Converting Record Collection?

Just looking for advice on the best way to convert my vinyl record collection and what would be the best program to do this with?
I have used cool edit and normally save as wav files but i need to use compressed files because i have thosands of records to convert.
What would be the best format MP3 at 320 kbps?
I will be recording and doing re-edits of lots of 70's 80's Funk/Soul/Disco/Raregroove stuff so i don't want them to sound to digital, please :help:

Thanks!

 

Heres what works for me...
Record using the shortest signal path possible. If you have TFS v2 you can use the scratch amp as your sound card and go directly from the turntable to your computer. If not, get something like a Rolls phono preamp and use that to go into your sound card. The point is to try and not send the signal thru a mixer or any other gear before it hits your sound card.
Record at the highest quality you can "afford to" given your hard drive space and sound card capabilities.
Leave your self lots of headroom when you record. I usually set my peak gain to the -10 area, you can bring up the volume when you master the file.
Last, run the file thru a compressor/limiter/eq application of your choice, dont go overboard. If you recorded everything as you should have, you'll only need to make some minor adjustments to get the file to sound like the original.
However, if you want to modify the sound of the original file here are some starting points for EQ'ing, play around with them a bit to get what you feel sounds good.

20 Hz and below - impossible to detect, remove as it only adds unnecessary energy to the total sound, thereby most probably holding down the overall volume of the track and muddying it as well.
60 Hz and below - sub bass (feel only)
80(-100) Hz - feel AND hear bass
100-120 Hz - the "club sound system punch" resides here
200 Hz and below - bottom
250 Hz - notch filter here can add thump to a kick drum
150-400 Hz - boxiness
200 Hz-1.5 KHz - punch, fatness, impact
800 Hz-4 KHz - edge, clarity, harshness, defines timbre
4500 Hz - exteremly tiring to the ears, add a slight notch here
5-7 KHz - de-essing is done here
4-9 KHz - brightness, presence, definition, sibilance, high frequency distortion
6-15 KHz - air and presence
9-15 KHz - adding will give sparkle, shimmer, bring out details - cutting will smooth out harshness and darken the mix

60Hz with a Q of 1.4 -- Add fullness to kicks.
100Hz with a Q of 1.0 -- Add fullness to snare
200Hz - 250Hz with a Q of 1.4 -- Adds wood to snares
3Khz with a Q of 1.4 -- Adds atack to snare.
5Khz with a Q of 2.8 -- Adds attack to Kicks
7Khz with a Q of 2.8 -- Adds Sharpness to snares and percussion
10Khz with a Q of 1.0 -- Adds brightness to hats and cymbals

 

Thanks mal1ce, Could you please let me know how i use the TFS v2 as my soundcard, so can i record directly from my turntabe instead of having the record out from my mixer into FS aux in?

Cheers

 

I would like an answer to this question too. I was under the impression that since the turntable is plugged directly into the scratchamp, I was recording via the shortest path to the computer. However, I have my mixer hooked up to aux in on the scratchamp so I may be recording through the mixer. I guess I am still not entirely clear on how this technology works.

 

Just plug your turntable into the scratch amp like you normally would, plug the scratch amp into your computer, then from your computers sound input settings select the scratch amp as your source.
Then just use whatever recording software you like, Soundforge, Cool Edit, etc....

 

Ya, that sounds like you are recording the way the manual says to on page 42, which I believe uses the mixer. Thats the way to record a live set of yourself, but for ripping original copies of your vinyl, use the method I outlined above and just disconnect your mixer.
You will need some sort of recording software on your computer since you wont be using the record feature of the scratch amp, it's strictly a sound card (source in) in my setup.

 

mal1ce, thank you for that detailed information! i think it will be very useful!

:afro:

 

Yeah, thanks for the tips. I already recorded a crate of records (through the mixer I guess). It looks like to do this the right way I need to drop another $250 to $350 on the Cool Edit or Soundforge software. I thought I was through spending money on this project.

 

Ya, you will need some sort of recording software. If you are just going to use it to rip vinyl, I'd get the least expensive package that accepts VST plugin's and then get iZotope Ozone for mastering. Hell, you might even be able to find a freeware sound recorder that takes VST's.
Ozone is the bomb, blows everything else out of the park...trust.
http://izotope.com/products/audio/ozone/

 

Thanks again mal1ce i can't beleive the difference in the sound quality from when i used to record from the mixer into my computers onboard card,
I just set cool edits wave in from the device properties to record from the scratch amp in 1 and it sounds crystal clear and listen back on the scratch amps headphones for an accurate sound, I just got iZotope running in cool edit and some of the presets in there really do some amazing things to some of my old records.

:thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Thanks again

 

I dont understand why the aux input can be switched to an RIAA input, but the gain control on the front of the SA only seems to control the mic preamp!!!???

Signals coming in off my Shure whitelabels seem to be waaay too hot.

Appendix E (page 80) of the manual states that you can go straight into the turntable preamps to record, giving you "the shortest signal path between the output of the turntable and your hard disk". It says nothing about having to buy additional software.

The only way I can figure to do it is to route through a mixer. This method is far from satisfactory as the quality can only ever be as good as your mixer preamps (bad news for Pioneer / Behringer mixer owners hehe).

Can anyone enlighten us.

 

I dont even think you have to plug the turntable into the aux, just leave it plugged into the normal place. then in your audio setup panel within whatever recording program you use. you set the input to be from the scratch amp not from the onboard sound card. the signal will go from the phono in on the SA straight through the firewire cable into your computer. You can even load up Final scratch and record your record in there if you like.

Example below is my cool edit pro set up, the Wave in tab is what you are looking at. Sorry I dont have FS2 plugged in but you will get the picture, just select the Scratch Amp from the drop down list. and you should be set to record at whatever 16bit 44,000 or 24bit 96,000 and whatever between.

 

I read the same thing. Common sense made me wonder if I was recording through the mixer, but the statement in the manual had me convinced I was recording straight to the hard disk. My primary purpose for getting FS2 was to record my record collection.

 

Are you saying I don't need additional software?

If I understand your instructions, I need to find this audio setup panel in Final Scratch and change input settings.

 

With Final Scratch 2 you can record directly from the software.

watch this video the audio is all recorded in FS2

No 3rd party software

 

Yes. You can record in FS2 - but only through your mixer.

 

Page 80 Appendix E - Digitizing your Vinyl

" Your TRAKTOR FS System is perfectly and uniquely suited to record your vinyl records to hard disk. The ScratchAmp contains RIAA correction phono preamps (which transform a phono signal into a normal line level signal) built in and represents the shortest signal path between the output of the turntable and your hard disk possible. A shorter signal path means less possibilities for the signal to pickup noise or distortion (such as from a DJ mixer)..."

The above quote from the manual clearly states that you can record your vinyl to hard disk using your "TRAKTOR FS System." In fact, its "PERFECTLY AND UNIQUELY SUITED" for such.

Either I just don't know how to use this function, or the manual is misleading as hell!

Paragraph 2 states:

"There are 2 ways to record via the ScratchAmp. One is via TRACTOR FS as described in the recording section on page 42. (page 42, I think, basically tells you how to record your entire mix through the mixer) The other way is via any Editing, Sequencing, or Recording software that is available on the market today which allows you to choose various input settings for recording. The software will see the ScratchAmp just as it would a normal soundcard in your computer. Therefore you will able to assign what input of the ScracthAmp you want to record from and record directly into your software at up to 24 bit / 96 kHz resolution."

The last sentence of paragraph 2 says you will be able to assign the input to record directly into "your" software. I guess that means third-party software, and not the software included with Finalscratch 2. Apparently, the FS2 system is only perfectly and uniquely suited to digitize your vinyl if you have other recording software.

 

crazeee 2256 mov

i just have seen the movie .fs2 a great tool for dj's , but my question does fs2 works without problems at live events (in clubs you have some disturbing coefficient : powerfull sound systems ...vibration, smoke.. )
the fs1.5 has some noises because of vibration
can anyone send a post how system works in a real situation(not at studio)?



sorry about my bad english:wallbash:

 

See "First Gig" post in this forum

 

I just got Izotope installed with Wavelab 5 - this looks like a really amazing plugin! Just a question..do you have any recommendations for settings in restoring old vinyl recordings? Thanks!