ibbjamin wrote:

So, I've been in the process of converting my most coveted vinyl collection to digital files and was wondering how others do this for comparison.

What recording program do you use - Audacity, Soundforge, etc?

Do you use an audiophile turntable or stylus?

Do you use monster cables or a coat hanger?

Do you convert to WAV or MP3?

Do you perform lossless compression to FLAC or an alternative format?

What program do you use for converting - xACT for example?

w4lt wrote:

i use my normal general use shure m44-7s for the ripping needles on standard mk5 1210 using xone92 as preamp stage.

good quality cables (planet waves) run from record out of the mixer to the instrument inputs of my echo audiofire 4 soundcard (i'd use line inputs but the cable i have is phono to xlr only, so it has to go through the instrument inputs). also i make sure the gain trim dials are at 0 before recording.

i record using sony soundforge into my pc and save to wav, then convert it to FLAC eventually using a bit of software called exact audio copy.

not sure if this the best way to do it, but it sounds good down my end of the line which is what counts i guess.

ultrasound wrote:

Ortofon pro s 5
Vestax entry level mark something
Stanton tables
UA-1EX interface
Cubase:
Datube - certain settings enable it to act as a limiter, so long as you ensure 0 db input
onboard EQ.

Export as AIFF
Convert to Apple lossless - or FLAC depends what I need it for.
That's it.

azymuth74 wrote:

Shure Whitelabels on standard mk5 1200 plugged into the back of.....
USB phono preamp ( http://www.artproaudio.com/products.a...t=9&id=128 ) plugged into....
Apple MacBook running....
Soundstudio v.3.5
Save as AIFFS for prosperity
Usually listen as medium/high quality MP3s

ultrasound wrote:

I should add I use 24-bit/48kHz

jussumen wrote:

atm i use Technics w/ Stanton Trackmaster RS II via Pioneer DJM 400 mixer directly into a PC audigy soundcard Record Input recorded in CD quality (16 bit / 44.100) saved as WAV Files.
Recorded with CD Wave software - outcome is nice.
Make sure the levels are never in the red (both on mixer and software).

djfrankiebones wrote:

Numark TTX-1 Turntable, Belkin Digital Coaxial Cable direct out of the TTX-1 to a Tascam CDRW-900.

From there the digital clone is a cd-r which goes into my computer drive and winds up in Sound Forge.

zevulon wrote:

If I really bother, I record in 96 khz in Audacity and then use r8brain to convert it into 44/wav.

I'd never convert into anything below wav. That's where I draw the line. If I go for less quality, I'd stick w my minidisc (running!)

fabriknos wrote:

ok seriously how many topics on this do we need ;)
to be honest so many methods work. just take the outputs of your mixer and feed them into your audio interface or sound card, and open an audio program and hit record. if you already have a DJ set up, it could not be easier. obviously some higher end equipment will produce cleaner results but i am of the school of thought that the audio interface/audio program/compression method is not as important as the condition of the vinyl and the needle you're using. as long as those two things are in tip top shape, pretty much any solution will work.

personally i use my standard shure m44-7 carts on technics sl-1200m3d's, through the allen & heath xone:S2 mixer, which has a USB output that goes direct to my PC. i find that to be a nice combo.

zevulon wrote:

^^


..well - try different solutions / settings - run a test to hear what appeals the most, using different programs/settings etc..

Agreed that different pressings makes the biggest difference
(assuming that you use the same needle).

With
1. A Good Recording (not AFX or any other slobby recorder)
2. Good pressing - Thick vinyl, wide grooves, good vinyl cut
3. Cupious amount of patience / undistress - Straining your ears can be tiresome

Eventually, you will find what's ideal to your ears /standards.

I stick to this procedure even w an inferior record/pressing as it should ideally be the best way to go.

I NEVER ADJUST BASS OR TREBLE ETC (at least VERY rarely) - Clean is the best (even when it's Afx or such)

Again - I don't always bother to record in 96 kHz, but..

It's really a funny thing to convert in the first place, so I myself would want the best result - I never could bother w FLOSLESS(?)/MP3 "quality" - but most people don't bother.

ultrasound wrote:

I'm missing something here aren't I? You don't actually mean Aphex Twin do you? Whatever anyone thinks about his music, it seems well-recorded enough to my ears at least ....

zevulon wrote:

^^ Yes and no.

His earlier works are very badly recorded, however the music/ideas are mostly brilliant.

It's not at all common for a musician to "understand" sound - the ideas are often their main target.

Ex; Even if I do love "Digeridoo", it does not sound too good on a good system - it just..."dissolves". On a shitty system - well - then it gets more massive..

And let's not talk about the Analord series - if the major part even is AFX solemly - sounds like quite a few Rephlexers joined in on several tracks...
Those really have no vigor hifi-wise. No richness any way near.

I still love early afx, mind you.

davetherave_11 wrote:

We are using:

A Technic 1210 with Rega RB250 tonearm
Shure M35X cart
Rane Empath for preamp
M-Audio 2496 soundcard
Magix Audiolab program for recording.

All recordings are normalised to maximum peak volume but otherwise are unedited. The files are converted to 320 mp3s

ibbjamin wrote:

Recently purchased a MacBook and am getting a delay when trying to monitor through the speakers that are set up on the output from the Mac. I have the output from my mixer running into the Mac and the output speakers have a slight delay when I use the Mac and its output speakers as a monitor when spinning.

Do I need to purchase an external soundcard to get rid of this delay?

ultrasound wrote:

Pretty certain that using an external sound card will not help. Study your settings very very carefully. Audio Midi Set up especially, but what software are you using?

zevulon wrote:

I really don't get how anyone could use a decent set-up just to make a recording into a 320 mp3.

what's the use in buying quality food if you still will eat at McDonalds?

I tried so many times to convince myself that a 320kb is decent enough to use as music source, but it never delivers. A mini-disc recording will present a better result, and not even that will survive on a good system...

How do you all preserve the bass/richness and avoid the mid/bias overdrive when you convert into mp3? Do you adjust the mixer's output?
Seriously - is there a conversion trick that nobody will tell about? What program do you use?

davetherave_11 wrote:

I didn't get my setup just for ripping to MP3, it's what I already had.

T0MMY_B0Y wrote:

"How to Make a Mountain Out of a Molehill Pt. 1"

Talk shit, spend loads of money on equipment and waste loads of time unnecessarily for the awesome benefit of a virtually inaudible difference in sound quality.

Anything wrong with just plugging your mixer into your sound card/audio interface, hitting Record, editing the recording and then saving as WAV or AIFF?

zevulon wrote:

But what conversion do you use, e.g. wav >> Mp3? All the ones that I tried made a poor end result.



Y and N -

No - if it's a very good recording, recording in 96 kHz gets a better result when you lower it into Wav.

Virtually inaudible at times, at times quite audible.

and, Y - The most important part regarding the recording is to set the levels as close to maximum on the recording device but NOT to exceed the "red area".

Always boost/lower the source, not the "recorder".


...and if you have the equipment, why not use it?

djpepsi wrote:

i dont recommend limiting/compressing your recordings, BUT, if you do, keep a backup of the originals!