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Posted by Barry Pascolutti on 02/15/06 20:55
Colin Mckechnie wrote:
> What card and software do i need? and faq's or websites?
>
I am in the process of transcribing portions of my record collection for
burning to CD. This process may be overkill for you, but maybe not.
Here's what I do:
As others have noted, you can't connect record deck directly to
soundcard, so I go via my home cinema amp: record deck -> phono in on
the amp -> record out from amp -> soundcard.
The soundcard I use is the Creative audigy platinum:
http://www.digit-life.com/articles/audigyplatinumex/ the one with the
break-out box with all the extra inputs and outputs. (Incidentally, I
also use the digital out from the soundcard to a digital input on the
amp for MP3 playback, but that's by the by).
The software I use is Wave Corrector by Ganymede:
http://www.wavecor.co.uk/. I don't let it free to correct the tracks
automatically, as I get a fair number of false positives, and the
resulting tracks just don't sound right. What I do is listen for
particularly crackly portions and then apply the filtering to just those
sections. I record to .wav files rather than MP3. Once I've burned a CD,
I can then rip to MP3 if I want.
Now for the fun bit: the actual transcription. I employ a technique
called "playing wet" (not something from a pr0n film, I promise). I
believe the BBC used to use this technique routinely, and maybe they
still do. What you do is this:
Mix a solution of 39.5% iso-propyl alcohol (available from Maplin), 60%
distilled water and 0.5% washing up liquid. Clean the record as normal.
DO NOT use a cloth, they just push the dirt deeper into the grooves. DO
use a specialist record cleaning brush. These are available from a few
specialist hifi outlets. A google search for "record cleaning brush"
should turn up something, but beware: like all specialist hifi, some of
these things are way expensive. I think I paid £20 for mine.
Then, apply the IPA solution to the surface of the record. Use a very
light camel hair brush (available from art shops). The stuff evaporates
like crazy, so you can only do one track at a time. This you can do with
the record in situ during the transcription, so long as you don't apply
any pressure. You can apply the solution as liberally as you like.
The last step: be amazed at the difference it makes. It obviously can't
clear up scratches and actual damage to the vinyl surface, but it does
do a very good job of lifting dust particles out of the grooves. (You
end up with a dirty stylus afterwards, but this is easy to clean).
HTH,
Baz
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