Digitizing and sharing records on a shoestring budget

[VintageTechnologies]

The advent of the Internet and public web hosting has spurred record collectors to share their sonic rarities with the world, and that is wonderful if you have an insatiable appetite for such. Rare records undreamed of a few years ago are now accessible to be heard for free!

Various approaches have been tried for sharing. Some people go the multimedia route and film records playing on an original phonograph; as the record plays, they pan around the phonograph, resulting in a visual feast but capturing an uneven sound. Others mount the camera on a tripod and capture a more consistent sound. Still yet others concentrate solely on the music and upload only the sound files. There is no right or wrong way, only a way that best serves our purpose. In my case, I am more concerned to accurately capture and share the sound itself than visual imagery.

I have early 78's that I want to digitize in order to share them. There are basically only two ways to do that, either to record with a microphone or to record with an electric pickup. Each has some pros and cons. There is an authenticity to recording an old phonograph with a microphone, but there is sound hidden in the grooves that will not be fully revealed due to limitations of the reproducer, horn, room ambiance and the microphone. So, I am convinced that a direct electric pickup will extract the fullest and most natural sound the grooves have to offer. Unfortunately, the sensitive pickup also reveals more surface noise than a mechanical reproducer, and that noise must be dealt with!

Most of us don't have the resources of time, money, experience, exotic turntables, multiple stylii, digital processors, computers, software, etc. to match the professional results of Ward Marston or Archeophone Records, but it is possible to create very listenable digital recordings on a shoestring budget, just as I have.

After much experimentation, I gave up trying to connect a turntable or stereo amplifier to a computer through its sound card. They just don't match up well. For a number of reasons, the results ranged from mediocre to terrible - the sounds were distorted or sounded tinny. Instead, I found an ideal solution on Amazon for only 30 dollars! It is called a USB Audio Interface. It is a little "black box", an analog to digital converter that links a turntable or amplifier to the computer through the computer's USB connection. Free recording software called "Audacity" can be downloaded from the Internet for computers running Windows, Mac OS, or even Linux. I'll be honest, the "Audacity" software takes some time to learn, but you need to learn only a fraction of it to make and clean up recordings.

Direct link to the USB Audio Interface on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UFO202- ... 3X3ZEZYRD1

Direct link to Audacity software website:

http://www.audacityteam.org/

All you really need is an old turntable, some audio cables, a computer, some free recording software and the $30 USB Audio Interface.

After I make a digital recording, I also use "Audacity" to clean up the sound by running it through a graphic equalizer to trim rumble and hum from the low end, and surface hiss from the high end. I remove as much as I can without altering or muffling the clear tones of the recording. "Audacity" also removes clicks and can be used to change the speed of a recording. I can't vary the speed of a turntable, but I can accomplish the same end result using "Audacity".

I have posted some recordings on the Internet which you can hear or download by clicking here: https://app.box.com/s/e6vwco64b7i33dzrumdew99lf40jcevi

[audiophile102]

I too have digitized recordings and it's fun. My favorite software is Goldwave. http://www.goldwave.com/ It's not cheep, but if you really want to spend some time editing I think it's the way to go. Thanks for posting this.

[WDC]

Just a quick remark, there is another fantastic free wave editor available, called ocenaudio. It's not perfect but its handling is way better than any other free software I could find:

http://www.ocenaudio.com/


And the real benefit, only Audacity also has: It's available for Windows, Mac and Linux

[VintageTechnologies]

Just a quick remark, there is another fantastic free wave editor available, called ocenaudio. It's not perfect but its handling is way better than any other free software I could find:

http://www.ocenaudio.com/


And the real benefit, only Audacity also has: It's available for Windows, Mac and Linux

Thanks Norman, as a Linux enthusiast, I will be looking at Ocenaudio. Although I have mastered enough of Audacity for my purposes, I will be interested to see how the programs compare.

[wjw]

I have a semi-related question for you guys if I may...
A friend of mine found a lacquer home recording of his grandfather doing a radio interview. The record is bent and edge flaking. I could play a lot of it at 78 but a lot of it can't be tracked at that speed. Do computer programs allow for speed adjustment? I need to record at 33 ⅓.

[barnettrp21122]

I have a semi-related question for you guys if I may...
A friend of mine found a lacquer home recording of his grandfather doing a radio interview. The record is bent and edge flaking. I could play a lot of it at 78 but a lot of it can't be tracked at that speed. Do computer programs allow for speed adjustment? I need to record at 33 ⅓.

My program by Diamond Cut Audio (DC-8) allows for the speed adjustment you need. Others may too.
Bob

[VintageTechnologies]

I have a semi-related question for you guys if I may...
A friend of mine found a lacquer home recording of his grandfather doing a radio interview. The record is bent and edge flaking. I could play a lot of it at 78 but a lot of it can't be tracked at that speed. Do computer programs allow for speed adjustment? I need to record at 33 ⅓.

Yes. I have done that very thing and for the same reasons, using Audacity. That is one of the easiest things to do in Audacity. Select "Effect" on the menu bar, then select "Change Speed". It is pretty obvious.

By the way, I have added some more recordings online at: https://app.box.com/s/e6vwco64b7i33dzrumdew99lf40jcevi and plan to add even more.

[wjw]

Happy to know it can be done. Thanks
-bill