Transfering Vinyl To Cd

[jayhawk75]

Does anyone have suggestions on what to use to transfer some lp's to cds?
i have been looking at some marantz products and am open to suggestions. i have some lp's from 60's and 70's that have no prayer of making it to cd. i saw a website several years ago that uses computer based equipment for process but i would rather listen to lp and transfer at same time.

[Azeke]

If you already have a turntable you could use the M-Audio Pro (or simular device) which provides D/A conversion.

My wife showed this to me a while ago:

LP-to-MP3 converter

Peace and blessings,

Azeke

[Glen B]

To transfer LPs to CD I feed the signal from my phono preamp into the M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 sound card. I use LP Recorder (WAV recorder) to create WAV files from the analog audio followed by LP Ripper (WAV editor) to split the entire side of the LP into separate tracks, trim each one and add fade in/fade out. I then burn CDs from the WAV files with the Sony CD burner in my PC and (free) Real Player.

LP Ripper/LP Recorder: http://www.cfbsoftware.com/default.htm
M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 sound card : http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_u...2496-main.html

[jim777]

Does the resulting CD transfer sound as smooth as the original Vinyl, or becomes as "digitial" as most CD's ???

[ThomasW]

For years I've ripped my LP collection to CD (highest bit rate sampling the current setup allows, saved as wave files no compression allowed).

The transfers are quite good, one must be careful with regard to what processing is used otherwise the "air" on the vinyl is lost.

I do this for all my $pendy imported or rare collector vinyl, because it's the only way to prevent the recording from being destroyed by the wear and tear.

I'm thinking about getting a Tascam DVRA1000 to make the best copies possible.

[audioqueso]

I used my turntable feed directly to my Hercules sound card, and used an audio editing program called SoundForge to record my sessions. SoundForge is a very powerful audio editing program, so you can listen to it before saving it and retouch the audio file to perfection. I'll save them as wave files and then burn them on to a CD. After that, I'll format the file using FLAC or Monkey audio and save it to my harddrive.

[Club1820]

Audioqueso, do you have to boost the volume on the transferred file in Soundforge since you dont have a phonoamp hooked up?

Thanks.

[jim777]

Do you also use SoundForge to apply the inverse RIAA filter? (if no phono preamp is used)

[VictorHRS]

I'm thinking about getting a Tascam DVRA1000 to make the best copies possible.

Beautiful Beast! :T

I would go for that too..... But it's too bad that it doesn't have a SACD burner....

[jayhawk75]

tascam looks like a choice i will start researching. the other replies are leaning towards computer based transfers, which at my age the geek in me has disappeared as to installing soundcards. the question is a $1299 tascam or cheaper alternatives? is this another area where you get better results spending more money?

[Glen B]

Does the resulting CD transfer sound as smooth as the original Vinyl, or becomes as "digitial" as most CD's ???

The CD-Rs I create retain the sound of the original vinyl. No digititis. I am very satisfied with the results.

Glen

[jim777]

I wonder why digital CD's (home-made from LP) would be different from a commercial CD. Any ideas?

[Chris D]

The CD-Rs I create retain the sound of the original vinyl. No digititis. I am very satisfied with the results.

Glen

"Digititis", eh? I like that word...

[David Meek]

I've been using a Yamaha CDR-S1000 (a stand-alone CD burner/transport) for three years and have been quite happy with the results. It's not quite in the league with Thomas' Tascam, but it makes a very good quality CD if the vinyl is clean to begin with. If it's dirty, scratched, etc, then you'll hear that, too. :roll:

[Brandon B]

I'm trying listening carefully to the record, then hand-coding the bits into PCM. I've only gotten part of one song done in the last couple years, but it sounds really good.

Seriously, has anyone tried Benchmark's companion to the DAC1, the ADC1? I would bet it would yield some nice results considering.

BB

[JonMarsh]

My money's with your choice, too, Brandon. The ADC has been very carefully engineered.

[David Meek]

. . . digititis. . .

I thought that's what you got when you put your fingers where you shouldn't. :W

. . . then hand-coding the bits into PCM. . .

Don't you get confused when coding in all those 1's and 0's? I do.

[audioqueso]

Audioqueso, do you have to boost the volume on the transferred file in Soundforge since you dont have a phonoamp hooked up?

Thanks.

There are numerous input levels that are adjusted before the recording. I had no problem connecting the LP player directly to the soundcard via an RCA to 1/8" adapter.

Do you also use SoundForge to apply the inverse RIAA filter? (if no phono preamp is used) I don't know what that is, so I'm sure I didn't have to apply any RIAA filter.

[jim777]

If you are missing the RIAA filter (because it is in every phono preamp, otherwise it would be called a MIC preamp), the sound must have too much high frequency content (and lack bass).

If you google about it..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

http://www.a-reny.com/restauration/avance.html

[audioqueso]

If you are missing the RIAA filter (because it is in every phono preamp, otherwise it would be called a MIC preamp), the sound must have too much high frequency content (and lack bass).

If you google about it..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

http://www.a-reny.com/restauration/avance.html

My turntables are from the US. I bought them in Japan. Could that maybe be why I didn't need this RIAA filter?

[jim777]

Some turntables have a preamp inside. Maybe that is why you don't need either a preamp before the soundcard nor the RIAA filter. What table is it?

[Brandon B]

I thought RIAA filters basically removed all the music until you payed a per-use fee?

audioqueso - wiki explains it pretty well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

BB

[audioqueso]

I thought RIAA filters basically removed all the music until you payed a per-use fee?

audioqueso - wiki explains it pretty well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RIAA_equalization

BB

Ok, I read that. I understand what it is, but that's why I wondered whether I would be effected by it or not. It's a standard set by the RIAA. RIAA has no say in how other countries outside the states does their business. Oh well, it doesn't really matter as I doubt many will buy turn-tables outside the states.

[Karma]

The CD-Rs I create retain the sound of the original vinyl. No digititis. I am very satisfied with the results.

Glen

HI Glen,
I am so suspicious of CD's that I have never tried to create a home made CD. You seem to be getting good results so maybe I will give it a try. I have about 5000 reasons to do so. I have about 5000 LP's in my collection, most in fine condition.

Since my main music system is remote from my computer, I was thinking about taking a different approach. Rather than taking the signal from my preamp, (difficult at best) I would make a cassette tape on one of my Nakamichi three head machines, probably my Dragon. I have another three head Nak (a 680) in my computer room. I would use this to provide the signal feed to the computer. Any thoughts on this idea.

I can assure you that the Nak's can provide a great recording so audio quality to the computer is not an issue.

Thanks, Sparky

[Brandon B]

Ok, I read that. I understand what it is, but that's why I wondered whether I would be effected by it or not. It's a standard set by the RIAA. RIAA has no say in how other countries outside the states does their business. Oh well, it doesn't really matter as I doubt many will buy turn-tables outside the states.

My first line was a joke. The filter has nothing to do with how you conduct business, it is to guarantee accurate playback of the signal recorded on vinyl as it is done by most recording studios/vinyl producers. Not using it means you are distorting the signal. You may like the result, but it is modified from what an accurate playback would sound like.

If recording/pressing facilities in other countries ignore the standard, and TT mfrs ignore it likewise, their stuff will work fine with each others' product, but not with the mainstream of vinyl from USA and Europe, so it seems unlikely to me that anyone would do this.

BB

[ThomasW]

I was thinking about taking a different approach. Rather than taking the signal from my preamp, (difficult at best) I would make a cassette tape on one of my Nakamichi three head machines, probably my Dragon. I have another three head Nak (a 680) in my computer room. I would use this to provide the signal feed to the computer. Any thoughts on this idea.

I can assure you that the Nak's can provide a great recording so audio quality to the computer is not an issue.

Thanks, Sparky

In the past I've used high-end 15 & 30 ips tape machines to archive vinyl. Even with 1/2" high-speed tape, the recording wasn't as good as the original vinyl. So I be hesitant to add any additional analog recording into this process.

If you want the best SQ possible it would be better to go directly from the preamp out to the PC soundcard in.

[Karma]

HI Thomas,
I can't argue with the logic of your position. However, the normal way I listen to my vinyl collection is via tape. I will play the record and record it at the same time. Later, I will listen to the tapes rather than to the records.

Perhaps I have defective ears but when the recording is made on a properly calibrated high end Nakamichi, with metal tape and Dolby C, I can't tell the difference most of the time. Consequently, I can't think of a good reason to not follow this strategy for CD copies.

In what way were your tape copies worse than the vinyl? Maybe your tape machines were not up to the job. Certainly, SOME tape machines could make an indistinguishable copy. I don't think you are claiming that it is impossible.

Sparky

[Alaric]

HI Thomas,
I can't argue with the logic of your position. However, the normal way I listen to my vinyl collection is via tape. I will play the record and record it at the same time. Later, I will listen to the tapes rather than to the records.

Perhaps I have defective ears but when the recording is made on a properly calibrated high end Nakamichi, with metal tape and Dolby C, I can't tell the difference most of the time. Consequently, I can't think of a good reason to not follow this strategy for CD copies.

In what way were your tape copies worse than the vinyl? Maybe your tape machines were not up to the job. Certainly, SOME tape machines could make an indistinguishable copy. I don't think you are claiming that it is impossible.

Sparky

As the former owner of a Nakamichi ZX9 , I have to agree with Karma. A properly set up Nak with metal or Cr tape is capable of capturing every nuance of a vinyl recording I can hear. Those machines were the pinnacle of cassette technology and performance. I heard somewhere Michael Jackson's Thriller was mastered on one. I hope to be able to acquire one again someday. A couple years after I bought mine (1984) I auditioned one of the first Sony CD players-I bought a CD player less than two years ago. Of course , I will likely always prefer vinyl to other formats , so my views reflect that preference. :B

[Glen B]

"Digititis", eh? I like that word...

Its actually a fairly popular word used by audiophiles to describe the harsh, brittle sound of some CDs. Its a word I first saw being used in Stereophile magazine.

[Glen B]

HI Glen,
I am so suspicious of CD's that I have never tried to create a home made CD. You seem to be getting good results so maybe I will give it a try. I have about 5000 reasons to do so. I have about 5000 LP's in my collection, most in fine condition.

Since my main music system is remote from my computer, I was thinking about taking a different approach. Rather than taking the signal from my preamp, (difficult at best) I would make a cassette tape on one of my Nakamichi three head machines, probably my Dragon. I have another three head Nak (a 680) in my computer room. I would use this to provide the signal feed to the computer. Any thoughts on this idea.

I can assure you that the Nak's can provide a great recording so audio quality to the computer is not an issue.

Thanks, Sparky

I would be hesitatant to insert anything between preamp and soundcard. By recording on one deck and playing back on another will be adding two steps in-between. Consider that each deck may add some degree of compression and also impart its own sonic signature. If this setup works for you, fine. My PC is on a stand with casters. I just roll it up to within a few feet of my equipment rack and plug into my preamp.

Glen

[jayhawk75]

For years I've ripped my LP collection to CD (highest bit rate sampling the current setup allows, saved as wave files no compression allowed).

I'm thinking about getting a Tascam DVRA1000 to make the best copies possible.

i forgot to ask... what are you using now while you are thinking. i am now researching and leaning towards the 900 vs the 1000 at half the price and reading up on the 1000 reviewers are saying 1000 is not for the nongeek

[Karma]

I would be hesitatant to insert anything between preamp and soundcard. By recording on one deck and playing back on another will be adding two steps in-between. Consider that each deck may add some degree of compression and also impart its own sonic signature. If this setup works for you, fine. My PC is on a stand with casters. I just roll it up to within a few feet of my equipment rack and plug into my preamp.

Glen

HI Glen,
As a matter of principle, you are right by definition. Ideally, one should not add any more potentially sound altering gadgets than necessary. I understand this. No arguments from me on this point.

However, my computer is locked down as part of my digital darkroom setup in a completely different part of the house. It's just not practical to record directly from the preamp which would be my preference. It's a matter of either finding alternatives or not doing it at all.

Do you have much experience with the top of the line three head Nakamichi decks? I basically consider your concerns to be on a theoretical level and not with the real world results that can be obtained from these fine machines even when using two different machines. Believe me; I'm not in denial on this point. I can make tape copies that cannot be differentiated sonically from the original the vast majority of the time. I've confirmed this myself and also with many tests run with independent listeners. Yes, they are amazed.

Another factor is how I will use the ripped CD's. Mostly they will be used in my car system, my garage system or background music on my HT system where pin point sound quality is not a high priority. Don't misunderstand, as a long time audiophile I won't stand for a poor recording. It's the way I'm built. However, while the tape method I proposed is not ideal, the quality will be good. It better be or I won't continue. When I want great sound I listen to LP's (or taped LP's) on my main system.

Thanks for you comments and your concern.

Sparky

[1Michael]

I have owned a Nakamichi 1000ZXL Limited tape deck and with the machine calibrated to a specific tape, there is still degradation of sound.

[David Meek]

How MUCH degradation though?

[chasw98]

How MUCH degradation though?

At a minimum I believe you will see at least 3 db S/N degradation. As good as the Naks are, if you have ever set the bias and watched the frequency response with a sweep generator and an oscilloscope, you will never get flat 20-20Khz response. It will be very close but not all there.
And in theory when you turn around and transfer to the PC another 3 db degradation in S/N will occur.

Chuck