Who has digitised their vinyl?

[davedotco]

Even when mounted on a very stable turntable setup, I found with reasonably heavy use that hi-end moving coil cartridges needed re-setting every month or two.

I'm talking top end Koetsu and Kiseki models here, the issue was variable compliance as the 'suspension' seemed to vary (loosen) with wear. Resetting VTA and tracking weight was essential.

Relevant in the sense that a digital recording, made when all the settings were 'spot on', could be made and would not be subject to variation. Lesser players, LP12s for example, would benefit as recordings could be made immediately after a 'reset', with the player sounding at it's best/

good advice..us with lesser turntables! Need help! There doesn't seem to be a any adjustment on my 78 player? I tried a toothpick instead of steel pin..and polished the cabinet.i found Mr sheen gave more 'air' around the instruments but Tesco own brand gave a tad more soundstage!

Most people have to manage with what they are 'given'.

BTW. If you have a belt drive player, be sure to use Pledge on the belt, absolutely not the stuff mentioned above. Oh, and never polish the perspex cover if your player has one, that will really screw things up.

 

[drummerman]

Me thinks some folks on here really don't get it (the ones that say that a digital copy of a vinyl record is exactly the same).

That may be so at the time of recording. Now if you change your cartridge or the stylus was worn out, hell, even a change of downforce can make a record sound different.

So, you may get an 'exact copy' of your pressing at the time of recording but that is it. Any change in the turntable hardware and/or settings will change the sound.

You do not get that by 'digitising' records plus, imho, completely misses the point (other than in my other post in the thread, if, for example you want to preserve something very rare or plan to give up on vinyl).

You are aware that you are allowed to digitise your vinyl more than once?

Aren't you?

I understand that there is more to 'listening to vinyl' than just listening to the music, but really?

I had to realign my cartridge every few months to preserve the sound quality, now if I just had some way of preserving that sound when the settings were absolutely spot on...*unknw*

Vinyl, like analogue tape is an 'organic' medium. Things change, things deteriote.

If you (anyonone, not particularely you) is not willing to work on it, then the format is wasted.

Half the fun is changing cartridges or stilii. Now, I am not a habitua tinkerer and tend to keep a cartridge on the arm for a while but I have a few and ever so often I change one. Differences are easily audible.

I wouldn't particularely fancy 'digitising' my collection every time I make a change, whats the point?

I'd rather just buy a cd or download and be done with it.

Its like having a nice sports car in the garage and not wanting to take it for a drive because you may have to clean it again.

Absolutely pointless. - If you have vinyl, play it. Otherwise you may just as well get rid ot it.

 

[keeper of the quays]

Even when mounted on a very stable turntable setup, I found with reasonably heavy use that hi-end moving coil cartridges needed re-setting every month or two.

I'm talking top end Koetsu and Kiseki models here, the issue was variable compliance as the 'suspension' seemed to vary (loosen) with wear. Resetting VTA and tracking weight was essential.

Relevant in the sense that a digital recording, made when all the settings were 'spot on', could be made and would not be subject to variation. Lesser players, LP12s for example, would benefit as recordings could be made immediately after a 'reset', with the player sounding at it's best/

good advice..us with lesser turntables! Need help! There doesn't seem to be a any adjustment on my 78 player? I tried a toothpick instead of steel pin..and polished the cabinet.i found Mr sheen gave more 'air' around the instruments but Tesco own brand gave a tad more soundstage!

Most people have to manage with what they are 'given'.

 

BTW. If you have a belt drive player, be sure to use Pledge on the belt, absolutely not the stuff mentioned above. Oh, and never polish the perspex cover if your player has one, that will really screw things up.

yes I Was being facetious...dont use anything other than water to clean your turntable..distilled I suppose..re belt? French chalk may help or Pop belt in pan of boiling water for ten seconds..this shrinks it slightly if it slipping? Worth a punt?

 

[davedotco]

Me thinks some folks on here really don't get it (the ones that say that a digital copy of a vinyl record is exactly the same).

That may be so at the time of recording. Now if you change your cartridge or the stylus was worn out, hell, even a change of downforce can make a record sound different.

So, you may get an 'exact copy' of your pressing at the time of recording but that is it. Any change in the turntable hardware and/or settings will change the sound.

You do not get that by 'digitising' records plus, imho, completely misses the point (other than in my other post in the thread, if, for example you want to preserve something very rare or plan to give up on vinyl).

You are aware that you are allowed to digitise your vinyl more than once?

Aren't you?

I understand that there is more to 'listening to vinyl' than just listening to the music, but really?

I had to realign my cartridge every few months to preserve the sound quality, now if I just had some way of preserving that sound when the settings were absolutely spot on...*unknw*

Vinyl, like analogue tape is an 'organic' medium. Things change, things deteriote.

If you (anyonone, not particularely you) is not willing to work on it, then the format is wasted.

Half the fun is changing cartridges or stilii. Now, I am not a habitua tinkerer and tend to keep a cartridge on the arm for a while but I have a few and ever so often I change one. Differences are easily audible.

I wouldn't particularely fancy 'digitising' my collection every time I make a change, whats the point?

I'd rather just buy a cd or download and be done with it.

Its like having a nice sports car in the garage and not wanting to take it for a drive because you may have to clean it again.

Absolutely pointless. - If you have vinyl, play it. Otherwise you may just as well get rid ot it.

Stereotypical rubbish. Sports cars FFS...*dash1*

Vinyl sounds fantastic, but has two drawbacks. Firstly really good vinyl playback is expensive, secondly vinyl players need attention, that is very much part of the package.

I used to have no problem with either of these issues, but since leaving the industry the hi-fi has become much less important than the music. I sold my vinyl setup, hardware + software some 15-16 years ago and am not in the slightest bothered.

I no longer even buy CDs, everything is streamed. I don't, in the main, listen to modern 'pop' music so the loudness 'wars' do not bother me, the shear choice from Spotify (or similar) is, for me impossible to ignore.

 

[drummerman]

Me thinks some folks on here really don't get it (the ones that say that a digital copy of a vinyl record is exactly the same).

That may be so at the time of recording. Now if you change your cartridge or the stylus was worn out, hell, even a change of downforce can make a record sound different.

So, you may get an 'exact copy' of your pressing at the time of recording but that is it. Any change in the turntable hardware and/or settings will change the sound.

You do not get that by 'digitising' records plus, imho, completely misses the point (other than in my other post in the thread, if, for example you want to preserve something very rare or plan to give up on vinyl).

You are aware that you are allowed to digitise your vinyl more than once?

Aren't you?

I understand that there is more to 'listening to vinyl' than just listening to the music, but really?

I had to realign my cartridge every few months to preserve the sound quality, now if I just had some way of preserving that sound when the settings were absolutely spot on...*unknw*

Vinyl, like analogue tape is an 'organic' medium. Things change, things deteriote.

If you (anyonone, not particularely you) is not willing to work on it, then the format is wasted.

Half the fun is changing cartridges or stilii. Now, I am not a habitua tinkerer and tend to keep a cartridge on the arm for a while but I have a few and ever so often I change one. Differences are easily audible.

I wouldn't particularely fancy 'digitising' my collection every time I make a change, whats the point?

I'd rather just buy a cd or download and be done with it.

Its like having a nice sports car in the garage and not wanting to take it for a drive because you may have to clean it again.

Absolutely pointless. - If you have vinyl, play it. Otherwise you may just as well get rid ot it.

Stereotypical rubbish. Sports cars FFS...*dash1*

Vinyl sounds fantastic, but has two drawbacks. Firstly really good vinyl playback is expensive, secondly vinyl players need attention, that is very much part of the package.

I used to have no problem with either of these issues, but since leaving the industry the hi-fi has become much less important than the music. I sold my vinyl setup, hardware + software some 15-16 years ago and am not in the slightest bothered.

I no longer even buy CDs, everything is streamed. I don't, in the main, listen to modern 'pop' music so the loudness 'wars' do not bother me, the shear choice from Spotify (or similar) is, for me impossible to ignore.

Fantastic and I am (really) happy for you

Mind, don't you use two small active speakers on your desk? - If so, I can understand you don't want to sit right in front of a turntable plus it seems to come with the territory that once you go 'active' you are automatically supposed to join Apple and give up on any 'legacy' hifi ... .

Cool

 

[davedotco]

That matters these days, not the hi-fi.

When I sold my analogue system, it was replaced by a digital playback system costing less than half the price. I was lucky enough to be 'given' a very nice amp and speakers, which I still have, though do not use. The advent of streaming, plus a period of domestic instability forced a change in my listening habits.

My desktop system is now serving as my main system and involves 2 bob (£100) active speakers fed from an AEX, sometimes with, sometimes without a separate dac. My listening is pretty non-critical in the hi-fi sense, the ability to explore Spotify for music outside my 'normal' preference is far more important. The setup is due for a modest upgrade as I am more settled and have a little more space, but don't worry, I will tell you all about it.

Snipe all you want, but the reality is that I listen to more music over a far greater range than was ever the case with my hi-performance analogue system, so yes, I am happy, and surprisingly, not at all bothered whether that happiness gets your 'approval' or not.

 

[keeper of the quays]

I have legacy hifi and it's fab! Big heavy equipment..looks the business..but I must admit my iPod touch (albeit through my big heavy amp and reference speakers) sounds very good? I wired up my t amp and this funny plastic cheap thing makes a mockery of legacy hifi...modern stuff iPod or t amp or tiny speakers on desk with sub underneath..via computer is very persuasive...and as I said before mp3 can sound good..really good!

 

[davedotco]

I have legacy hifi and it's fab! Big heavy equipment..looks the business..but I must admit my iPod touch (albeit through my big heavy amp and reference speakers) sounds very good? I wired up my t amp and this funny plastic cheap thing makes a mockery of legacy hifi...modern stuff iPod or t amp or tiny speakers on desk with sub underneath..via computer is very persuasive...and as I said before mp3 can sound good..really good!

A very personal one anyway.

Modern, 'mainstream' hi-fi really came into being in the early 70s. The first hi-fi boom meant that almost anything could be sold, and mostly was. Wretched equipment from all the 'big' manufactures and even worse product from some of the great names of british hifi, remember Armstrong, Goodmans, Leak, and half a dozen others?

The first genuinely good system that I heard was in the mid /late 70s, I was doing some studio work at the time and I heard a friends system comprising an early Linn/Grace/Supex, Naim 12s/250 and a pair of Quad electrostatics.

This was the first system I ever heard that actually sounded better than the studio, sure it was scaled for domestic listening but in terms of openness, insight and shear believability it left the studios for dead.

Over the next 40 or so years there has been some genuinely outstanding equipment, but the 'best' has always been the best by making the most of the technology available at the time.

 

[keeper of the quays]

I have legacy hifi and it's fab! Big heavy equipment..looks the business..but I must admit my iPod touch (albeit through my big heavy amp and reference speakers) sounds very good? I wired up my t amp and this funny plastic cheap thing makes a mockery of legacy hifi...modern stuff iPod or t amp or tiny speakers on desk with sub underneath..via computer is very persuasive...and as I said before mp3 can sound good..really good!

A very personal one anyway.

Modern, 'mainstream' hi-fi really came into being in the early 70s. The first hi-fi boom meant that almost anything could be sold, and mostly was. Wretched equipment from all the 'big' manufactures and even worse product from some of the great names of british hifi, remember Armstrong, Goodmans, Leak, and half a dozen others?

The first genuinely good system that I heard was in the mid /late 70s, I was doing some studio work at the time and I heard a friends system comprising an early Linn/Grace/Supex, Naim 12s/250 and a pair of Quad electrostatics.

This was the first system I ever heard that actually sounded better than the studio, sure it was scaled for domestic listening but in terms of openness, insight and shear believability it left the studios for dead.

Over the next 40 or so years there has been some genuinely outstanding equipment, but the 'best' has always been the best by making the most of the technology available at the time.

 

 

 

I used to have a leak stereo 20 hifi..good stuff! Think the national grid liked it too! Lol

 

[Electro]

Everybody that owns a Devaliet amplifier. *smile*

http://www.stereophile.com/content/devialet-d-premier-da-integrated-amplifier-phono-stage#1xCOahaxF8PurCB2.97

 

[drummerman]

'Digitising' analogue inputs ... nop.

I don't care how carefully its done I would want analogue handled as such. There are quite a few amplifiers around that do the conversion thing, some better than others but its beside the point ... to me.

Such an amplifier is probably preferable if your main diet consists of digital files to keep them in the digital domain.

Ideally, imo, an amp should be able to do both ... keep digital that way the entire way from input to output and the same with analogue.

 

[davedotco]

I have legacy hifi and it's fab! Big heavy equipment..looks the business..but I must admit my iPod touch (albeit through my big heavy amp and reference speakers) sounds very good? I wired up my t amp and this funny plastic cheap thing makes a mockery of legacy hifi...modern stuff iPod or t amp or tiny speakers on desk with sub underneath..via computer is very persuasive...and as I said before mp3 can sound good..really good!

A very personal one anyway.

Modern, 'mainstream' hi-fi really came into being in the early 70s. The first hi-fi boom meant that almost anything could be sold, and mostly was. Wretched equipment from all the 'big' manufactures and even worse product from some of the great names of british hifi, remember Armstrong, Goodmans, Leak, and half a dozen others?

The first genuinely good system that I heard was in the mid /late 70s, I was doing some studio work at the time and I heard a friends system comprising an early Linn/Grace/Supex, Naim 12s/250 and a pair of Quad electrostatics.

This was the first system I ever heard that actually sounded better than the studio, sure it was scaled for domestic listening but in terms of openness, insight and shear believability it left the studios for dead.

Over the next 40 or so years there has been some genuinely outstanding equipment, but the 'best' has always been the best by making the most of the technology available at the time.

I used to have a leak stereo 20 hifi..good stuff! Think the national grid liked it too! Lol

The old valve stuff was first class, I am talking about the rubbish inflicted on the unsuspecting buyer in the 1970s.

Abominations like this...