Ion Systems TTUSB-10 Owners manual

USB Turntable

(ION TTUSB10)

Quick Start Owner’s Manual

Manual de inicio rápido para el usuario (ESPAÑOL)

Gebrauchsanweisung zur schnellen Inbetriebnahme

(DEUTSCH)

Guide d’utilisation rapide (FRANÇAIS)

Manuale Rapido di Utilizzazione (ITALIANO)

Box Contents

ION TTUSB10 Owner's Manual V4.1 - Page 2

o Make sure all items listed on the front of this guide are included in the box.

(ENGLISH) QUICK START GUIDE

o READ SAFETY INSTRUCTION BOOKLET BEFORE USING THE PRODUCT
o Go to http://www.ion-audio.com for product registration.

INTRODUCTION

The USB turntable connects directly to your computer to turn your treasured vinyl recordings into digital
music. We have included two software packages to aid you in converting your vinyl recordings:

 EZ Vinyl / Tape Converter* (PC only) or EZ Audio Converter (Mac only) is the quickest and easiest

way to turn your recordings into digital media. EZ Vinyl / Tape Converter or EZ Audio Converter
conveniently saves your recordings in your iTunes library. Novice users may find this application
preferable. On the CD, we have included a handy Quickstart Guide with step-by-step instructions on
software installation and operation.

 Audacity (PC and Mac) is intended for the advanced user. This application allows for advanced audio

editing and processing, such as normalization, noise removal, 78 RPM speed conversion, and
automatic track separation. The Audacity Software Guide can be found on the included CD – please
refer to this guide as you are working with Audacity.

To install the software: simply insert the included CD into your computer
and follow the on-screen instructions. After you finish converting your
vinyl, you can then burn to CD or load onto portable media devices.

GENERAL CONTROLS

1. Power Cable: This power cable should be

* A version of EZ Vinyl / Tape Converter
with Gracenote MusicID is available for
download at your product’s page at

www.ion-audio.com.

plugged into a wall receptacle AFTER all
audio connections are made.

2. RCA Audio Output Cables: These cables

should be plugged into the audio inputs of
your home stereo system. (Please note:
you can still copy records to your computer,
even if the audio outputs of the turntable
are not connected to a stereo system. It is
also possible to hear your records through
your computer, as long as you have
configured your computer’s sound input
and output options correctly and enabled
Software Playthrough in the Audacity
software. Please see the Software Guide
for more information on configuring your
computer to play the audio from the
turntable.)

3. There is a switch on the bottom panel, next
to the RCA cables, that selects between
PHONO/LINE. Use PHONO level for
plugging into a turntable input on a home
stereo. Use the LINE level for plugging into
CD/AUX/TAPE inputs. WARNING: You

may damage your receiver if you plug in
a LINE level into a PHONO input.

4. Gain: This knob can be used to adjust the
gain level of the audio signal from the
turntable. If the audio from the turntable is
too quiet or too loud, use this knob to adjust
the volume setting.

5. USB Audio Output: Use the included USB Cable to connect your turntable to your computer. For
transferring your vinyl records to your computer, we have provided two different software packages on
the included CD. EZ Vinyl / Tape Converter or EZ Audio Converter is the easiest and quickest way to
transfer your vinyl records and should be used if you are a beginner. Alternatively, if you are an
advanced user you may wish to install and use the Audacity software, which allows you to take
advantage of advanced audio editing features, such as audio normalization, noise removal and
automatic track separation.

6. Power Button: Use this button to power the turntable on and off

ION TTUSB10 Owner's Manual V4.1 - Page 3

7. Platter: This platter must be securely fastened to the turntable prior to operation. The Motor Drive Belt
can be found on the drive ring underneath the platter. See SETUP INSTRUCTIONS for detailed
information on installing the Motor Drive Belt.

8. Start/Stop Button: This button starts and stops the turntable motor. If the button seems not to be
functioning, check to make sure that the Motor Drive Belt is properly installed in the SETUP
INSTRUCTIONS.

9. 1/8” Stereo Line Input: Connect Tape Players, Reel to Reel, or any other audio source here. This
signal is sent to the computer through the USB connection. Make sure that your phono cartridge is
installed while using this input for maximum sound quality. Also make sure that your RCA jacks
are either plugged into an input device or not in contact with metal.
Note: The 1/8" audio input is not routed to the turntable's RCA output jacks, only to your computer via
USB.

10. 33 and 45 RPM Buttons: These buttons control the RPM of the turntable platter. A red LED indicates
which RPM mode has been selected.

NOTE: If the turntable is powered down while in the 45 RPM setting, it will return to 33 RPM when it is
powered up.
Note: You can record your 78RPM records by recording them at 33 or 45rpm, then changing them to
78 in the Audacity software.

11. 45 RPM Adapter Holder: You may place the 45 adapter here when not in use.

TONE ARM: Items 12 – 16 are all parts of the tonearm. Refer to the TONEARM SETUP section for
additional details on these controls.

12. Counter Weight and Scale Ring: The Counterweight is used to balance the head shell and cartridge
assembly so that the proper amount of stylus pressure is applied to the record.

13. Anti-Skate Adjustment: This knob is used to compensate for inward tracking forces. See TONEARM
SETUP for more details.

14. Arm Clip: This specially designed arm clip secures the tone arm while at rest or when not in use. The
arm clip has been designed to remain in the up position while unlocked.

NOTE: When transporting the turntable, it is always recommended that the headshell be removed and
the arm clip secured to prevent tonearm or turntable damage.

15. Tone Arm Lock Nut: This Aluminum nut is used to secure the head shell and cartridge assembly to
the tone arm tube. See Cartridge Setup for more details.

16. Cartridge and Headshell: The cartridge is pre-mounted on a standard headshell. The cartridge is
user replaceable and compatible with a variety of standard cartridges. Be sure to remove the clear
plastic cover before operating the turntable and cartridge.

PLATTER SETUP

WARNING: Incorrect Platter setup can lead to poor turntable performance, platter instability or
permanent motor damage.

1. The rubber belt has been preinstalled onto the turntable platter. However, please turn the platter over
and make sure that the belt is attached and is not twisted. If the belt has come off during shipping,
please place it around the inner bottom ring of the turntable platter, as shown in #1 above.

2. Install the Platter on the center spindle and press it down firmly. Check to make sure that it rotates
uniformly and does not wobble excessively.

3. Rotate the platter so that the one of the holes is aligned with the Start/Stop button on the front corner of
the turntable. The brass motor spindle should be visible through this hole.

4. Reach into the hole and pull the rubber drive belt off of the inner ring, and install it over the motor
spindle. Be careful not to twist the rubber drive belt during this step. Check to make sure the platter
rotates uniformly. If the drive belt is properly installed, there should be a slight amount of tension that
brings the platter to a stop after spinning it freely.

ION TTUSB10 Owner's Manual V4.1 - Page 4

TONEARM SETUP

1. Begin by rotating
the counterweight
counter-clockwise
until it is in the
complete forward
position (NOTE:
this is also the
maximum amount
of pressure that
can be applied to
the cartridge.)

2. Now there should
be a feeling of
weight and
resistance when
the head shell is
raised and
lowered. Begin
rotating the
counterweight
clockwise (away from the pivot point) until the weight and resistance feeling is gone. If done properly,
the tone arm will pivot with very little resistance back and forth indicating that there is exactly 0 grams
of stylus pressure.

3. With the counterweight in its new position further away from tone arm pivot point, grasp the scale ring
of the counter weight and rotate it until "0" is in the vertical position.

4. Finally, rotate the counterweight (and scale ring) counter-clockwise (towards the pivot point) until the
desired amount of weight is reached. If the scale rotates 360 degrees beyond the zero point, the new
scale ring reading should be added to 3.5.

*The included head shell and cartridge assembly requires a minimum of 3 grams and no more than 5
grams for optimum performance.

Setting the Anti-Skate Adjustment

In most cases, the Anti-Skate should be set to its minimum setting. Anti-Skate compensates for inward
tracking forces that occur with certain cartridges when the stylus nears the center of the record. If the
turntable is experiencing excessive skipping during back-cueing and scratching while nearing the center
spindle, try increasing the Anti-Skate in the increments indicated on the dial. Start by adding an increment of
1, test its performance, then increase it more, and so on.

IMPORTANT

Make sure that the felt slipmat is always placed on top of the platter while using the turntable. Failure to use
the slipmat may cause damage to your media as well as damage to the turntable.

Remove the plastic cartridge cover (needle cover) before operating the turntable.

MOUNTING THE DUST COVER

1. Attach the included dust cover mounts to the turntable.

2. Attach the dust cover to the mounts as shown in illustration on the left.

ION TTUSB10 Owner's Manual V4.1 - Page 5

CONVERTING YOUR 78RPM VINYL

To convert your 78RPM records, you will need to install and use the Audacity application. This application
can be found on the CD included in the box. Please install Audacity and follow the instructions below to
record your 78RPMs. For Audacity troubleshooting, refer to the Audacity Software Guide included on the
CD.

1. Connect your turntable to your computer’s USB port.

2. Open Audacity.

3. In Audacity, go to EDIT -> PREFERENCES and set the Recording Device to ‘USB Audio Codec’ – this

is your USB turntable (select 2 channels to record in stereo).

4. Select your computer’s soundcard as the Playback Device. Note that the device name will vary from

computer to computer but should never be set to ‘Microsoft Sound Mapper’.

5. Lastly, check ‘Software Playthrough’ so you can hear the music through your audio device while

recording.

6. You are now ready to record. Press the RECORD button in Audacity to begin recording.

7. Play your 78RPM at 33 or 45RPM.

8. Once you have recorded the desired material, press STOP in Audacity.

9. Click on EDIT menu, then click on SELECT, then click on ALL (shortcut: “CTRL-A”).

10. Click on the EFFECT menu, click on CHANGE SPEED.

11. When the CHANGE SPEED box opens, you will see Standard Vinyl RPM selections. The “from”

should be set to 33 or 45 RPM (depending on the speed you selected on your turntable), and the “to”
should be set to 78 RPM.

12. Click on PREVIEW to hear your recording converted to the correct speed of 78 RPM. Click on OK to

finalize the conversion to 78 RPM.

13. Once you are finished, you can save your file by going to FILE -> EXPORT AS WAV. This will save

the recording as a .WAV audio file.

14. Pick a destination on your computer, a name for your recording, and click SAVE.

15. The recording can now be found in the location where you saved it in the previous step.

BEFORE RETURNING THE PRODUCT, please contact ION Audio or your retailer for technical

support. Contact information can be found in the Safety Instruction Booklet included with this

product.

ION TTUSB10 Owner's Manual V4.1 - Page 6