Current trends in archiving vinyl to digital format
the_eleven -- Sun, 07/27/2008 - 11:06
Given the trend towards server-based music systems, how about an article on current trends in archiving vinyl to a digital format.
A discussion of the various pathways and advantages of each method would be helpful. A review of the various hardware and software options would be useful.
For example, the Korg unit reviewed in TAS#180, is one approach that has certain things in it's favor, but might be too rigorous for the "average" audiophile.
Another approach for Mac-based users would be an Apogee Duet with software.
And then there is the Alesis Masterlink ML9600.
After hours on the internet, I am starting to get a handle on it, but someone who has actually worked with all of this gear, and understands the synergies of various components & software might be able to advise the rest of us.
:idea: :idea:
second that!
You have an excellent idea for a survey article.
As you have seen already, there are many different ways and levels of rigor for archiving vinyl to digital formats.
In my Korg review I chose a high-end maximum quality approach because TAS has a long-standing tradition for advocating the highest fidelity possible.
Obviously there are less extreme methods for archiving analog sources.
The question is what would you consider a minimum standard that takes into account the future?
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
StevenStone1 wrote:The question is what would you consider a minimum standard that takes into account the future?
Excellent question. With the Korg, you are committing to the DSD format, which we assume will be here in the future. As long as there are converters for this format, it is probably the fail-safe standard, especially if one can down-sample to a format readable by a wider variety of DAC's
This is one thing that is really sweet about the Korg. (grips wallet tightly)
For me the question might be; as more people move to a "source > DAC > preamp > amp" setup, where the source might be a CD transport, or an iTunes library streaming high-res digital info, or a true audiophile DAP (still waiting for this) connected via optical, what is the sweet spot for sound and convenience? 24/192 PCM files?
the_eleven asks:
Quote:what is the sweet spot for sound and convenience?
I'm afraid this simple question will have many answers.
Currently 44.1/16 in lossless files is the standard. Sure, there are higher bit rates, but a vast majority of components upstream and downstream support this bit rate.
Frankly, right now anything higher is more about future-proofing than current usage. That's why I like the DSD archiving scenario - it allows for continuous upsampling (actually downsampling from DSD).
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
I am thinking about investing in a Korg MR-1 which are currently available on E Bay for less than $300. My question is this. If I capture my vinyl records in DSD is there currently any hardware and/or software which will allow me to replay what I've captured in the native format, or will I have to reformat it at 24/96 or 24/192? I hear that you're just using DSD for "archivial" purposes, but I would be interested if there are any DSD AD converters or programs like Foobar or Media Monkey, or, for that matter room and speaker correction software that can actually play the format. And if not, when, if ever, can we anticipate products other than SCD players which employ the format.?
Finally, is DSD sonically superior to 24/192 or is 24/192 every bit as good? Interested to hear you take on this.
The Korg should/must come with Audiogate software.
This package allows you to decode your DSD files into any PCM format you wish 192, 176, 96, 88, 48,or 44.1
As far as playing native DSD, several DAC/players allow for this including Esoteric and EMM.
I find DSD to be the sonic equal of any PCM format I've yet heard.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
I have been lucky enough to lay my hands on a couple of hundred mint condition western classical Vinyl of DG, DECCA, and some Russian and Japanese pressings. They are probably from the late 60's - early 70's. Many of them are practically unused.
I want to archive them to be able to listen to them through iTunes, that is, when i am not doing any serious listening.
How do i go about doing it?
I have lots of hardware based storage capacity. Hence DSD or 192/24 files are not a problem.
Buy a Korg MR-1, MR-1000, MR-2000 or Tascam DA-1000 - they all all support DSD recording.
Read my article about archiving vinyl and then have at it...
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
Steven,
Please send me a link to your "vinyl archiving" article... I see that you mention it but I cannot find it. Thanks!
Robert
Hello:
I currently have a Tascam cdr recorder but sometimes it's input can be overloaded when going through my analog linear preamp- right now i want to step up and gdet Hresolution unit with solid analog rca input impedance. Tascam cdr has 25kohm impedance on rca analog in. ra1000hd has >10kohm, korg has 50kohm. Technically Korg is the best bet I guess but what do you guys think? I'm for the best quality with no "hot" input problems)
Hot input problems - you should have a volume control on the analog input levels - any recorder I've used during the past 30 years does.
If your recorder REALLY doesn't have input level controls you could use a fixed-level attenuator to lower the input level to the recorder.
This is not an impedance issue, merely a level control issue.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
Hi Steven:
Thank your for reply. Yes indeed Tascam has volume controls and I set the level so it never goes over 0 but more like -2 max or so. Even then I have visible clipping in the audio wave before it reaches 0db) If I lower the input on Tascam the wave amplitude just gets smaller but clipping is still there)
What do you think is the problem?
How are you measuring this clipping?
If it originally created in the analog domain the solution is to turn down the input level in the analog domain.
If the clipping is caused in the digital domain the solution is the same, but it must be attenuated in the digital domain.
Look to the very beginning of your reproduction chain to isolate where the clipping is occurring. Look at the levels from the cart to the phono preamp, phono preamp to line level preamp/switcher/source selector. Look at the levels from the source selector to the recorder.
Systematic troubleshooting will isolate the source of your clipping and then you can see about attenuating the signal at that point.
Steven Stone
Contributor to The Absolute Sound, EnjoytheMusic.com, Vintage Guitar Magazine, and other fine publications
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