I recently bought a used one

I had been using the NAD PP3 with VinylStudio software to makes CDs from vinyl. I liked it, but it was cumbersome to have to go connect everything (including my laptop) anytime I wanted to copy an LP. So I bought a (used) Alesis Masterlink a few months ago. Here are my impressions:

NAD PP3/VinylStudio/PC:

Pros:
Easy to use
Lots of good post-recording tools with the VinylStudio software - automatic track splitting, track name look-up, ability to edit out clicks and pops (automatically or manually), capacity only limited by my PC hard drive capacity, easy and fast copying of the .wav file to a CD, accepts line-in from your current Phonostage, or you can use it as the phonostage

Cons: cumbersome to set up everytime I want to use it; accepts only analog input

Alesis Masterlink:

Pros: always inline - I never have to connect anything; one component does everything; 4 sampling rate (44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz), multiple word lengths (16, 20 and 24 bit), ability to create Redbook or CD-24 output (selectable after recording), several post-recording DSP tools; remote control that can control almost every function - except power on/off!

Cons: capacity limited to the size of its internal HD (mine is 30GB, which is about 3.5 hours of recording time at 44.1kHz), track naming is cumbersome, track splitting is manual (either while you record or after you record, but you have to do it manually), no obvious "pop and click" remover", two-stage process for making a CD - first it "renders" the recorded file (which is at 1x speed - if the recorded file is 20 minutes, the rendering takes about 20 minutes), followed by a 4x speed CR write process), no track name lookup function.

I have not explored all of the Masterlink's functionality, so maybe I am just missing something. I do like it, but I would LOVE it if I had the same post-recording tools (especially auto track splitting, click removal, and track name lookup) that VinylStudio provided

rlindsa

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Is the Alesis Masterlink still the gold standard for vinyl ripping ? - Ross 05:01:04 03/14/12 (30)

RE: Is the Alesis Masterlink still the gold standard for vinyl ripping ? - NoTechnics 09:06:53 03/16/12 (0)

There's another option.... - StephenJK 05:56:54 03/16/12 (1)

RE: There's another option.... - WOStantonCS100 06:53:12 03/16/12 (0)

RE: Is the Alesis Masterlink still the gold standard for vinyl ripping ? - Roastaman 14:07:32 03/15/12 (0)

RE: Is the Alesis Masterlink still the gold standard for vinyl ripping ? - WOStantonCS100 13:41:05 03/15/12 (0)

RE: Is the Alesis Masterlink still the gold standard for vinyl ripping ? - Marantzguy 12:51:56 03/15/12 (5)

RE: Is the Alesis Masterlink still the gold standard for vinyl ripping ? - pguezze 08:56:40 07/15/21 (0)

the 3.5 hours thing - rlindsa 14:12:10 03/15/12 (3)

RE: the 3.5 hours thing, again! - Marantzguy 18:04:15 03/15/12 (2)

where can I buy new HDs for the Masterlink? - rlindsa 19:37:23 03/15/12 (1)

RE: where can I buy new HDs for the Masterlink? - Marantzguy 16:31:14 03/16/12 (0)

RE: Is the Alesis Masterlink still the gold standard for vinyl ripping ? - WOStantonCS100 12:48:04 03/15/12 (1)

RE: Is the Alesis Masterlink still the gold standard for vinyl ripping ? - Monchi 15:14:27 03/15/12 (0)

I have one and it may be the best thing since sliced bread for digitizing analog sources, but... - J. S. Bach 03:56:45 03/15/12 (0)

RE: Is the Alesis Masterlink still the gold standard for vinyl ripping ? - cactuscowboy@bresnan.net 12:06:17 03/14/12 (0)

I recently bought a used one - rlindsa 11:56:05 03/14/12 (0)

RE: Is the Alesis Masterlink still the gold standard for vinyl ripping ? - Lew 06:53:42 03/14/12 (0)

Look at Pure Vinyl - bwb 06:37:38 03/14/12 (12)

Potential drawbacks.... - kuma 09:27:33 03/14/12 (8)

Not so... - Kenny B 21:59:44 03/14/12 (3)

RE: Not so... - kuma 00:33:18 03/15/12 (2)

RE: Not so... - Kenny B 15:56:21 03/15/12 (0)

RE: Not so... - Kenny B 15:40:38 03/15/12 (0)

RE: Potential drawbacks.... - bwb 11:41:08 03/14/12 (3)

Which DAC are you using to play back the 24/192 files? - kuma 12:56:38 03/14/12 (2)

RME Fireface 400 - bwb 20:36:35 03/14/12 (1)

ah..I think I've a few rips made from RME Fireface... - kuma 21:55:00 03/14/12 (0)

Especially if you don't have a Mac. - morinix 08:44:37 03/14/12 (2)

RE: Especially if you don't have a Mac. - bwb 11:44:21 03/14/12 (1)

RE: Especially if you don't have a Mac. - pguezze 08:59:33 07/15/21 (0)

Follow Ups

I recently bought a used one - rlindsa 11:56:05 03/14/12 (0)

I recently bought a used one

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