Phew - what a thread ! Not sure if I followed it all and I'm still a little fuzzy about the differences between "normalisation", "amplification", "replay gain (et al)". Anyway, I've ripped a couple of hundred vinyl LPs now with very varying results. Kit used is Linn LP12/ Helius Arm / Goldring MC into a NAD phono pre-amp and thence to an M Audio soundcard. I've used Audacity to rip at 24/48 in FLAC which seemed a good compromise between sound quality and disc space.
Observations; Make sure the record is clean ! Many of mine had been in storage for years and came out riddled with static and then attracted dust, so lots of clicks and pops. I tried a professional record cleaning service for a couple of LPs with good results, but at £2 a go it is expensive. Now I just do the best I can with brushes etc. One of the things I don't like about Audacity (1.3) is that the record level meters don't hold peak levels - this makes it more difficult to set good recording levels. The other is that its noise removal option really degrades low level signals. I've stopped using it. However the click removal is a lot better though the settings are difficult to understand - so lots of trial and error. What is the difference between Audacity's "normalisation" and "amplification". I've tried the latter and the software seems to work out how short of 0db the peaks are and then amplify the rest of the track to bring it up to maximum non-clipping level. So could I just record at any relatively low level (and thus not be concerned about peaks) and then amplify ? Results - as varied as the LPs themselves. Good ones sound fine (and noticeably more "organic" than CD sources). Poor ones are, well, poor. At times it has made me want to upgrade my vinyl kit and start again, but reality looms and I feel the convenience of my SB3 and dearth of new vinyl swings the balance away from the Linn etc. It will go once I've ripped the other 300 LPs. If anyone can comment on the "normalisation" / "amplification" issue I'd be grateful. I'm also thinking of using Album Gain in future - does this seem a good idea ? Cheers -- liffy99 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ liffy99's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=7832 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21836
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