[dba-Tech] Converting LPs into digital audio

Lembit Soobik Lembit.Soobik at t-online.de
Wed Nov 17 06:55:49 CST 2004


and when you record, turn the speakers off and keep the room as quiet as
possible.
the record player picks up all kind of noise.

Lembit Soobik

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Erwin Craps - IT Helps" <Erwin.Craps at ithelps.be>
To: "Discussion of Hardware and Software issues" <dba-tech at databaseadvisors.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 10:34 AM
Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Converting LPs into digital audio


> Forgot one.
>
> 9) When recording you may NEVER have a peak of 0Db, but you must set it
> as high as posible.
> Digital recording, in contrast with analogue, may never have a higher
> volume then 0Db.
> This is known as clipping. Everything that is higher will be cut off and
> result in distortion.
> This may be your original problem...
> Due to this you gonna have to change the recording volume several times
> before recording a vinyl succesfully. Before recoding set the needle to
> the loudest part on the vinyl and adjust volume to that part. Keep
> closely looking if it does'nt clip when recording.
> Do not change recording volume while recording!
> Setting the volume higher afterwards in the wave can result in higher
> noise.
> Do not use any volume enhancers like normalizing en compressor/limiters.
> They will flatten your sound and should never be used in master files.
> They can conflict with other enhancements/equipment when playing
> afterwards.
> Like on radiostation or discotheques or even the enhancements in media
> player software (like Windows Media player etc).
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Erwin Craps
> - IT Helps
> Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 10:19 AM
> To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
> Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Converting LPs into digital audio
>
> I used to be a dj and now I terminated with putting al my cd's on disc,
> I'm gooing to start with my vinyl.
> I done some serious testing before I start because I have about 1200
> singles and 2000 LP's/maxi single.
>
> It al depends on the quality you want to have (I want maximum quality)
> but here are some basic things.
>
> 1) When connecting a recordplayer directly to your computer you gonna
> nee a pre-amplifier with RIAA correction. You could by these at Radio
> Shack (15 years ago, because they don't exist anymore in Belgium), but
> you can find them elsewhere if you look hard enough.
> By a good RIAA pre-amplifier. The quality of your digital file will
> depend on it greatly.
> When using a pre-amp, connect the turntable to the RIAA preamp en the
> RIAA preamp to the line in of your computer (NOT the micro= distortion).
>
> 2) There are some software's out there that perform RIAA correction.
> In this case you need to connect the turntable directly to the
> Microphone in connector of your computer.
> This will cause much more noise on your recording.
> This is due to the low signal and noise generated by the computer and
> soundcard.
>
> 3) Most soundcards are by definition low analogue quality.
> This is due to the low cost/much noise A/D convertor chip on the bord.
> Notebook soundcards are really really terible, NEVER use a notebook
> soundcard to put analogue on disk!!!
>
> 4) If you need real good quality, get your self a good soundcard.
> Look at the A/D convertor quality not the digital (digital is always
> good...)
> By definition the A/D convertor must be in a box OUTSIDE the computer.
> If the AD convertor is inside the computer you will have much more noise
> on your analogue connections due to the very noise environment inside a
> computer.
>
> 5) I personaly have my quality doubts about external USB soundcards, but
> I have no practical experience with that because I never by external USB
> soundcards because... Goto point 5
>
> 6) Fileformat
> OK this can be a very long discussion I already had several times and I
> am tired of to discusse why. So I try to make make point straigtaway.
> First of all.
> Chose a widespread file format thats suported by many programs and is
> afordable.
> >From my personal point of view/experience you have 3 choices in order
> >of
> my preferation
> WMA lossless
> WAV
> WMA lossy (VBR)
> MP3/4
>
> Secondly
> Ask yourself what quality level you want (I definitly have chosen for
> WMA lossless).
> A) very good (real CD quality) to exacly (as good as it can get) the
> same as vinyll Choose a loss less compression (WMA lossless) or no
> compression at all
> (WAV)
> This will take gigantic HD space!!!
>
> B) Reasonable quality (use a lossy compression).
> MP3/4
> WMA (classical Media player default choice) Within thse lossy
> compression you can choose the amount of quality loss you want by
> setting the bitrate.
> When gooing for a lossy compression, choose for VBR (variable bitrate
> WMA or MP4 ). By this the quality (or lack of) is stable.
> With fix bitrate your quality (or lack of) changes during the song and
> is noticeable.
> Noticeable lack of quality depends on the listener and equiptment.
> On computerspeaker (most of them are not very good), portable player,
> etc, it is hard to recognise a 320 fix MP3 (I Do) On a Hifi system with
> medium to high quality speakers anyone can recognise & 320Kbps MP3 if
> you now what to listen to.
>
>
> 7) When recording from analogue you will (mostly) save in WAV file
> because the compression is to CPU intense to put directly in a
> compressed file. For sample rate 44000 is equal to regular CD quality.
> 192000 sample rate is equal to vinyl quality. I was doubting about using
> 192000, but you need more expensive software and harware, wav files are
> 4 times as big and MPx, WMA do not support 192000 sample rate, so today
> I'm satisfied with CD quality sample rate 44000..
> So you will also need a WAV-to-something-else convertor (often included
> in the recording software).
>
> 8) Microsoft has a free tool to convert WAV to WMA (lossy and lossless I
> believe) in a bulk transaction during night for example.
> I use this tool to convert all my WMA lossless files to WMA lossy VBR so
> I can listen to music on my portable devices.
>
> 9) Never use vinyl enhancers to reduce noise or cracks. They cutoff the
> sound quality enormously.
> In case of cracks and noise, clean your records, put some more weight on
> the needle.
> Playing the (old) records a few times before actualy recording can
> remove dust and cracks in the final recording. Always remove dust from
> the needle before recording.
> Use a quality headphone and listen to the vinyl while recording to hear
> any cracks or skips, so you can start all over in case of...
> Do not touch the table with the recordplayer on it while recording. You
> can hear this in the recording.
> Do not use autostart/stop recording (based on sound) software
> functionality, you will lose begin and end pieces. Rather cut the wav
> manualy after recording.
>
> I hope this will help you.
> Erwin
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Steven W.
> Erbach
> Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 7:54 PM
> To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
> Subject: [dba-Tech] Converting LPs into digital audio
>
> Dear Group,
>
> A few years ago I transferred two LPs worth of Whamco ads to .WAV files
> using GoldWave and my old 133 MHz laptop and a Radio Shack patch cable
> (mini plug to RCA pin jack). I tried to get a third LP to transfer but I
> had trouble with distortion in my system somewhere.
>
> Have any of you converted LPs to WAV or MP3 or Windows Media? I went an
> extra step with the Whamco ads to convert them to Real Audio files, but
> I'd like to make them available on-line in both Real and Windows Media
> formats. Any suggestions for doing this process all over again from LP
> to digital?
>
> By the way, you can hear what I'm talking about here:
> http://www.swerbach.com/id25.htm . WHAMCO was the name given to a spoof
> mega-conglomerate that had products in just about every consumer
> category you could think of. The ads were produced by a popular Denver
> morning radio team back in the late 70s/early 80s.
>
> Steve Erbach
> Neenah, WI
>
>
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