Topic: Vinyl Digitization Thread

[Chowbotak]

Question:

Am using the Tascam DA3000. What is the best file format to record vinyls if I want to burn the files to CDs for playing on a cd player/transport ? If I use WAV 44.1khz 24 bits, while it be playable? Or must be 16 bits?

[pokingpine]

Question:

Am using the Tascam DA3000. What is the best file format to record vinyls if I want to burn the files to CDs for playing on a cd player/transport ? If I use WAV 44.1khz 24 bits, while it be playable? Or must be 16 bits?

Hope you can do this exercise and provide your opinion and recommendation. Not many are using the DA-3000.

[Chowbotak]

Ok. Don't know much about these stuff. Was burning direct to CDs previously with an older Tascam

[AndrewC]

Question:

Am using the Tascam DA3000. What is the best file format to record vinyls if I want to burn the files to CDs for playing on a cd player/transport ? If I use WAV 44.1khz 24 bits, while it be playable? Or must be 16 bits?

Depends on how you want to play it back; If streamed to a DAC, then best to capture at PCM 24/192 or DSD128 (DSF) - depending on which format your DAC works best with. If you’re targeting to burn CDs, then PCM 16/44.1 

[Chowbotak]

Alrighto. Thanks bro!

[pokingpine]

Depends on how you want to play it back; If streamed to a DAC, then best to capture at PCM 24/192 or DSD128 (DSF) - depending on which format your DAC works best with. If you’re targeting to burn CDs, then PCM 16/44.1 

That's what I do for recording from analogue as well as CDs.

[naimster]

I would go 192/24. It is already tedious to rip from vinyl better to do it right once. 192/24 can still down sample to 16/44 easily using PC. Imagine 2 yrs down the road you have a nice 192/24 dac and you have a need for 192/24.

[Chowbotak]

Bros, reason I asking this question is this. All my vinyls are so far ripped to 24/192. Recently I bot a cd transport. I compared the sound of a cd played on the tpt thru a dac and the sound of the 24/192 played on my streamer thru the same dac and I prefer the sound of the cd.

So now I am wondering if vinyls ripped to CDs will sound better too. Now tat u mentioned tat 24/192 can be down sampled to 16/44 I'll try that first

[naimster]

The problem could be your streamer playback. It’s always easy to get a CD player to sound good than a streamer due to its simplicity.

[jerome_the_lang]

Powering up sequence, digital input locking, and erasing memory, ...

The sequence whereby which digital device is powered up first is important as it fcuking hell affect sound.
Always power up the transport/streamer, and once they are settled, then power up the dac. Sounds better that way.

When switching from one digital input to another on the same dac, subsequently sound will suffer. Always, first switch to that input that you want to play next, then shut down the dac. Then power up the dac again so that it freshly lock on to that desired input. Then it sounds audibly better.

In the case of CD, switch the dac input to receive the data stream from the cd transport first. Remove the cd disc. Shut down the cd transport. Shut down the dac. Power up the transport. Load the CD disc. Let it read toc and settle down. Then power up the dac and let it lock onto the data stream. This way always sound better.
(After shutting down the CD transport - by the power switch on the player, you can also try shutting it down further from the power mains. The memory clean up is even more complete)

As for streamer (in the case of tidal) first switch to the input for streamer on your dac. Play a short song at the end of an album (not the one you actually want to play. I always use the last track of tracy Chapman debut album for this purpose). After that song ends, shut down your dac. Then wait for a few seconds and power up your dac again. The dac will power up and lock automatically to the data stream from the streamer. If you freshly choose your desired track from a freshly chosen album, the music  will sound fresh, opened, and dynamic.

Always remember this: stand alone steamer will automatically cleanse off residue memory if you choose the next subsequent track from another album different from the one you just played before. And coupled with the correct powering up sequence, the sound can be optimised to sound very good.

If you are using the streamer to play files off your server/harddisk/PC, the same issue applies. Except that you need to keep the source where your files are kept constant. Keep to the same source server/harddisk/PC.

(That's because some dac may momentarily lose sync lock when you choose between server/harddisk/PC/TIDAL on the streamer device, and that will affect sound.)

Switch to streamer input on your dac. Play the last track short song from 1 album that is stored on your server/harddisc/PC. When song ends. Shut down dac. Then power up dac again. Choose your desired track from a freshly chosen album folder. This way sound is optimised and will sound fresh, opened, and dynamic.

You may also want to pay attention to a few things while ripping from vinyl to digital.

Always use tap water as the last conditioner before drying off without physical contact with vinyl surface.

Refresh your TT motor (shut down/power up again) if you ever stop/touch the platter while it is rotating for whatever purpose.

Use the dynavector stylus brush before playing any track!

Finally, shut down and restart your digital recording device before making a fresh new recording. Memory retention affect not just playback, but recording/ripping too.

Use battery power if you are using your PC.

Unplug LAN/ethernet cable from the pc while recording/ripping.

Disc fragmentation/harddisk cleanup just prior to recording/ripping a new track helps audibly
..

[BTW]

Wrt to refreshing TT motor.. Just came across this .. The very expensive Linn Radikal TT power supply for the Linn LP 12 can be improved by resetting it.....

https://hifiwigwam.com/forum/topic/134058-doing-a-reset-on-your-linn-radikal-improves-sq/

It's a pity JTL did not copyright this process.. or he'll making $$$ now... 

[Chowbotak]

JTL nattie boy but his advice in audio is certainly worth trying! I hope my teenie Dynavector brush will last until I die sia 

[jerome_the_lang]

You never actually own a Dynavector Brush

You merely look after it for the next generation




 

[Chowbotak]

Who wanna inherit my Dyn brush pl pm me. Or maybe it works for Dyn carts only?