's a mix of formats.

I keep my entire music collection on a "server"...which is basically a FreeBSD machine who's sole purpose in life is to make my media drives connectable over the network...mostly to Windows systems...and for this it works VERY well..and keeps the data secure both from prying eyes and anything except sudden HDD failure (which can be solved by using RAID or backing up). I picked up a 320gb USB HDD for my laptop for $99 on sale and I use that as not only temp working space for my editors...but to store projects till I can sync them on the server. I've never even tried using a network drive for the audio editors temp working space...but since you've got a USB drive you're probably not interested or really have the need to do something like that at this point...you can just use your USB drive for everything...not sure how network accessable you want things.

Hey dewdude,
Thanks for the kind words! Every time I think it's just the way I want it I decide to add something, like a digital jukebox. I just finished assembling all the parts. I hooked a (Iconnex) USB converter to my AM500 and then on to a Windows XP Pro laptop. Audacity came along with the converter. I have MediaMonkey plus Spin It Again. Now the problems arise. Spin It Again tells me the signal out of my AM500 isn't loud enough. Audacity tells me that the best I can do is -12db with all pots cranked wide open on the AM500 and the Iconnex. What the hey:thumbsdn: I ended up recording a single 45 using Audacity even though the levels were in the mud. Now more bad news, the digitized 45 plays great through the laptop speakers but nothing comes through on the Iconnex. I give up.:scratch2: The Iconnex is on it's way back to momma. I have another unit (Audio Genie Pro) on the way but I really don't know what I'm doing here so if you know of a box under 2 Franklins that works I would more than appreciate some opinions here. With my AM500 I really don't care about phono preamp capabilities as all signals will be coming out as line level. I'm going to keep it all on a USB drive with no networking. I already have one 500GB and plan on adding another for backup. My intentions are to use the FLAC format exclusively. My collection numbers around 12k, it's (33 & 45) vinyl, cassette singles and CD's. It's all Rock from Billboard's top 40 spanning 1954 to 1994. When I get it all converted MediaMonkey will be my in house WurliTzer. Once again thanks for all the compliments and please share you expertise when you can.
Bob Helms

Hi, got your email. I do get around various audio forums. Goldwave was my first audio passion...things exploded from there.

Ok, I don't know much about the Iconnex USB converter except that IT, and the Audio Genie Pro are what they call USB Phono Preamps.....things you plug your turntable in to and it spits out uncompressed PCM. You DON'T NEED THESE. Looking at your rig, you got ways of moving pre-out from your rig into a line-input, so that's what we need to focus on. I suppose maybe if I tell you how and why I do things, it'll give you a better idea of how to do them.

The first thing I start off with is a line-output from my amplifier. My Denon serves that purpose quite well. Then I run that into the line-input on my sound card (in this case, an under 1-franklin M-Audio USB Transit http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Transit.html). That satisfies getting a pre-amped phono signal into the sound card. Now, as you can probably tell, I'm a huge digital engineer, so I've got all kinds of software...I can only tell you what I use.

Frst off, I generally use Goldwave to record from the transit. Ok, so what if the levels are only -12db, big deal. You can EASILY boost those levels when you're done. That's why I always use 24-bit recording (which the transit does), you get much more detail in the lower amplitudes. Once it's recorded I load into Audition for cleaning, but that's optional. Once you get it recorded, do what you can in your audio editor to make it how you like and then you can save it as wavs to convert to flac, or from some editors, save as flac.

It literally doesn't get much more dificult than that...I think you might be trying to overcomplicate things.

From there it's a process of editing and such. Never used any jukebox software so I don't know much about those. I hope if you mean you literally have a Wurlizer jukebox you're gonna pipe all that through.....really man, Wurlizer didn't make sound systems that were anything to write home about.

dewdude,
You're right, all I need is the right "BOX" to take a line signal out of my AM500 convert it, send it via USB to my laptop server, groom and store it and then play it back. But since I'm still on the way up this learning curve I can't tell what that "BOX" (or software) looks like when I see it. So I will take your M-Audio Transit under serious consideration. My task (all be it a simple one) is to take an analog line signal, convert it to WAV, then (If needed) take out all the crackles and pops, then tag it / name it / or do what ever to it to give it a unique identity, then convert it to FLAC while storing it on a external USB drive, and then use MediaMonkey to find it and play it back through my Pioneer sound tunnel. Now some things I need to point out. (A) I can't hear what a normal person can so 24bit recording is a nice to have. In reality 16bit (I think they call that CD quality) is all my ears can handle. (B) I need to document these recordings with all the trivia that goes along with them. That means info like what year and month it was popular, how far it made it up the Billboard POP chart. Record label and number. Also in my case it means id'ing tracks as the flip side of a 45. I'm not sure at this point when in the conversion process all that information gets entered.:scratch2: My head is spinning around from reading details about Audacity, Spin It Again, Goldwave and a couple more I can't recall right now. (C) Most conversion systems are geared around cutting CD's. As a rule that's the last thing I want to do, although I want that (16bit) capability without buying something else. So can the M-Audio Transit with Spin It Again or Goldwave or Audacity or whatever give me enough gadgets to get me in real trouble. I've pretty much decided that MediaMonkey is my (WuliTzer) of choice. Other than that I will start the search for a M-Audio Transit and maybe a permanent copy of Goldwave. Thanks for your help.:music:
Bob Helms

hello
I am in a knowledge overload with all of these players and recorders. I have Sound Byte which resembles a cart machine used in the A.M. radio days. I use this for a radio show I produce in my home studio.

MediaMonkey is a jewel of free software, BUT anyone know how to setup to just single play? I see all of the music files in my computer, which is super, BUT it wants to play them all too. I don't want that.

Fred

Hi audiofred,
MediaMonkey can play just 1 song if that's what you want. Go into the 'Player' setup and change the double click option to suit you needs. Hope this helps.
BobHelms