All you Audiophiles out there.....a question on converting vinyl to digital

DjSker · 08-11-2014, 10:40 PM

I am going to convert 100's of 12" vinyl records to digital and I am using Roxio NXT Pro. I am saving them as WAV at 48,000 kHz @ 16bits. Is that good enough? If not, what should I save them as?
Thanks for the input in advance!

yzark99 · 08-12-2014, 12:14 AM

As someone who got to do this as a paid project with 70 bad jazz records, I wish you luck and infinite patience. Your settings are good enough, just make 2 copies when you record the music. Nothing sucks as bad as hard drive errors on the recordings that you thought were fine. Also monitor with good headphones.

I would also suggest investing in a noise reduction program to remove clicks, pops, hum, rumble, etc. I was able to take poor-quality records from the 50's and make them listenable; at least to those that like that type of music. It was bad enough recording them the first time; but having to listen again to de-noise them was pure hell. Have fun!

Nor Cal ZL1 · 08-12-2014, 12:33 AM

What is you play back device? If general choose WAV and there should be no compression of data. Otherwise use the highest bit rate allowed by the converter. I suggest 320 bit rate if available. If not choose the highest available.

shibbs · 08-12-2014, 12:50 AM

WAV is going to be absolutely huge file sizes. Hope you've got a lot of HDD space if you're doing hundreds!

DjSker · 08-12-2014, 02:47 AM

Not worried about HDD space. I have about 4 TB of space. I'm using Roxio Sound Editor to clean up the tracks.
I am using a Technics 1200 MK2(turntable) hooked up to a Gemini PDM24S(4 ch mixer) that is hooked up to a Technics SA-GX330 (receiver). I have the Rec Out from the mixer to the mic input on my laptop.
I have the settings at 48000khz @ 16 bits giving me 1536kbps.
I was really wondering if I should try to find software to get me to 24 or 32 bits?

ToolFan66 · 08-12-2014, 07:02 AM

Have fun!! I love vinyl... I have a full record cleaning machine as well..

Nor Cal ZL1 · 08-12-2014, 10:05 AM

What is your sound card in your PC?

DjSker · 08-12-2014, 12:01 PM

I don't think it's a real good one. I look up system information and it's shows me AMD High Definition Audio device.

stoopid · 08-12-2014, 12:51 PM

For the final product you won't need more than 44.1khz/16bit (standard CD resolution). Blind studies have already proven this a few times, higher definition audio is not detectable. Higher bitrate is useful for other music production reasons (studio and home multitracking), but not for casual playback.

That said, since you're doing some post processing having 24bit capture would be useful, then once it's finalized you could drop it to CD quality.

Your onboard audio might be your limitation. You'll need to go into control panel, and advanced sound properties, then recording to see if they allow you to capture at a higher bitrate with the mic/line-in.

Nor Cal ZL1 · 08-12-2014, 03:17 PM

I agree you sound card onboard will likely be your quality limitation. I mis read about your bit depth question as bit rate. You might need external AD/DA audio input for the higher bit depth. A device used to plug a guitar or other sound source that is analog and is converted to digital via it's sound card and then fed into recording software might help. That would take your onboard sound card out of the picture. You will have to see if you software allows choosing the audio input.

For software I use Reaper. It is free to try for 30 days. It accepts onboard and external input.

http://www.reaper.fm

http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/aud...-buying-guide/

DjSker · 08-15-2014, 04:25 PM

Thanks Nor Cal for the links. I need to learn a little more on this. I changed my advanced sound properties ( for playback) to 24 bit/192,000khz. I then started watching a movie and it sounded horrible. There was a lot of (for lack of words) extra noise, maybe background noise, and it sounded like they were always in a bathroom(little echo sound). I have to try this out for the recording and see how it sounds.
I guess I also have to decide if I should get an external audio interface.
I need to do a lot of testing. Kinda stinks because I recorded about 75 records (vinyl) already.

08-11-2014, 10:40 PM	#1
DjSker Drives: 2013 Convertible 2SS RS Manual Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Central NJ Posts: 53 View My Garage	All you Audiophiles out there.....a question on converting vinyl to digital I am going to convert 100's of 12" vinyl records to digital and I am using Roxio NXT Pro. I am saving them as WAV at 48,000 kHz @ 16bits. Is that good enough? If not, what should I save them as? Thanks for the input in advance! __________________

08-12-2014, 12:14 AM	#2
yzark99 I run 2 catch cans... Drives: 2012 1LT SIM Auto Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: OR there Posts: 1,038 View My Garage	As someone who got to do this as a paid project with 70 bad jazz records, I wish you luck and infinite patience. Your settings are good enough, just make 2 copies when you record the music. Nothing sucks as bad as hard drive errors on the recordings that you thought were fine. Also monitor with good headphones. I would also suggest investing in a noise reduction program to remove clicks, pops, hum, rumble, etc. I was able to take poor-quality records from the 50's and make them listenable; at least to those that like that type of music. It was bad enough recording them the first time; but having to listen again to de-noise them was pure hell. Have fun! __________________ Overkill tuned • Air Scoop • CAI • VMAX PTB • JacFab Laminator FX + Extendolator • SOLO Hi-Flo Cats + Cat-Back Exhaust View my top 3 LFX performance mods and more: .

08-12-2014, 02:47 AM	#5
DjSker Drives: 2013 Convertible 2SS RS Manual Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Central NJ Posts: 53 View My Garage	Not worried about HDD space. I have about 4 TB of space. I'm using Roxio Sound Editor to clean up the tracks. I am using a Technics 1200 MK2(turntable) hooked up to a Gemini PDM24S(4 ch mixer) that is hooked up to a Technics SA-GX330 (receiver). I have the Rec Out from the mixer to the mic input on my laptop. I have the settings at 48000khz @ 16 bits giving me 1536kbps. I was really wondering if I should try to find software to get me to 24 or 32 bits? __________________

08-12-2014, 07:02 AM	#6
ToolFan66 Drives: 2011 2SS 6.2L W/RS package Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Colorado Posts: 3,008	Have fun!! I love vinyl... I have a full record cleaning machine as well.. __________________ KooKs LT Headers, Borla S-Type cat back, RotoFab CAI, Bo White PTB, RMCR tune...

08-12-2014, 12:01 PM	#8
DjSker Drives: 2013 Convertible 2SS RS Manual Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Central NJ Posts: 53 View My Garage	I don't think it's a real good one. I look up system information and it's shows me AMD High Definition Audio device. __________________

08-12-2014, 12:33 AM	#3
Nor Cal ZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 1,825	What is you play back device? If general choose WAV and there should be no compression of data. Otherwise use the highest bit rate allowed by the converter. I suggest 320 bit rate if available. If not choose the highest available.

08-12-2014, 12:50 AM	#4
shibbs Captain Gingerbeard Drives: 2012 IOM RS/SS 6MT Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: West Twin Cities, MN Posts: 2,489	WAV is going to be absolutely huge file sizes. Hope you've got a lot of HDD space if you're doing hundreds!

08-12-2014, 10:05 AM	#7
Nor Cal ZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 1,825	What is your sound card in your PC?

08-12-2014, 12:51 PM	#9
stoopid Drives: 4 wheels Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: anyplace, USA Posts: 1,177	For the final product you won't need more than 44.1khz/16bit (standard CD resolution). Blind studies have already proven this a few times, higher definition audio is not detectable. Higher bitrate is useful for other music production reasons (studio and home multitracking), but not for casual playback. That said, since you're doing some post processing having 24bit capture would be useful, then once it's finalized you could drop it to CD quality. Your onboard audio might be your limitation. You'll need to go into control panel, and advanced sound properties, then recording to see if they allow you to capture at a higher bitrate with the mic/line-in.

08-12-2014, 03:17 PM	#10
Nor Cal ZL1 Drives: 2013 ZL1 M6 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 1,825	I agree you sound card onboard will likely be your quality limitation. I mis read about your bit depth question as bit rate. You might need external AD/DA audio input for the higher bit depth. A device used to plug a guitar or other sound source that is analog and is converted to digital via it's sound card and then fed into recording software might help. That would take your onboard sound card out of the picture. You will have to see if you software allows choosing the audio input. For software I use Reaper. It is free to try for 30 days. It accepts onboard and external input. http://www.reaper.fm http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/aud...-buying-guide/

08-15-2014, 04:25 PM	#11
DjSker Drives: 2013 Convertible 2SS RS Manual Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Central NJ Posts: 53 View My Garage	Thanks Nor Cal for the links. I need to learn a little more on this. I changed my advanced sound properties ( for playback) to 24 bit/192,000khz. I then started watching a movie and it sounded horrible. There was a lot of (for lack of words) extra noise, maybe background noise, and it sounded like they were always in a bathroom(little echo sound). I have to try this out for the recording and see how it sounds. I guess I also have to decide if I should get an external audio interface. I need to do a lot of testing. Kinda stinks because I recorded about 75 records (vinyl) already. __________________