Do U archive records ??

[SEAWOLF97]

I've gotten back into vinyl as a main source component . But the computer and iPod are much more convenient. But a lot is only available on LP's and since they do wear out, it only makes sense to archive the vinyl to digital.

The new USB turntables dont turn me on...but my better tt's/carts do , tho they are in a different room.

Q ? do you archive records ? and by what process ?

So far, for me , its been easy to record them to minidisc , carry that disc to the computer where there is a permanent MD player attached to the PC....read it into an audio editor...kill the pops & noise..tweak up the dynamics a little (esp on 60's recordings) ....write it as an MP3 for the pod and also write over the same MD to take it back to the better audio system.

I'm looking to streamline a bit and so am asking about other members methods ?? Thx.

[jcrobso]

I have a turntable hooked to a phone pre-amp to the line in of my pro sound card. Then I use the audio editor to clean them up.

[Fred Sanford]

It used to be TT > phono preamp > DAT at 44.1. DAT was easy to write start/end cues. Then DAT to CD-R, usually, then into one of the Audio ReQuest servers for MP3 conversion & tag editing.

These days it's TT > Phono Preamp > Alesis Masterlink HD/CD-R. Same conversion as before for MP3s & tagging.

je

[grumpy]

I like the -idea- of using a high-dynamic range, low-noise pre-amp/high-
rate (and bit) digitizer and then being able to use s/w RIAA (or whatever) EQ,
but I've not tried it personally. If I do, I'll be happy to report back.
IIRC, someone else here promoted this scheme as being successful.

There are bundled packages to do this at whatever level and increment of
involvement you'd like... most assume (or include) an external RIAA
network before digitization. Prices are also all over the map.

The toughest thing is deciding when to stop "improving" the original.
At some point, you can suck the life out of a recording.

[louped garouv]

i am going to start this process next year sometime...

are you all going straight to MP3/4,
or using lossless formats like WAV, FLAC, or Ogg?

I was figuring on going to a lossless format, as memory is getting pretty cheap now a days... single TB external HD units can be had less than $150 or so...

[pos]

One problem with lossless formats is when you want to put them on a mp3 player. The transfert is slow, and the memory on these units is still limited.

Another problem is the metadata: you cannot use tags in a wav file. I think youo can with flac (but then your portable mp3 player must be able to read that format) and some other lossless format.

[Fred Sanford]

i am going to start this process next year sometime...

are you all going straight to MP3/4,
or using lossless formats like WAV, FLAC, or Ogg?

I was figuring on going to a lossless format, as memorey is getting pretty cheap now a days... single TB external HD units can be had less than $150 or so...

In my case the CD is my lossless format, I use MP3s on the servers for ease of access, portability, and streaming off-site (I only have DSL, so upload speed is slow).

je

[jcrobso]

i am going to start this process next year sometime...

are you all going straight to MP3/4,
or using lossless formats like WAV, FLAC, or Ogg?

I was figuring on going to a lossless format, as memory is getting pretty cheap now a days... single TB external HD units can be had less than $150 or so...

MP3 at 340kb sample rate sounds very good, and MP3 players will handle them. The down side is the bigger file size because of the higher sample rate.
Ogg sounds very good, but players won't handle them.:(

[duaneage]

I've done hundreds of records. Started 10 years ago and it took me a few years to get it done. One of the neat things I picked up was a high quality preamp that is powered from the computer. Eliminated wall warts and it works with laptops. If I want to record records at someones' house I bring a laptop, the preamp, and they can play them with their needle and table.