Copying LP's to your computer - Dont overspend Dont overcomplicate

ohbythebay

ohbythebay

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Don't judge a book by its cover...

I wanted to make this a separate thread for a reason. It deserves its own and I don't want it to be VS something that costs $1900. Common sense will dictate what you need to spend. Then, its your wallet. But I would not post this if I didn't think complex solutions and hardware were hokum.

I have advocated the DAK package. Not for the hardware, but for the software. I don't even uses the hardware.

Setup
My Clearaudio Concept table, MC cart and Phonomena II phono stage
My Windows 7 PC
The DAK software
An RCA cable to a 3.5mm jack (male) into the Realtek soundcard in the PC


First thing you do is start your table, start your software and check your level. You don't want it too hot (maxed out) but could probably make it hotter than I made these sample recordings. Once you have the perfect level (try a few) you are set. Always.

It took me 15 minutes to setup because 1) I didn't even have the software on this machine 2) I had to move the Concept and phono stage.

You say - Oh Rob, I don't want to have to do that, I want easy setup. No problem. Your amp has REC out, yes ? Use that to a cable that is always ready to go to your laptop so there is no moving, cabling, etc. I just wasn't set that way today.

So in other words, I am saying I can have ease of use and match the sound quality - for under $100. It has been said that the DAK unit looks cheesy. Yup, probably does. But I don't use the unit though it serves as an MM phono stage if you don't have one ...I don't need it.

I recorded two songs. One by Elton John, Another by Sade. Two copies of each. One each raw, and the ones marked NEW have been through the click and pop software that removes any ....

I suggest you download the files (wav) and then listen. And note, these can be converted to any format you like. But you always start with WAV which is lossless.

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?res...5&authkey=!AFIzHA4-6wK9V1A&ithint=folder,.wav

My PC screen
1901954_807569552591842_246710475_n.jpg

My TT
1743491_807569245925206_579657372_n.jpg
 
By the way...Listen through your system/DAC...listen all the way through for separation detail, clear bass. If you don't like it.,...then I must be nuts...LOL
 
Thanks Rob, downloading now. Will give a listen later tonight.

So what you are saying is that all I need is an RCA-pair IC to 3.5mm cable (software aside if I've already got Audacity or AlpineSoft VinylStudio, etc.)?

Years ago I used a Creative Audigy device and though the result was ok, using the Audacity software was a bit manual and I know the Creative interface was very entry-level.

If what you're saying is, "it's all in the newer software", then that's great and makes things more simple.

However, if I'm going to spend any time ripping vinyl to digital, I want to do it the best I can from the start (including using the best gear/software/process I can afford).....just like the TAS article advises.
 
I understand...but you ALREADY have the best in what you have for a turntable and phonostage. Then your computer. So what an $1800 unit asks you to do is put a BOX in the chain that add's no value but looks really cool. It does take on the job of digitizing the analog signal and copying in digitally...but do you need that ? Really ? Interesting because I set my input device to the highest professional quality and copied to a lossless format.

Anyway, yes, your VinylStudio may be just fine...

I prefer products like Soundforge (these are THE name in recording software) just as Sony Vegas is the best Video software, bar none. These were owned by another company that Sony purchased way back...(10 years) ..but as you will hear,...even the DAK software is cool.

But if you don't have a DAC in the chain, you are not going to get the best.

All I am saying, do a side by side...I would NOT be this adamant if I didn;t think this was a rich mans toy versus producing $1900 of value.
 
Cool beans Rob! Sometimes we do over complicate things and this is straight forward. Thanks!
 
Thanks Mike..The unit originally talked about is quite nice...But if you setup your system with REC out, you can copy ANYTHING cleanly to your computer with $50 software.

Try the sound files I made out on your rig. Want your honest opinion. Thanks
 
Well...no one seems interested so I guess this was in vain...but if you guys really want to spend $1900, I'll be happy to do it for you....for $1800...each person...LOL
 
Rob - oddly, I preferred the "non new" files. Maybe it's me, but the NEW files sounded compressed.
 
ohbythebay said:
Well...no one seems interested so I guess this was in vain...but if you guys really want to spend $1900, I'll be happy to do it for you....for $1800...each person...LOL
Click to expand...


....just haven't had time to thoroughly listen. However, a first blush assessment is similar to what Mike just said, the non-New sound better to me. I need to listen in both systems to all four tracks before I can offer more.
 
I agree (as do others) ...it appears the DEPOP filter does compress a bit...but honestly, I can live with the minute pops...they are rare on my albums (these two have seen a lot of work)....I will try to put something up later to and add some other types..
 
I added 3 more...2 Dire Straits and one Eagles.

As I thought about it, there is really no reason to convert them from lossless wav to anything else. These days, storage is cheap. At 50mb each, I can fit 20 per gig and a 64 gig mini sdlc would hold 1200 songs...and just think how many a 500gb drive would hold?

Anyway, I may be doing some rips to my private lib...favorites...
 
Rob,

Here are my listening notes with one setup. I need to listen with my other setup too for a comparison:

Elton John (straight xfer):
A little edgy/ragged, not very dynamic. Cymbals pretty flat sounding with little sustain and decay.

Elton John (modified xfer):
Less dynamic by a fairly large margin. Sound stage seems squashed/flat and even less dynamic than the straight xfer. A congested, slight smearing with less definition of instrument placement. Drum head and cymbal hits quite flat....were similar to straight xfer but a bit thinner with this one.

Sade (straight xfer):
Similar as EJ straight xfer in dynamics, cymbals and drum whacks pretty weak/flat with little sustain & decay. This one is fatiguing to my ears for some reason.

Sade (modified xfer):
Not as fatiguing but dynamics are lost compared to the straight xfer. One flat plane with no real delineation of instruments. Depth of stage is gone. Hearing a garbled-mush here and there where clicks were present with straight xfer?....like a stumble/warble. Remember the days of a bad spot on a cassette tape?

Not sure what's going on here Rob and it might just be that I'm not familiar with these cuts on LP as I don't own either. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard Capt. Fantastic before. Maybe I live under a rock? I can't explain the glare/fatigue that was heard. It was obvious you recorded these at a lower level so I don't think the recordings were inherently "hot".

Regarding the Dire Straits cuts, I can't really compare as there are two different tracks you posted to skydrive and from what I can tell, one is a straight xfer and the other declicked not allowing a fair comparison.
 
Rob,

Listened with my downstairs setup this time. I'm hearing similar traits with this system too. Perhaps my limitation is the Squeezebox built in DAC that's not presenting the tracks to their ideal? Also, as mentioned above, I'm not familiar with either the EJ or Sade vinyl you've provided as I own neither in LP format, only have the Sade on CD. I gotta say though, that Capt. Fantastic track is pretty neat....I need to listen to that LP here for myself.

The fact that there is this disparity (as demonstrated here with my ears) is one of the reasons I'd like to explore the benefits of a good dedicated DAC. I don't think the Squeezebox is giving me a true example of what's possible.

Thanks for providing me some samples to play with.
 
Ahh..that could be it... You were scaring me...LOL


I played my own samples through my own main rig. They sounded awesome but then again..they were going out of the PC through my AUNE T1 DAC...so all the "life" was still there...in fact, it pretty much rivaled what I would hear playing an LP. I say almost because I think there is STILL and edge to the vinyl. But wayyyy better than a streaming version...

More coming Friday....:-)
 
I listened to Captain Fantastic. I liked the track, and FWIW, it sounded good on my end, but I have nothing to compare it to. I'll download the rest of the tracks and listen to them later.
 
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