Hi everyone, I am new to this forum. As so many members here I want to move a record collection to CD.
I my inquiries I came across software named (XTIL), that will do this via the USB, bypassing the soundcard.
The software seems to be a Australian product.
Does anyone have experience with this software
I would appreciate any input on this

Never heard of it !

I did all mine the conventional way utilising CoolEdit Pro.

I noticed on the news that currently CD's are being put out to grass as many are now converting them to .MP3

No, never heard of it either.

Just had a look round and found INport by Xitel. Is this what you found?

Don't know about this XTIL software though. The only reference I've found with regards to XTIL is from Wolfson Microelectronics Stereo Audio CODEC which shows XTIH, XTIL, XTIY as system clock pulse symbols.

yeah the guy means the INport.

If you already have a halfway decent soundcard, as most modern PCs do, I can't see this being much better.
To justify using anything but a standard soundcard you really have to have a good hifi record deck and good quality records. Otherwise just run a phono to stereo mini-jack into your s/card line-in from your amplifier line-out or tape-out.

Thank you Kremmen, MJB and johnny Walker.

I started out by going to Comp USA, Best Buy, Off Depot etc...

They all pointed me to XITEL. Strangely they all had only one box on the shelf and all of them had a broken seal. In order to get some feed back from people that might be using it,I starded looking for a forum like yours.

I looked at the link you send me. The reviews are positive. However they are all dated 2003.

Not many mainstream American Publications were included in the reviews. This is one from PCWorld; "Charles Bermant from PC World.com (USA - August 20, 2003)
'The INport is overly simple to use--the hardware design is foolproof, and doesn't allow you to plug in any incorrect cables. The software is equally easy to use. Due to its compact size, the INport also is easy to use when connected to a laptop. You can take the laptop to the stereo, transfer the files, and later move them to a desktop system or MP3 player.''The INport is able to compensate for the varying sounds of early recordings with a module that automatically adjusts recording levels. Because the unit is external, it is not subject to noise interference from the PC.' "

As you can see, they are just quoting what the box says. They do not mention having done some testing.

Conclusion, either the product is not good, or they did a very poor job of marketing it.

I appreciate the responses you sent and want to command you on this forum.
If you happen to run into some input from people that used the INport from Xitel I would appreciate if you forward it to me

Thank you again.

I agree with what John says above. For a desktop PC it's just additional expense that you don't really need.

The only advantage that I can see for this product is the laptop market. We do get a few queries about copying vinyl / cassettes to laptops that don't have a line-in socket. This USB product would solve that problem - if, like you say, it's any good.

MJB, I see your point. However, the product info states that the conversion from analog to digital takes place with in that square gadget. This, it states, prevent noises to be super-imposed on the sound track.
That would make it desirable for any PC. That is of course, like we said "is it any good"

I am still open minded on it.

Kremmen, MJB and johnny Walker.

PCworld has a couple of user reviews.

The link is;
http://pcworld.pricegrabber.com/rating_getprodrev.php/product_id=1797563/id_type=M

The comments by TimEliseo on Nov 25, 2005 make a lot of sense to me. It verifies MJB's remark that it may helpfull for laptops.

It brings-up another question with the statement
of TimEliseo (in the last paragraph), that he is using a similar but better product.

So, I will start hunting for it.

I thought you might want be informed since, "through the USB port recording", is as you stated prior, new for you.

Just before Xmas I had a similar dilemma with VHS to PC and I bought DVDXpress from ADSTech.

This sounds very similar to your find where it plugs into the VHS composite sockets and to the PC USB port.

The supplied hardware then takes the signal from the VHS, compresses it to the level required and then records it in MPEG direct to the PC HDD.

If this unit is similar then it could be the answer.

Kremmen, MJB and johnny Walker.

I would like to bring you up to date with two more products which I came to know about.

One I learned about from a Mr. Tim Elisia, he is the person that posted an opinion in PCworld Mag. concerning the XITEL.
In the last paragraph of his post he mentioned a better product by a well know manufacturer.
He sent me the following link;

http://www.soundblaster.com/products/product.asp?category=1&subcategory=206&product=10702

In addition I found one more product for which I am posting this link;

http://www.esi-pro.com/viewProduct.php?pid=10&page=2%20.u24

I am sure that you will be interested in this information, and I hope that it will be of use for you to advise future posters.

Now that I have become more informed, all I have to do, is to make up my mind and to actualy start converting my records.
The Soundblaster is high on my list of choices.

Below is what Tim Eliseo, in his E-mail to me, stated about the Soundblaster;

"I've seen these in the $45 range. Other more expensive USB products of theirs are not necessarily better, as some have limited sampling rates, require external power, or have reported problems with overheating. Sorry I
didn't mention it in the review but I wasn't sure about the policies regarding talking about other specific products. My main reservation with this model is that it is only USB 1.1, not USB 2, but this has not been a problem for
me.
The other brand I considered was M-Audio. They have good stuff, but most much higher end. Their product, comparable to the above Creative model, the Transit, has fewer features, is more expensive, and is still only USB 1.1."

Hope this helps.

Tim

m-audio are professional quality. I currently use their 2496 card for multi-track recording. The sound quality is superb and the card and drivers are rock solid. I recommend these cards very highly.
But stick with Soundblaster if playing games is important to you.