Here goes...
Greetings,
Audio dinosaur here. First allow me to confess and apologize for my utter lack of experience and knowledge per the digital audio realm. I'm an old school two channel analog audio guy finally...about 25 years late, attempting to advance to a more complete transition to digital beyond my first generation CD player and my own computer usage void of any music file functions utilization.
I recently purchased a Marantz CD6005 and a Tascam CD-RW901MKII for integration into a very "vintage" audio system I've had mothballed for a long time. Those components are a David Hafler DH500 two channel amp. A Hafler DH110 preamp, a Yamaha PX-3 turntable, a Teac V900X cassette deck, Tandberg TD 20A reel to reel and carver TX-11 tuner. I've discarded my first gen Yamaha CD player for the new. Haven't used either magnetic tape machine for a long time. Speakers are ADS L1530's
My primary reasons for the new pieces are for recording playlist CD's for mobile playback. I'm also just now getting into ripping and burning CD's on a desktop and couple notebook PC's. Bought a new Dell recently to serve as a dedicated music file device only. Which brings me to my initial questions. I have ripped about a 3rd of my CD collection, then burned a couple CD-R discs for mobile playback. Ripped using lossless WAV format as I understand this is better for reproduction than compressed formats, which I would anticipate. I was a little disappointed with results. Quality of reproduction is fine. It's the actual sound level that seems lacking to me. Back in the day I was able to produce very good results per the magnetic tape medium via the readily tweaked recording levels and the ability of quality tape to accommodate moderately boosted recording levels without overloading so to speak, avoiding the potential for resulting in terrible recordings. I am completely without any knowledge of this capability per digital recording. I understand the detrimental aspects of tweaking recording levels of digital material. No nothing about any equipment, software or back panel digital coax and optical connections (also new to me vs. the old RCA analog connectors I'm familiar with) that may facilitate better recording results. Each of the new pieces...the Marantz and Tascam have these ports.
First thing...I know I need a new pre-pro and have been shopping with an eye on future expansion. My budget is pretty restricted...or very restricted. I don't need high end, bells and whistles so I'm leaning towards an Outlaw 975 surround processor to route my sources through. For digital and home theater expansion purposes...I know the Hafler preamp must be replaced. The Outlaw would replace my current tuner as well. I'm wondering if I could expect better digital recordings using the Outlaw 975 in conjunction with the Marantz and Tascam? Any advantage over PC based ripping / burning? Also wondering if using the various digital in / out coax or optical ports for sources and recording equip would improve results? The Tascam manual specifies signal boosting is a no-no via a source per the RCA analog ports. That much I knew. The manual doesn't seem to address the possibility...or capability of record level tweaking per sources via the digital ports. Maybe no record level boosting is advisable during digital recording under any circumstances? Always to be recorded at zero boost? If that's true I guess I don't understand the purpose of recording level controls the Tascam has. This is what I don't know. I've also read of software...like "Digital Performer" per PC based music reproduction that seems to allow tweaking the signal. Maybe that's what is needed for quality reproduction on a PC?
I hope I can figure some stuff out. Producing good quality recordings was always an enjoyable hobby for me back in the days of magnetic tape.
More ??? about PC music file manipulation ahead...but that's quite enough for now, I'm sure. I'm looking to load music files onto memory cards and flash drives as well. The mobile deck can accommodate these as well. Hoping to rid my vehicle of the bulky CD cases. If you've taken the time to read all this, know I really appreciate it.
Greetings,
Audio dinosaur here. First allow me to confess and apologize for my utter lack of experience and knowledge per the digital audio realm. I'm an old school two channel analog audio guy finally...about 25 years late, attempting to advance to a more complete transition to digital beyond my first generation CD player and my own computer usage void of any music file functions utilization.
I recently purchased a Marantz CD6005 and a Tascam CD-RW901MKII for integration into a very "vintage" audio system I've had mothballed for a long time. Those components are a David Hafler DH500 two channel amp. A Hafler DH110 preamp, a Yamaha PX-3 turntable, a Teac V900X cassette deck, Tandberg TD 20A reel to reel and carver TX-11 tuner. I've discarded my first gen Yamaha CD player for the new. Haven't used either magnetic tape machine for a long time. Speakers are ADS L1530's
My primary reasons for the new pieces are for recording playlist CD's for mobile playback. I'm also just now getting into ripping and burning CD's on a desktop and couple notebook PC's. Bought a new Dell recently to serve as a dedicated music file device only. Which brings me to my initial questions. I have ripped about a 3rd of my CD collection, then burned a couple CD-R discs for mobile playback. Ripped using lossless WAV format as I understand this is better for reproduction than compressed formats, which I would anticipate. I was a little disappointed with results. Quality of reproduction is fine. It's the actual sound level that seems lacking to me. Back in the day I was able to produce very good results per the magnetic tape medium via the readily tweaked recording levels and the ability of quality tape to accommodate moderately boosted recording levels without overloading so to speak, avoiding the potential for resulting in terrible recordings. I am completely without any knowledge of this capability per digital recording. I understand the detrimental aspects of tweaking recording levels of digital material. No nothing about any equipment, software or back panel digital coax and optical connections (also new to me vs. the old RCA analog connectors I'm familiar with) that may facilitate better recording results. Each of the new pieces...the Marantz and Tascam have these ports.
First thing...I know I need a new pre-pro and have been shopping with an eye on future expansion. My budget is pretty restricted...or very restricted. I don't need high end, bells and whistles so I'm leaning towards an Outlaw 975 surround processor to route my sources through. For digital and home theater expansion purposes...I know the Hafler preamp must be replaced. The Outlaw would replace my current tuner as well. I'm wondering if I could expect better digital recordings using the Outlaw 975 in conjunction with the Marantz and Tascam? Any advantage over PC based ripping / burning? Also wondering if using the various digital in / out coax or optical ports for sources and recording equip would improve results? The Tascam manual specifies signal boosting is a no-no via a source per the RCA analog ports. That much I knew. The manual doesn't seem to address the possibility...or capability of record level tweaking per sources via the digital ports. Maybe no record level boosting is advisable during digital recording under any circumstances? Always to be recorded at zero boost? If that's true I guess I don't understand the purpose of recording level controls the Tascam has. This is what I don't know. I've also read of software...like "Digital Performer" per PC based music reproduction that seems to allow tweaking the signal. Maybe that's what is needed for quality reproduction on a PC?
I hope I can figure some stuff out. Producing good quality recordings was always an enjoyable hobby for me back in the days of magnetic tape.
More ??? about PC music file manipulation ahead...but that's quite enough for now, I'm sure. I'm looking to load music files onto memory cards and flash drives as well. The mobile deck can accommodate these as well. Hoping to rid my vehicle of the bulky CD cases. If you've taken the time to read all this, know I really appreciate it.
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