Archiving my records in digital format

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Posted by blacknoizybox on Oct-11-2008 11:27:

Archiving my records in digital format

Planning to archive my records in digital format. Which way is better sound-quality-wise? (see pic below)

P.S. I have a Nuo2 + T.120C + Juli@ like on the pic

Posted by Domesticated on Oct-12-2008 12:05:

I tried to do this a while ago but then realised just how incredibly time consuming it is, even with a very small amount of records.

If you can find it in wave format on the internet, buy it again and download. If not, rip it.

Posted by blacknoizybox on Oct-12-2008 15:07:

mate, I wasn't asking whether to rip my records or buy them online. I was asking which way to rip 'em is better in terms of sound quality.

I just can't make up my mind. What signal is better: a phono-level signal amplified by an Ecler mixer and sent to my soundcard or a phono-level signal amplified by the turntable's internal electronics to a line-level signal and sent to my soundcard (or the extreme way - phono-level signal right to my soundcard with further amplification in Audacity/Audition etc).

Posted by skip on Oct-12-2008 17:42:

i'd go with the third option as i'd think the riaa pre-amp on the nuo 2 is of better quality than on your TT. i'd also suggest on getting a good cart with a needle that isn't worn out and to clean your vinyls really well.

Posted by blacknoizybox on Oct-12-2008 18:43:

quote:
Originally posted by skip
i'd go with the third option as i'd think the riaa pre-amp on the nuo 2 is of better quality than on your TT. i'd also suggest on getting a good cart with a needle that isn't worn out and to clean your vinyls really well.

very good answer. i would like to hear more opinions like this one..

oh, i forgot to mention I'm using Shure M35X carts

Posted by skip on Oct-12-2008 19:40:

quote:
Originally posted by blacknoizybox
very good answer. i would like to hear more opinions like this one..

oh, i forgot to mention I'm using Shure M35X carts

i got a grado dj200i cart just for digitizing my vinyls. i also have shure m35x carts. i've been thinking about making a side to side comparison between them some day. still haven't got round to it though. maybe i can do that next week, if i can find the time.

i don't have any clear idea on the sound quality differences between the two carts, so it would be interesting for myself also.

Posted by skip on Oct-16-2008 20:26:

quote:
Originally posted by skip
i got a grado dj200i cart just for digitizing my vinyls. i also have shure m35x carts. i've been thinking about making a side to side comparison between them some day. still haven't got round to it though. maybe i can do that next week, if i can find the time.

i don't have any clear idea on the sound quality differences between the two carts, so it would be interesting for myself also.

did the comparison then. grado dj200i versus shure m35x.

gear used:
xone:92 rotary
2x tech mk5's
xlr to trs cables to an alesis io|2
recorded with audacity on windows xp

the sound quality difference isn't very big at all. the shure sounds a bit more harsh to my ears and the grado has better/more bass to it. the highs on the shure sound a bit too ear piercing i'd say, which i really dislike. but then it sounds like the shure has less surface noise than the grado.

the shure needle is almost brand new and the grado has been used for a while.

all of this is based on one tune only as i don't really have time to test each and every one of my records.

conclusion:
shure sounds better than i thought, but i'll still digitize my vinyls with the grado. dunno if i'd actually buy the grado if i knew how small the sound quality difference between the two carts is. if i'd only have the shures atm, i think i'd go buy a true hi-fi cart for digitizing my vinyls and not the grado.

anyway, here are samples of the tunes:
[[ LINK REMOVED ]]

[[ LINK REMOVED ]]

oh, and the tune is jaimy & kenny d - fractured playground if anyone wants to know.

Posted by blacknoizybox on Oct-17-2008 09:56:

i choose option #3

Posted by Domesticated on Oct-22-2008 08:55:

quote:
Originally posted by blacknoizybox
mate, I wasn't asking whether to rip my records or buy them online. I was asking which way to rip 'em is better in terms of sound quality.

I understand that. I was just trying to make you aware that whichever method you choose, it is a very long road.

Posted by b1acknoizyb0x on Oct-23-2008 05:21: