I'm using a Gemini MK II direct drive turntable and a USB Phono adapter to record all my vinyl. The raw recordings sound muddy and desperately need to be cleaned up. I don't have a lot of time to baby each recording, so I use AAMS to "master" the recordings, but I'm still not satisfied with the results. What techniques do you guys use to make recordings sound bright and pop/crack free? Software? Hardware? Any pointers or things I should be trying differently?

Well, your recordings are only as good as your source. So if your records are worn, there's no one "magic button" to fix it.

Pops and cracks are usually caused by dirt and dust. Look into a good enzyme to clean the records.

I take a lint free rag and wipe the vinyl before recording to reduce pops/cracks. The pops/cracks I'm talking about are just part of the vinyl and require software to remove.

I know that Audacity has pop/crack removal functionality (and is free), but I can't attest to how good it is. Stuff like that always makes me nervous (anything that takes away sound from a recording).

Also, a lint-free rag may not be enough to get what you can't see, so a specialized solution still might be a viable option. (Couldn't hurt, right?)

Good luck!

What about making the raw recording sound better? Any tips on EQ, compression, etc.?

If don't have experience mastering, i would just try and get the best signal chain. Make sure you go thru a device that adds the RCIAA curve. Be careful using any restoration tools. You will often degrade the recording by using standard pop / hiss / noise / crackle eliminator tools.

___________________
"This is why Superman works alone." GC
old stuff from days gone by (2001-2004)
Mad For Brad's gay little contest

Play them like they were meant to be played and put away the laptop?

___________________
Freak Out Tóng Zhì

There's a software called Cable Guys Vinyl Shaper that has about 20 different filter presets for cleaning up vinyl. It might be worth a shot, but as it's been stated if the source material is shit the end result is gonna be shit no matter what.

___________________
BA-DUM-TSS

quote:

ALFI - BOHICA - DJ MIX (Stream+Dropbox)

The ovbious things to check have been completely ignored. Check you tonearm calibration, check your headshell calibrations (if used), check your stylus isn't worn out, clean your records with cleaning fluid, and make sure your "USB phono adapter" isn't just a cheap RCA to USB interface (as Bustin4Justin suggested, you might not have a RIAA preamp curve which is needed to reproduce vinyl's balance of frequency).

Then after all that, if they still sound shit then buy some less worn out vinyl.

that name is brilliant.

___________________
"This is why Superman works alone." GC
old stuff from days gone by (2001-2004)
Mad For Brad's gay little contest

quote:

Originally posted by Looney4Clooney that name is brilliant.

I thought you might appreciate, but I know you've got about 10 better ones ready to go.