Do there exist any combination USB turntables/tape decks?

November 25, 2008 10:28 AM

Do there exist any combination USB turntables/tape decks?

I'd like to get my father a USB turntable and tape deck for Christmas, ideally in one machine (I seem to only be able to find them in separate machines). I would just get a vinyl and cassette ripper, but my parents don't have a working tape deck to connect one to. Does this chimera exist? There are mix tapes that need to be archived for posterity!

posted by quatsch to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

You don't say whether they have a working record player or not, but it certainly would be pretty cheap to get this gadget and a tape player.
posted by o0dano0o at 10:45 AM on November 25, 2008

I fitted one of these to an old Windows box. Works well enough and looks retro hilarious.

That only answers the cassette side of things though.

I've seen ads for these but have no personal experience - and they're damn pricey.
posted by mandal at 11:00 AM on November 25, 2008

I've seen USB turntables, but never combo USB turntable/tapedecks. Anyhow, you'll get better quality (and it might be cheaper too) if you buy separates. Look for a USB sound card (if you computer doesn't already have audio-in), then buy a used turntable and tape deck from eBay or Craigslist.

For USB sound cards, look at something like:

* Creative Labs X-Fi USB (around $50)
* E-MU 0202 USB (around $90)

If you're not on a laptop, internal sound cards will be cheaper.
posted by paulg at 12:00 PM on November 25, 2008

Response by poster: For posterity: we went the separate machines route. Thanks all!
posted by quatsch at 10:06 PM on December 23, 2008