I was asked to create MP3s from old records.
What is your setup for converting vinyl records to MP3s?
I just tried Audacity and it was easy enough to create “as is” MP3s, but the program seems basic. I also want to remix to improve sound quality of the final MP3 files; and clean up any snap, crackle, and pop as well.
Best software and setups for the task?
The important factors are
1) a QUALITY turntable and pickup. Nothing you can do will correct the sound of a low-end turn table.
2) Either a good photo preamp or a good 24 bit audio interface and software RIAA equalization. Records are recorded with a so called "RIAA equalization" and this MUST be removed. In the old days this was done with an analog circuit inside the phono preamp. Today it can be done in software if you have a very good audio interface. People will argue which is best. But you need one of them.
3) Some way to "deep clean" the vinyl record. This means a wet process and vacuum or at least some vacuum process. again people will argue which is best but you NEED one of them.
4) a quality audio interface. You don't have to spend more then about $150 or $200 but you do need something that can record 24 bits at 96K samples per second. You may not save in this format but if you are going to edit and process you want 24/96.
As for processing you are NOT going to "remix". You can't do that without access to the master tapes in the studio. You can edit out pops and clicks. This is mostly a manual process. Automated software like iZope can help but you have to look at the data and decide what to do. It takes time. I would only remove the worst noticeable ones.
As for software, any reasonable DAW. I have Logic and use that. But even Gargeband will work. The de-noise software would be installed as a plug-in into the DAW and it does not care which DAW it lives in. All the DAW needs to do is allow you to scroll around, look at waveforms and host plug-ins.
Yes Audicity is primitive, Logic or even GB or whatever as long as it supports AU type plugins.
But #1 thing is good turn table system and CLEAN vinyl. No amount of post processing can fix the sound from a junk urn table and dirty records
iZope RX3 is magic. As a test I once recorded a short interview in a bathroom with the blower fan going. It was a loud fan and the tile made a bad echo sound. I was able to just about make it sound good removing the fan noise that was so loud we have to make effort to talk over it and most of the echo too.
The trick to noise removal is to record blanks that have nothing BUT the noise. Just let the recorder roll with no input but the noise source. Then you can characterize it. So be sure and record the space between the tracks of the record as this is very valuable for restoration. You want to study the frequencies of the his and clicks so you remove ONLY that narrow bit of noise.
There are other products like RX3. Most big plug-in companies have a competing product
