Post by optical on Sept 23, 2021 11:15:25 GMT
I've got a plan . . . . . a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel . . .
What if, you could browse your collection of vinyl rips via a tablet then play them through your streamer. However you're enjoying the record so much you want the real deal so you get up off your a*** and go select that mother in pristine condition, fresh as the day you cleaned and ripped it.
This, for me is a dream . . . . it also gives me a real chance to order my collection by genre then alphabetically by artist, the same as I would the rips on my streamer. I can also put a little footnote on the displayed track name, letting me know exactly which section of my storage unit the record can be found. "Unit 1, Shelf B2" . . . for example.
I've been pondering digitalising my vinyl collection for a while . . . the longer I wait, the larger my collection gets. I've got to start somewhere.
I've previously done around 50 records using an 'inferior' setup, but with fairly respectable results to be honest. They were done using an Audio Technics AT95e on the end of a Technics 1210 mk2 going into a Behringer U-Control UCA222 and utalising the preamps on my Allen & Heath mixer to set levels and avoid clipping etc. For a "DJ" setup the sound recorded was astonishing.
Fast forward a decade or so and my collection has grown quite a lot, so it's time to get started or remain in an undigitalised and somewhat confusing random choice of music a lot of the time. Governed by the time it takes to get a record out, put it on etc. Not necessarily the worst thing in the world. I get to listen to different parts of my collection this way, but if I can get close to the sound of the vinyl using digital, then bring the big vinyl guns out when I feel like it, I think I'll reach a more satisfactory place enabling me to enjoy my collection even more, both digital and vinyl.
So I'm currently in the process of setting everything up starting with cleaning the records (again) . . . . they're pretty much all in mint condition but using my ultrasonic cleaner ensures they are 100% perfect as well as static free.
- The turntable of choice: Audio Technica LP5. Stable, solid, reliable. Silent in operation with a DD motor.
- Cartridge: Technics 270c with nude mounted elliptical stylus. Cheap as chips for what they are (so no problem going through a couple one to do the entire collection). Actually sounds 95% as good as the expensive NOS stylus for these cartridges.
- Phono stage: A custom 6V6 tube rectified jobbie. It's silent (or near as makes no difference on the recording) and gives all the dynamics and clarity as well as the 'lushness' only vinyl through tubes can bring for this budget.
- USB recorder interface: Behringer UMC 202HD. Since i had success with the old UCA222 version I'm sticking with Behringer. Superb value for money and offers adjustable high quality preamps and records in 24 bit 192 sample rates.
- Laptop: Samsung Notebook. Just a stripped down little thing running Audacity software to record. Will run on battery only when recording which drops the noise floor significantly. High quality QED USB cable from interface to notebook.
All settings have been tweaked to optimise notebook for recording, all soundcards, wifi, bluetooth etc have been disabled so it's just purely a recording tool.
Recordings will be made with nothing else on in the room (hopefully the house!) apart from the TT and Phono stage - Notebook running on battery power only.
I'm just waiting for some high quality cables to arrive to go from the phono stage (RCA) into the Behringer interface (XLR/TRS socket). I was going to use XLR adapters but I've decided to do it properly and get a custom RCA to XLR cable as I'm going to great lengths to maximise quality.
I've done a couple of test recordings with a 'cheap' RCA to TRS cable and after setting the gain levels on the interface recording is an absolute doddle.
Initial listening tests are very encouraging and playing some quickly recorded samples back through my hifi via my DAC, they sound wonderful.
I'm interested to hear what other peoples approaches have been to digitalising/ripping vinyl.
My TT does have a simple USB out facility but in my experience the internal analogue to digital converters are pretty poor and you're not able to get the benefits of using a quality phono stage.
Any tips also much appreciated.
I plan to update with my thoughts and a few pics of the gear involved.
It's going to take a while but hopefully worth the effort in the end hopefully!
Cheers
Chris
What if, you could browse your collection of vinyl rips via a tablet then play them through your streamer. However you're enjoying the record so much you want the real deal so you get up off your a*** and go select that mother in pristine condition, fresh as the day you cleaned and ripped it.
This, for me is a dream . . . . it also gives me a real chance to order my collection by genre then alphabetically by artist, the same as I would the rips on my streamer. I can also put a little footnote on the displayed track name, letting me know exactly which section of my storage unit the record can be found. "Unit 1, Shelf B2" . . . for example.
I've been pondering digitalising my vinyl collection for a while . . . the longer I wait, the larger my collection gets. I've got to start somewhere.
I've previously done around 50 records using an 'inferior' setup, but with fairly respectable results to be honest. They were done using an Audio Technics AT95e on the end of a Technics 1210 mk2 going into a Behringer U-Control UCA222 and utalising the preamps on my Allen & Heath mixer to set levels and avoid clipping etc. For a "DJ" setup the sound recorded was astonishing.
Fast forward a decade or so and my collection has grown quite a lot, so it's time to get started or remain in an undigitalised and somewhat confusing random choice of music a lot of the time. Governed by the time it takes to get a record out, put it on etc. Not necessarily the worst thing in the world. I get to listen to different parts of my collection this way, but if I can get close to the sound of the vinyl using digital, then bring the big vinyl guns out when I feel like it, I think I'll reach a more satisfactory place enabling me to enjoy my collection even more, both digital and vinyl.
So I'm currently in the process of setting everything up starting with cleaning the records (again) . . . . they're pretty much all in mint condition but using my ultrasonic cleaner ensures they are 100% perfect as well as static free.
- The turntable of choice: Audio Technica LP5. Stable, solid, reliable. Silent in operation with a DD motor.
- Cartridge: Technics 270c with nude mounted elliptical stylus. Cheap as chips for what they are (so no problem going through a couple one to do the entire collection). Actually sounds 95% as good as the expensive NOS stylus for these cartridges.
- Phono stage: A custom 6V6 tube rectified jobbie. It's silent (or near as makes no difference on the recording) and gives all the dynamics and clarity as well as the 'lushness' only vinyl through tubes can bring for this budget.
- USB recorder interface: Behringer UMC 202HD. Since i had success with the old UCA222 version I'm sticking with Behringer. Superb value for money and offers adjustable high quality preamps and records in 24 bit 192 sample rates.
- Laptop: Samsung Notebook. Just a stripped down little thing running Audacity software to record. Will run on battery only when recording which drops the noise floor significantly. High quality QED USB cable from interface to notebook.
All settings have been tweaked to optimise notebook for recording, all soundcards, wifi, bluetooth etc have been disabled so it's just purely a recording tool.
Recordings will be made with nothing else on in the room (hopefully the house!) apart from the TT and Phono stage - Notebook running on battery power only.
I'm just waiting for some high quality cables to arrive to go from the phono stage (RCA) into the Behringer interface (XLR/TRS socket). I was going to use XLR adapters but I've decided to do it properly and get a custom RCA to XLR cable as I'm going to great lengths to maximise quality.
I've done a couple of test recordings with a 'cheap' RCA to TRS cable and after setting the gain levels on the interface recording is an absolute doddle.
Initial listening tests are very encouraging and playing some quickly recorded samples back through my hifi via my DAC, they sound wonderful.
I'm interested to hear what other peoples approaches have been to digitalising/ripping vinyl.
My TT does have a simple USB out facility but in my experience the internal analogue to digital converters are pretty poor and you're not able to get the benefits of using a quality phono stage.
Any tips also much appreciated.
I plan to update with my thoughts and a few pics of the gear involved.
It's going to take a while but hopefully worth the effort in the end hopefully!
Cheers
Chris
But I am a lazy beggar. 
