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Review: ADS Technologies “Instant Music” analog music to digital formats task fast and straightforward for Windows, Macintosh and Linux users, with the ultimate intention to burn your own CDs. If your ultimate venue is an iPod player, this gear will handle it. The base unit is a junction box that has a pair of stereo analog RCA inputs (and a pair of RCA outputs), along with optical digital SPDIF (Toslink) in/outputs. The interface with the computer is USB (1.0 or 2.0). You simply connect up the supplied USB lead between the junction box and a free USB port on your computer; set up your computer to ‘read’ the USB appliance — and your sound material can be transferred The Instant Music package includes all you need to digitise analog recordings into the digital realm of your with USB and RCA cables plus software for Windows and Macs. computer. Windows PCs will self detect the new appliance; drivers are built into every Windows n some ways this piece of gear is unnecessary – and version since Windows 98. If not, there are clear instrucin other ways, absolutely necessary. tions in a PDF file on the CD carrying the main software. Most people embarking on the good ship analog to Mac users will similarly find that their computer can be CD will connect the output of their amp/tape player or configured to ‘read’ the device via the “Sound” portion of record turntable (with preamp fired up) directly into the the System Preferences. sound input of their computer, with the analog-to-digital At this point let me make it clear that the unit will import conversion handled by the computer’s sound card. only two-channel (ie stereo) line level audio. If you hope to But there are some poor souls, especially the owners hook up a turntable and shuffle your Kamahl tracks over to of budget desktop and laptop models, who don’t have a the digital domain — forget it! You still need to route the sound input/audio card. If so, this device is perfect! audio via an amp or preamp to correctly feed the InstantInstant Music, by ADS Technologies, is an unusual Music appliance. package in more ways than one. It makes the converting I An explicit user interface makes the analog to digital dubbing process easy to work with. In the software department, Windows users get a copy of Nero Mix, SoundTrax and Wave Editor; Macanatics get a copy of Roxio Spin Doctor. 18  Silicon Chip siliconchip.com.au This gets the audio into your computer but you can’t do much with it. Software Both Windows and Mac versions of InstantMusic are bundled with software (Windows – Mix, SoundTrax and Wave Editor; Mac – Spin Doctor 2); if you already have a full version of Nero 6 or 7 you’re already up and running. Both of the bundled applications are audio recording programs, containing useful features to record, diminish/remove scratches, hiss and clicks, then polish The Instant Music device has a pair of stereo analog RCA inputs (and outputs), plus optical and even equalise (mod- digital SPDIF (Toslink) in/outputs. The interface with the computer is USB (1.0 or 2.0). erately) the incoming sound program. but it will never transform an aria by Caruso on an Edison The Windows/Nero bundle can be used to arrange tracks cylinder to rival the quality of a performance by Pavarotti into play lists, edit start/stop times or add a cross fade from on CD. But then again, who would want to? one track to the next for a smooth transition. With the stepSupplied accessories: Instant Music device; Roxio by-step wizard features, users can personalise their music Spin Doctor 2 or Nero Mix, Nero SoundTrax and Nero by selecting tracks, adding transition effects and, using the Wave Editor; USB cables; L+R RCA cable; RCA to 3.5 app’s equaliser, to set levels. mm stereo adaptor cable. The Audio Cleaning tools can be used to filter out unADS Technologies: www.adstech.com/ wanted pops, clicks and hisses. Distributor: Conexus — www.conexus.com.au Mac users can operate Instant Music with Garage Band Price: $134.95. SC or Sound Studio 2.1. Once captured - and all the spit and polish applied to your tracks – they can be saved as MP3, WAV, WMA (Windows Media 9 Audio) or AAC (iPod) audio files. If you have ambitions in cleaning up the original audio to higher standards you may need to interpose a multi-band equaliser into the plan or acquire some high-end software. As you are possibly becoming well aware, this whole exercise of transferring veteran analog music tracks to CD is a challenge – not only in devoting the time you can allot to the exercise but also in what finances you are courageous enough to invest. The bundled Windows/Mac applications are audio recording programs that Instant Music and the bundled record, reduce and/or remove scratches, hiss and clicks, then polish and even software does an incredible job equalise the incoming analog sound. siliconchip.com.au June 2007  19