Ripping vinyl

[oguinn]

I bought a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 to rip some records I can’t get through streaming services. My current setup is turntable > Eros 2 > Scarlett. I assume this is the preferred setup and not, say, having the Scarlett sit after the BeePre or something. Is that correct? I’d try it out but it’d require a lot of reconfiguration so I figured I’d ask.

[Paul Birkeland]

Unless the input impedance of the Scarlett is really low, this should work just fine. 

[oguinn]

Cool, thanks!

[johnsonad]

Let us know how this works!

[oguinn]

Worked pretty well! I need to check my turntable adjustments after I set it back up for the first time in a while (the VTA was way off, and I have a new force gauge coming tomorrow). Probably a good time to start making my way through the collection with some record cleaner, too.

The first record I did this with was a compilation of lo-fi sources, so there was a lot of noise right off the bat. I checked another record and everything seemed ok there. I recorded using Adobe Audition (I’m a company man). I normalized the tracks after recording and split them into individual tracks. They all sound pretty great!

[Mucker]

Nice work!

I use a Tascam DR-40 for ripping vinyl to 24/96 FLAC. It's super easy to setup and use; the quality is nothing short of excellent. You can find them used on eBay for $75.

[Doc B.]

I think Reaper still does free evaluation copies maybe. It's got a bit of a learning curve but it does a very nice sounding capture.

[oguinn]

I'll check that out. Thanks, Doc.

[Doc B.]

I should have been a little more forthcoming to point out that it is DAW software and not just a ripping app. So it does take some time to figure out. But I think you might like the sound.

[EricS]

I use a Focusrite as the interface between my phono pre and my computer.  Then I use Vinyl Studio software to do the capture.  I think a license cost $50.  It has nice tools to clean up clicks and pops, or you can leave them all in.  You add track names automatically with a database lookup.  You can easily set original sample rates as well as output file data format and bit rate.

I also cleaned all of my vinyl before recording.

[Phippers]

Probably a good time to start making my way through the collection with some record cleaner, too.

Hi Jameson,

I can't recommend this highly enough.

Some years ago I used to do CD pre-mastering, and quite often - more often than one might imagine - the only available source material was a vinyl, often the artist's own copy, due to the record company having thrown the master tape away.

I used to find that cleaning the vinyl before transfer made a huge difference and removed most of the clicks, pops and other assorted nasties - resulting in a much cleaner digital source to work from, and much less work to do in the digital domain (de-cracking, de-clicking etc)

Hope your project goes well.

Paul.