Cleaning-UP Old Phonograph Recordings at DVinfo.net

Dale Nicholson · February 8th, 2006, 09:52 AM

I'm in the process of transferring some of my old 33 rpm phonographs to the digital realm and was wondering what application is best to clean up some of the "noise" that was common with records, particularly old records?
I have Vegas and the Sony audio software and AE. Any particular filter work the best for you in this regard?

Emre Safak · February 8th, 2006, 10:14 AM

Sony's Noise Reduction suite for Vegas and Sound Forge has a Vinyl Restoration plug-in.

Meryem Ersoz · February 8th, 2006, 10:45 AM

http://www.bias-inc.com/

i like soundsoap....

Emre Safak · February 8th, 2006, 11:22 AM

SoundSoap is hot! I just looked at their product demo--thanks, Meryem!

Dale Nicholson · February 9th, 2006, 06:51 AM

Before I begin this task, a question:

All I need is a record player/amp with outputs (red and white plugs) and connect the two to my inputs of my Canopus converter and bingo!
Is that it?

Bob Hart · February 12th, 2006, 11:42 AM

Dale.

Cool Edit Pro 1.5 and later have good solutions for recording, cleaning up and enhancing old disk recordings. Vinyl is relatively easy. 78s offer a harder challenge as there are a variety of equalisation standards for them but as you don't seem to be likely to be going there I won't go into that.

I understand Adobe Audition represents the latest evolution of the Cool Edit software.

Bob Hart · February 12th, 2006, 12:32 PM

Dale.

Cool Edit Pro 1.5 and later have good solutions for recording, cleaning up and enhancing old disk recordings. Vinyl is relatively easy. 78s offer a harder challenge as there are a variety of equalisation standards for them but as you don't seem to be likely to be going there I won't go into that.

I understand Adobe Audition represents the latest evolution of the Cool Edit software.

I tried to post an update to this but it dumped and I lost it.

In short form it said - that for home consumption of the recordings, line-out from the record player or amp to line level - in on the computer;s adio card should be fine.

If you want an audiophile result, then you wll need to consider that older turntables and radiograms often used crystal cartridges which required a different equalisation and lower gain preampplifier than magnetic cartidges.

The more modern players and some older high quality players used magnetic cartridges which apparently yield a signal of more fdelity to the orginal recording than crystal (ceramic) cartridges.

Stanton and Pioneer do DJ turntables which appear similar in design. These have RCA line level pairs out, one pair for direct output from cartridge, the other for RIAA equalised output. Equalised is preferable as there is an extreme difference in hig frequency and low frequency levels otherwise which are more difficult to deal with, tha some simple sweetening and oise reduction.

These turntables also have a digtal out but what form or standard it conforms to I don't know. I also don't know if it an equalised signal or raw.

If anyone is doing recoveries from 78s I have some equalisation profiles in Cool Edit Pro 1.5 for de-RIAA, and for most of the older recordings except acoustics. I have some for Edison acoustic disks but profiles really need to be tailor made for each individual acoustic recording.

Glenn Davidson · February 12th, 2006, 12:54 PM

For 78 I use a OWL preamp that lets you dial in Turnover & Roll off. It also has rumble and HF filters. I also use a DUAL 1019 Turntable. Then the recording go into ProTools and cleaned up with Waves Restoration Bundle. Then they are archived to Mitsui gold CDs. What type of styli do you use for 78 RPM?

Dale Guthormsen · February 15th, 2006, 10:30 PM

could a person take the audio outs and plug them into your camera and then record them onto tape, transfer to the computer and then sweeten???

gus

Bob Hart · February 16th, 2006, 06:23 AM

Dale.

I see no reason why not.

You record at the native sampling rate of the camcorder so less likelyhood of an error. The only downside is that sometimes, audio from MiniDV won't export to .wav files without a very aggravating sync pulse becoming embedded in the soundtrack.

If you sweeten your sound in the audio functions available in your NLE, then this problem should not emerge.

My person preference, governed by the hardware available to me is to record into the computer, sweeten the sound, then import the .wav file.

Glenn.

The stylus I use for 78s is from Ortofon. There is a specialist in Britain who custom makes styli to best perform with worn records.

I'm not a sound engineer's bootlace so don't take too much notice of my comments.

February 8th, 2006, 09:52 AM	#1
Dale Nicholson Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 133	Cleaning-UP Old Phonograph Recordings I'm in the process of transferring some of my old 33 rpm phonographs to the digital realm and was wondering what application is best to clean up some of the "noise" that was common with records, particularly old records? I have Vegas and the Sony audio software and AE. Any particular filter work the best for you in this regard?

February 15th, 2006, 10:30 PM	#9
Dale Guthormsen Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saskatchewan Posts: 3,048	question could a person take the audio outs and plug them into your camera and then record them onto tape, transfer to the computer and then sweeten??? gus

February 8th, 2006, 10:14 AM	#2
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	Sony's Noise Reduction suite for Vegas and Sound Forge has a Vinyl Restoration plug-in.

February 8th, 2006, 10:45 AM	#3
Meryem Ersoz Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 3,015	http://www.bias-inc.com/ i like soundsoap....

February 8th, 2006, 11:22 AM	#4
Emre Safak Trustee Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brookline, MA Posts: 1,447	SoundSoap is hot! I just looked at their product demo--thanks, Meryem!

February 9th, 2006, 06:51 AM	#5
Dale Nicholson Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 133	Before I begin this task, a question: All I need is a record player/amp with outputs (red and white plugs) and connect the two to my inputs of my Canopus converter and bingo! Is that it?

February 12th, 2006, 11:42 AM	#6
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,476	Dale. Cool Edit Pro 1.5 and later have good solutions for recording, cleaning up and enhancing old disk recordings. Vinyl is relatively easy. 78s offer a harder challenge as there are a variety of equalisation standards for them but as you don't seem to be likely to be going there I won't go into that. I understand Adobe Audition represents the latest evolution of the Cool Edit software.

February 12th, 2006, 12:32 PM	#7
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,476	Dale. Cool Edit Pro 1.5 and later have good solutions for recording, cleaning up and enhancing old disk recordings. Vinyl is relatively easy. 78s offer a harder challenge as there are a variety of equalisation standards for them but as you don't seem to be likely to be going there I won't go into that. I understand Adobe Audition represents the latest evolution of the Cool Edit software. I tried to post an update to this but it dumped and I lost it. In short form it said - that for home consumption of the recordings, line-out from the record player or amp to line level - in on the computer;s adio card should be fine. If you want an audiophile result, then you wll need to consider that older turntables and radiograms often used crystal cartridges which required a different equalisation and lower gain preampplifier than magnetic cartidges. The more modern players and some older high quality players used magnetic cartridges which apparently yield a signal of more fdelity to the orginal recording than crystal (ceramic) cartridges. Stanton and Pioneer do DJ turntables which appear similar in design. These have RCA line level pairs out, one pair for direct output from cartridge, the other for RIAA equalised output. Equalised is preferable as there is an extreme difference in hig frequency and low frequency levels otherwise which are more difficult to deal with, tha some simple sweetening and oise reduction. These turntables also have a digtal out but what form or standard it conforms to I don't know. I also don't know if it an equalised signal or raw. If anyone is doing recoveries from 78s I have some equalisation profiles in Cool Edit Pro 1.5 for de-RIAA, and for most of the older recordings except acoustics. I have some for Edison acoustic disks but profiles really need to be tailor made for each individual acoustic recording.

February 12th, 2006, 12:54 PM	#8
Glenn Davidson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nevada City, California Posts: 499	For 78 I use a OWL preamp that lets you dial in Turnover & Roll off. It also has rumble and HF filters. I also use a DUAL 1019 Turntable. Then the recording go into ProTools and cleaned up with Waves Restoration Bundle. Then they are archived to Mitsui gold CDs. What type of styli do you use for 78 RPM?

February 16th, 2006, 06:23 AM	#10
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,476	Dale. I see no reason why not. You record at the native sampling rate of the camcorder so less likelyhood of an error. The only downside is that sometimes, audio from MiniDV won't export to .wav files without a very aggravating sync pulse becoming embedded in the soundtrack. If you sweeten your sound in the audio functions available in your NLE, then this problem should not emerge. My person preference, governed by the hardware available to me is to record into the computer, sweeten the sound, then import the .wav file. Glenn. The stylus I use for 78s is from Ortofon. There is a specialist in Britain who custom makes styli to best perform with worn records. I'm not a sound engineer's bootlace so don't take too much notice of my comments.