Category Archives: gear

Crosley CR2413A Memory Master II CD Recorder Turntable

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crosley memory master II CD recorder turntable

I’m familiar with other Crosley products and was very tempted to get a Crosley Memory Master II for review here–after all, not everybody has a pro setup or is interested in ultra-high quality MP3 versions of their favorite vinyl LPs; most people just want to rip, listen, and enjoy.

But the customer reviews for previous versions of the Crosley Memory Master were so discouraging that I hesitated to waste even the shipping fee to get one of these to Turntabling central. I’d be very interested in learning who out there in Turntabling-land has used one of these and what they think.

The specs look good--this model is equipped with a line out to run into your stereo system if you don’t want to rely on the internal speakers, and there’s a USB connection for ripping direct to Mac or PC. This model lets you use a recordable CD to rip the records in real time…but near as I can tell there is nothing that specifies how individual tracks are broken up once the recording process begins. Just try looking for a definitive customer review of the Crosley CR2413A and you’ll come up with more questions than answers.

Continue reading Crosley CR2413A Memory Master II CD Recorder Turntable →

The TruTone Mastering Process

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TruTone Mastering Process

Ever wonder what it takes to make a vinyl LP from start to finish? The actual creation of the physical product, as opposed to recording the music itself is fascinating, and a company called TruTone Mastering Labs has put the entire process online in a step-by-step pictorial.

For me, the most interesting part from a visual standpoint is the plating process:

TruTone Mastering Plating Process

But you’ll be amused to learn that your favorite, most expensive vinyl collectible in your stack originally looked like THIS before it became the precious thing you revere now as a sacred object: Continue reading The TruTone Mastering Process →

Ion Audio Profile Flash LP to SD Card Conversion DJ Turntable

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Ion Profile Flash LP to SD TurntableTo begin–not sure why the Ion Profile Flash LP to SD turntable is billed as a “DJ turntable”. It DOES have a preamp in it so it can be used in a variety of settings, and it also has a line in (1/8 inch jack) so you can dump exterior audio sources to SD or USB flash or external drives. What this turntable DOES have going for it is the simplicity of the operation–record your vinyl direct to MP3 (at 192kbs at 44khz). That’s pretty sweet for most home use. Want to hear those great old Slow Children or Hazel O’Connor albums in the car? Now you can.

But for a DJ, this might not be the red hot tool you need, especially if you’re picky about conversion to MP3. I personally prefer a higher rate than what you can get here but would be very tempted to buy this for home use if I didn’t already have a USB turntable.

My advice is to do some SERIOUS comparison shopping on this one if you’re interested. For example, you can get this turntable at Zzounds.com listed at $149 and $7 shipping (at press time–prices may change), but over at Amazon it sells for $112 at press time with free shipping (at press time). Shop around!

–Joe Wallace

Stanton STR8150 DJ Turntable

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Stanton str8150 DJ turntable

This is the one–the drool-worthy Stanton STR8150 DJ turntable, complete with a straight, made-for-scratching tone arm, a high-torque motor, and some amazing features turntablists will find irreplaceable.

We don’t have one in-house to review on video for your pleasure…yet. But we are moving some cash around to afford the just-under-$500 price tag for the Stanton STR8150. You get key correction, a reverse function, and up to 50% tone alteration. How do you like THAT versatility? This three-speed DJ turntable has our full attention. We did manage to dig up this VERY helpful YouTube video below–a demo with a pair of Stanton STR8150s, have a look at this and ask yourself…are you tempted NOW?

This Stanton DJ turntable gets rave reviews in many places. One thing many reviewers like is the fact that out of the box, you get the Stanton 680HP Cartridge to spin that vinyl with…no need to shell out for a needle until you’re well into your experience with the turntable. Nice touch, Stanton.


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