Author Topic: Analog -> Digital Conversion Equipment (Read 7273 times)

fishmansvacuum · « **on:** February 16, 2006, 12:52:08 PM »

I am going to need to do a TON of analong -> digital converting over the next few months/years...tapes/records to digital(cd) format....what is the BEST stuff to get for it? What are the EASIEST things to get for it?

all advice is greatly appreciated!!

pfife · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2006, 12:55:58 PM »

sbm-1?

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2006, 01:16:35 PM »

Budget?

JasonR · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2006, 01:24:42 PM »

If you're converting any vinyl, either invest in a record cleaning machine (nittygrittyinc.com, vpiindustries.com, etc.), or bring your records to a local store that cleans records. Most good used record stores have one to clean their own inventory, and will often clean one of yours for around $1.00. It's well worth it considering that any noise from that single playback will be immortalized digitally.

- Jason

Roving Sign · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2006, 01:34:09 PM »

Anyone know the hot record cleaner these days?

I have...too much...vinyl...

tilomagnet · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2006, 02:18:35 PM »

What is your budget?

It's really necessary that you get a good tape deck/turntable, because this will have the biggest impact on the quality of the result. Then you want to perform the A/D conversion outside of the computer, so you'll also need an external A/D converter and a soundcard that has digital inputs. If you have a DAT recorder you could use it as A/D converter by just passing the signal through it.

You want to run something like that: Tape deck/turntable> A/D converter> digital cable> PC

fishmansvacuum · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2006, 02:21:13 PM »

budget is unlimited...let me be a bit more clear....a rather well known friend of mine has a VERY extensive tape/record collection that he wants to convert to digital media...cd's...

he asked me if i'd figure out what the best stuff was for this...

bgalizio · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2006, 02:28:55 PM »

My Dad has a Nitty Gritty record cleaner. The difference is amazing. Ever records that appear to be clean can be cleaned up more and sound better. Well worth the investment.

tilomagnet · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2006, 03:02:22 PM »

Quote from: fishmansvacuum on February 16, 2006, 02:21:13 PM

budget is unlimited...let me be a bit more clear....a rather well known friend of mine has a VERY extensive tape/record collection that he wants to convert to digital media...cd's...

he asked me if i'd figure out what the best stuff was for this...

It's probably a good idea to check first if some of the shows have been transfered already. Are any of those tapes masters or low gens?

For analog transfers Nakamichis are the best tape decks. Of the 'classic' Nak decks the CR-7 and the Dragon are more than $500 in good condition, the other high end Naks(ZX 7, ZX 9 etc.) are (a bit) cheaper, but in general you may need to have the deck serviced before you can use them for transfers unless the seller had done that recently. As I said you can use for example a DAT recorder for the A/D conversion. The Audiophile 24/96 is a cheap bit-perfect soundcard.

fishmansvacuum · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2006, 05:04:27 PM »

well, i am also trying to avoid the cassette->DAT if possible and run it right into my computer....i've got a ghetto version on my computer now and am trying to see what other options there are...

Kyle · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2006, 05:13:35 PM »

From what I understand about Nak decks, is that the 'data' is recorded on a narrower 'band' on the tape, unlike a non-Nak machine which uses the entire width of the tape. I think upon playback if the tape was not recorded on a Nak, information may be lost if a Nak deck is used. Does that make sense? I think this info is correct but I may be wrong.....

I like the Tascam 122 mk II/mk III cassette decks for transfer - great metering, XLR in/out, easy azimuth adjustment, dd motors, etc...

good luck transferring!

o yea - make sure youi get a good phono pre-amp

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2006, 05:34:51 PM »

Quote from: fishmansvacuum on February 16, 2006, 02:21:13 PM

budget is unlimited...

If this is truly the case, I'd recommend sending the recordings to a reputable pro operation and skip the whole DIY thing.

fishmansvacuum · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2006, 05:36:01 PM »

Quote from: Brian Skalinder on February 16, 2006, 05:34:51 PM

Quote from: fishmansvacuum on February 16, 2006, 02:21:13 PM
budget is unlimited...

If this is truly the case, I'd recommend sending the recordings to a reputable pro operation and skip the whole DIY thing.

yeah...i had mentioned that....the person in question quite enjoys the process and wants to do it themself

JasonR · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2006, 05:44:16 PM »

Is the budget truly unlimited? You realize that you could easily spend around $100k on a turntable alone if that's the case. Never mind the cartridge, phono preamp, A>D, record cleaning system, etc.

If there really aren't financial limitations, consider placing some artificially based on the quality of the playback rig (speakers, amps, preamp, cd/dvd-audio player, etc).

- Jason

fishmansvacuum · « **Reply #14 on:** February 16, 2006, 05:47:23 PM »

ok fine...let's say that the person in question would like to keep it all in a "reasonable" price range...in this case, reasonable will mean under $2500 though that's just for arguements sake....

it-goes-to-eleven · « **Reply #15 on:** February 16, 2006, 06:04:37 PM »

Ok.. We've gone from 'unlimited' to "quite limited"

To do this fairly well, I'd want an LP12 with at least an ittok tonearm and a decent cartidge. Then you need a good phono pre and the A/D.

tilomagnet · « **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2006, 03:52:46 AM »

Quote from: Kyle on February 16, 2006, 05:13:35 PM

From what I understand about Nak decks, is that the 'data' is recorded on a narrower 'band' on the tape, unlike a non-Nak machine which uses the entire width of the tape. I think upon playback if the tape was not recorded on a Nak, information may be lost if a Nak deck is used. Does that make sense? I think this info is correct but I may be wrong.....

I think that's a general problem when it comes to playback tapes that were recorded on another deck, isn't it? You'll only get the best sound if you playback the cassette on the deck it was recorded on. That's why you want to adjust the azimuth, you can try to match the azimuth of the original recording deck on your playback deck and get similar results.

Quote from: Kyle on February 16, 2006, 05:13:35 PM

I like the Tascam 122 mk II/mk III cassette decks for transfer - great metering, XLR in/out, easy azimuth adjustment, dd motors, etc...

That's certainly a great deck. I think you can still have this deck serviced relatively cheap while that becomes more and more problematic with Nak decks. Here in Europe the situation is even worse, that's why I sold my ZX-7 sometime ago and bought a Revox B-215 that I now use for transfers.

heath · « **Reply #17 on:** February 20, 2006, 08:20:28 PM »

we should talk when you come into pittsburgh. you realize i do this for a living, don't you?

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #18 on:** February 20, 2006, 08:32:27 PM »

you love being stuck in a cave dont you, either at work or at home, you are a hermit

id just get a modsbm1 for the A/D conversion, for the money, it cant be beat, unless he wants to do 24-bit

heath · « **Reply #19 on:** February 20, 2006, 08:48:17 PM »

hermit my ass! i just don't go to concerts, but I'm out all the time

F.O.Bean · « **Reply #20 on:** February 20, 2006, 08:51:44 PM »

Quote from: heath on February 20, 2006, 08:48:17 PM

hermit my ass! i just don't go to concerts, but I'm out all the time

just never wanna hang w/ us geeky tapers huh?

if you came out friday, you could have helped swampy babysit me

did you sell the brick?

Kyle · « **Reply #21 on:** February 20, 2006, 10:10:06 PM »

Quote from: Bean on February 20, 2006, 08:51:44 PM

did you sell the brick?

Let's go get it from him Bean - he surely doesn't need it anymore

rowjimmy · « **Reply #22 on:** February 22, 2006, 02:14:28 PM »

shoot, you had to go and limit the budget before i could drop this on ya.
After properly cleaning the records, run them through this:
http://www.elpj.com/

it-goes-to-eleven · « **Reply #23 on:** February 22, 2006, 03:15:55 PM »

You'd think some brainiac could figure out a way to do the laser TT at low cost as a DIY. Though it does look pretty trick..

udovdh · « **Reply #24 on:** February 23, 2006, 12:22:59 PM »

A good external ADC and via S/PDIF or AES/EBU to the PC.

I would suggest a DBX Quantum (can also don some processing before transfer to the PC) and an M-Audio soundcard.
Maybe some software on the PC if you don't do all on the Quantum.

bconnolly · « **Reply #25 on:** February 23, 2006, 12:33:18 PM »

Quote from: rowjimmy on February 22, 2006, 02:14:28 PM

shoot, you had to go and limit the budget before i could drop this on ya.
After properly cleaning the records, run them through this:
http://www.elpj.com/

I'll take two please. "I got two laser tables and a microphone."

612 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 23, 2006, 01:48:05 PM »

Quote from: mojomonkee on February 23, 2006, 12:33:18 PM

I'll take two please. "I got two laser tables and a microphone."

haha... that thing is pretty sick.

rowjimmy · « **Reply #27 on:** February 24, 2006, 08:30:34 AM »

Personally I'm intrigued by their new 'declicker'.

Back on topic tho, a reasonable -> high quality phono pre-amp > external sound device w/ a/d such as an m-audio audiophile.

You can spend up to $20,000 on fancy RIAA tube driven preamps but you can get quality for a few hundred. As for the a/d & soundcard, I prefer an external solution because it is less prone to em interference, imo.

Author Topic: Analog -> Digital Conversion Equipment (Read 7273 times)

Roving Sign