Things That I have learned

About digitizing records

D Vautier
updated 2-10-2013

I've been collecting LP records for a long time mostly because it is fun to do and I like to digitize the music.  More and more I really try to buy good vinyl but it is very hard to tell quality without actually playing a record on good equipment.  It's not the scratches that I look at because cleaning and software can handle this.  it's the condition of the little tiny wiggles that are way too small to see.  A record can be ruined by just one play on inferior equipment and it is impossible to tell it visually.  You get hints such as the center hole ware or dead wax areas.

Here are some of my thoughts on digitizing records:

I remember my days using tape recorders, reel-to-reel, 8-track, then finally cassette.  Songs would be copied to tape under the assumption that the copy would need to be done again in a year or so when the tape wore out.  Turntable rumble, tape recorder wow, noise and all those other pesky little things were not a big deal back then because the copy was not so hot, but today's digital is so much better that the imperfections become noticeable.  Digital picks up everything--I mean everything on a record; turntable rumble, crosstalk, high-end hiss, cartridge hum and pre-amp signal/noise ratio all become factors to consider.  So I got rid of all the old equipment.  I had to get a couple decent turntables.  I had to get a pre-amp with at least 90 db s/n ratio.  My 60 db preamp was prehistoric.  I redesigned, shielded  and shortened all my turntable cables.  These are particularly sensitive to noise.  I grounded the turntable wire shield to the pre-amp.  My Sony is Bakelite plastic but it does have a ground shield.  I separated the pre-amp power supply.

I think that LPs will last a long time if properly stored.  If LPs are taken care of and stored vertically and kept in reasonable temperature and humidity ranges they will probably outlast most of us on this planet.  Fingerprints may have some reaction but i don't know how much since the oil doesn't get way down into the groves.  What can damage a record is too much stylus pressure.