DecisionalReview.info

Overall Rating

Finally works, horribly outdate software, poor instructions
On 2/16/06 I posted a negative review. After working all day on making it work I wrote this detailed edited review and procedure which Amazon has chosen not to post for some reason. At least one negative review as been posted since my review was rejected. A strange way to do business. Here is the 2/17/06 review:

With the help of reviews of by Farell at Cnet and John Long here at Amazon I have been able to make a beautiful (no hum) copy of Placido Domingo singing “che gelida manina” from La Boheme from an old LP to CD-RW or CD-R. The CD-RW plays on my DVD player, DVD-ROM drive, CD-RW drive, an Audiovox boombox and my 2005 Camry. CD-RW doesn’t play on my old JVC CD player or in my 1998 Subaru but CD-R plays in everything. Both the ADS (http://www.adstech.com/support/downloads/downloads.asp?product_id=RDX-150) and Nero websites (http://www.nero.com/nero6/enu/nero6_3.html) are now more useful than when most of the reviews were written. The ADS website now has FAQs which answer many of the questions raised in the reviews (no volume control, OK = Stop, microphone as input, settings in Soundtrax as well as Windows audio). I downloaded all the pertinent programs and PDFs (many corrections to the manuals received from Amazon this week). I think all the programs you’ll need are at APS. 1. I installed the upgrade from ADS (Nero Major Update Version 6.6.0.16) plus a couple others from the Nero website). This got me from Nero version 6.3.1.28 (shame on you Mr. Amazon/ADS/ Nero for selling me old software) to 6.6.0.16.
2. I used an old Technics receiver as my preamp.
3. I couldn’t control the recording level from my “out” RCA plugs on the back of the receiver so I used a Radio Shack 42-2546 (1/4″ stereo phone plug to two female RCA phono jacks)Y-adapter with the headphone output from the receiver to the “In” inputs of the ADS RX 150.
4. Set Windows Audio as directed in the new “settings and hints” PDF. And the newly downloaded Instant Music Manual PDF p 6. (Select input: UBS Audio Codec and leave output device: as your computer speakers (soundcard.) (http://www.adstech.com/support/ManualsAndDocuments/ManualsAndDocuments.asp?productId=RDX-150&productName=Instant%20Music).
5. Open Nero Soundtrax and (important) “options” to “device settings.” Select input UBS Audio Codec and leave output device as your computer speakers (soundcard).
6. Under “Tools” choose “wizards” chose “LP to CD.”
7. Choose “microphone” as Audio input line” (yes microphone), Check “digital monitoring” so that you can hear out of your computer speakers”
8. Choose and name the target file. I used “all files.”
9. Adjust recording level using the volume control on the receiver and the audio level meters in Soundtrax.
10. Go back to the beginning of the LP then click (or perhaps vice versa) red (left) navigate button to start recording. Do not click “next” since that will stop the recording. When you are done recording hit blue “stop” button. Now click “next.” I haven’t messed with the next two noise reduction screens. Then to screen “4″.
10. If I click “burn now” or “finish” the program locks up.
11. Open Windows Media Player or equivalent. Click “burn.”
12. Look in “burn list” and in “All music”
13. Select the files you want to burn. Click “start burn.” Then you have a choice of burning onto CD-R or CD-RW.