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Couple things on the subject-

I finally have my turntable up and running now that I finally have a good phono preamp and I've been digging through all my old records.

I've come to some conclusions.

1 - London records suck... FFRR or Phase 4 Stereo BLOW! There's so much distortion they're unlistenable. Am I doing something wrong? (I've spent a few hours today adjusting tracking force and cartridge angle, so this shouldn't be it.)

2 - There are some very good things on Vinyl! I just ordered a remaster of Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 with Boston SO/Munch. I think Bernie Grundman must have remastered this one (his initials are inscribed in the inner ring). What a phenomenal job! Scott - if you read this, please let Bernie know I think this is amazing! (Not that he'll care what a clod like myself thinks of it, but fwiw, I have this as well as at least 10 other recordings of it. My favorite until recently has been a Telarc SACD (soundstream repressing) - this KILLS it!)

Anyway - this isn't really a mastering topic per se, but you are the folks that know more about vinyl than anywhere else on this board, so I implore that it be allowed to stay here. please.

Also -

Does anyone have any recommendations of some platters that I just can't or shouldn't live without?

Thanks!

J.

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Comments

Zilla Tue, 01/09/2007 - 11:32

Cucco wrote: ...Saint-Saens Symphony No. 3 with Boston SO/Munch. ...What a phenomenal job! Scott - if you read this, please let Bernie know I think this is amazing!!!

I will pass the compliment on.

Cucco wrote: ...My favorite until recently has been a Telarc SACD (soundstream repressing) - this KILLS it!!!)

As I have probably written before, all things being equal, LP's still sound better than digital releases. At least with good playback equipment, and on the first few dozen spins.

Cucco Tue, 01/09/2007 - 19:59

Zilla wrote: As I have probably written before, all things being equal, LP's still sound better than digital releases. At least with good playback equipment, and on the first few dozen spins.

Well, I won't say I have GREAT LP playback, but the new Pro-Ject (Xpression III with Carbon Fiber Tone Arm and Sumiko Pearl cartridge - soon to be upgraded with a nicer cartridge) is certainly a step up from the Pioneer turntable with built in preamp and fixed tonearm.... :shock: I'm actually quite surprised at how well this budget turntable is built! The motor is stable and the platter is a beast! (Milled aluminum. The turntable weighs as much as my preamp does!)

I'm just glad my pre/pro doesn't digitize all incoming signals than re-convert them going back out. So many on the market nowadays do...How aggregious!

JoeH Sat, 02/17/2007 - 21:49

You guys are nuts. You actually PLAY your LPs?!?? :twisted:

I tossed most of my beat up old vinyl, but I'm converting what's left of my LP collection, (the good stuff) - one at a time, lovingly, carefully, cleaning them up. The long range goal is to put them onto DVD-As at 24/96, with NO conversion to 16/44.

Eventually, I'll play them in my DVD-A/BlueRay combo player (whenever the hell the affordable hybrids start hitting the market - probably late 07) in my living room for that rare experience known as "Listening Pleasure". (yeah, remember that? :-) ) Beyond that, no way could I stand to put up with the overall day-to-day aggro of vinyl. Yeccch. :wink:

JoeH Sun, 02/18/2007 - 19:59

LP to DVD24/96 with no 16/44?? Huh? That's even more nuts.

Why do you say that? What's wrong with doing a hi res transfer, doing all the cleanup and DSP, NR, etc., and just KEEPING it there, instead of dithering and SRC down to 16/44??? (I'd do it DSD if I had some processing/software to do it in.)

Not sure why you'd think that's so nuts......esp with all this talk about how wonderful vinyl is, compared to lowly digital.....??

BRH Mon, 02/19/2007 - 12:56

OK, it's not really so nuts. A lot of hard core archievest do this. But when using declicking plugs, they usually don't work above 48k. If they do work at 96k, there is more to remove.
Is vinyl better than CDs?..........."a good recording, is a good recording, is a good rcording"........

Brooks

JoeH Mon, 02/19/2007 - 13:57

A lot of hard core archievest do this. But when using declicking plugs, they usually don't work above 48k. If they do work at 96k, there is more to remove.

I STILL don't understand your statement. MY software (Sequioa and all of its onboard tools) works well up to 96K and above, and so do the plugs I use, including Algorithmix (make of some of my noise reduction software - including reNOVAtor and their de-noiser and de-clicker software.) I wouldn't bother working at 16/44 for any kind of vinyl or tape restoration - not in the first stages of transfer, level set, & noise reduction work.

Is vinyl better than CDs?..........."a good recording, is a good recording, is a good rcording"........

We're in agreement there. How it was made before it went to either medium - Digital or analog - is far more important.

BRH Mon, 02/19/2007 - 16:42

Sequoia! I'm on a Mac. No Sequoia for me. :( Just can't make that switch. I wish Magix website would tell more about their products, and let me in. Don't seem to be able to download a manual without buying the product or having a serial number. Maybe this is where we are having a communication problem. Most of the restoration plugs like Waves and Oxford work at 48k. Even Oxford's website says their declicker works best at 48k, although it probably will go 96k. Usually I need to make a file from vinyl for someone editing a video or film, mostly temp audio, and we are still at 48k. So I'm probably thinking more about what I do, and you the same. Peace out.

JoeH Mon, 02/19/2007 - 22:54

Sequoia! I'm on a Mac. No Sequoia for me. Just can't make that switch. I wish Magix website would tell more about their products, and let me in. Don't seem to be able to download a manual without buying the product or having a serial number. Maybe this is where we are having a communication problem.

That's possible. They don't do much for non-registered members, although there are plenty of happy Sequoia users around here who would be happy to show you around and what it does. It's native PC, though...no Mac compatibility.

Most of the restoration plugs like Waves and Oxford work at 48k. Even Oxford's website says their declicker works best at 48k, although it probably will go 96k.

Wow, that's hard to believe, but anything's possible, I guess. I've always found that the more info one has, the better those plugs work. (at least that's the case with things like reNOVAtor, CEDAR, etc.)

Usually I need to make a file from vinyl for someone editing a video or film, mostly temp audio, and we are still at 48k. So I'm probably thinking more about what I do, and you the same. Peace out.

Sounds about right. If you ever read some of my older posts, you'd see I'm not a huge vinyl fan anyway. (I'm old enough to comment on it first-hand, and I grew up with the stuff.) I do admit there's something interesting and "musical" about it, but I also maintain there's way too much wishful thinking and rose-glasses nostalgia surrounding everything that's wrong with it. I remember just how BAD it truly was, and I have no desire to jump through all the hoops required to get this dog to speak on a day to day basis. That's why I'll do the occasional, VERY TLC-laden transfers of my favorite stuff onto a high-res format first.

I know I'm not the only one doing this, there are several other guys out there doing this already. It's a lot safer than collecting guns or rare coins, I guess!

Cheers.