Starting LP transfer/restoration -- advice

(Mods, feel free to move this square peg into a different hole)

I have been asked by a friend for advice regarding hardware/software requirements for transfering an LP collection to digital.  I am the only person she knows who does this, but I am far from qualified to advise.  I've done a couple of dozen transfers from LP and cassette over the past few years, and in my own terms of reference I've learned a lot (including the economy of searching for CD reissues) -- and enjoyed it.

I'll be telling her that she needs a half-decent sound card to start, some recording and editing software, and to be prepared to upgrade these (and get monitors) if she gets more serious. 

But I don't want to tell her she needs $1000+ in hardware/software to find out how serious she is. 

I did a fair bit of research 5 years ago while I was saving my pennies for a new computer, etc, but have not kept up.  Back then I couldn't afford the sound card I thought I needed (M-Audio 2496) and had to settle for a Turtle Beach (16-bit but pretty clean).  I also paid a lot less than $US 329 for Cool Edit.  Some of the "cheap" hardware/software I looked at tonight scared me.

So can anyone offer advice to someone starting on this adventure today?  Specifically a "starter" sound card and recording/editing/restoration software that won't cripple them technically but isn't a discouraging initial inventment. 

(Ideally I'd let her play on my system, but she's 1500 km away.)

Andy

There are more modern cards available, but the Audiophile 2496 has been price reduced due to some of those. It should always be available for under $100; I've seen a few sales at $69. It's a very good card for this job. If someone is at all serious about computer audio, whether for this kind of project or any other, I don't think it would pay to settle for a lesser quality.

The major task for LP transfers is declicking. WaveRepair is inexpensive shareware. There probably isn't anything that will do a better job of declicking. It also has a number of other helpful functions for dealing with LPs, but is not a complete audio editor. The downside is that it is not very automated, it is very hands on and labor intensive. http://www.delback.co.uk/wavrep/

If she has a system on which she can listen to the LPs and she is satisfied with what she hears (aside from LP clicks & pops and surface noise), then the soundcard and recording/cleanup software may be all she needs to get going. A CD writer and software for it are necessary to put the results onto CD-R, of course, but most people have that already.

The only other possibly necessary item would be a mixer or line-level preamp. This is only required if the output of the phono preamp isn't at a very satisfactory level vis a vis the soundcard input requirements (it clips so you have to attenuate or it is too low so you have to amplify). I've never had a need for adjustments when recording LPs, but I find most cassette output levels are lower than I like.

There is one other consideration. She has to be able to listen from the computer to do the declicking and other clean-up. Some kind of amplifier with speakers or headphones are necessary. "Computer" spearers are generally poor as monitors but may be adequate for declicking. Those are generally "active" speakers, as are some professional monitors, so no separate amplifier is necessary, but some kind of amplifier is required for headphones (and passive monitors). Unlike gaming soundcards, the line-out of a professional or semi-pro card isn't intended to drive headphones directly.

Something like this might be a fairly simple start. It is both a phono preamp and USB audio interface in one and comes with Audacity audio software.

http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=90&cat=13&id=128

Although I still am and probably will remain a big fan of Audition, I would suggest your friend to have a look at AFDeClick, http://www.andreas-flucke.homepage.t-online.de/index_eng.html. This software is cheap (19,- Euro (approx. 23 USD)) and dead-easy to use: just load a wav-file and the program does the declicking (no preferences, no settings, just click and go). Results are impressive, although I always use it in combination with the Audition click removal tool, ClickFix and/or Younglove script. AFDeClick takes a very long time to process files; depending on your friends needs this might be a major disadvantage. On the other hand, as it is capable of batch-processing, you might just load a bunch of files and let the computer do the work at night...


Combined with Wave Repair for recording as Andy suggested, the s/w costs are limited; if I am correct, you can use WaveRepair without paying as long as you only use it for recording.

HtH

So far no-one has mentioned the need for a good turntable, arm and cartridge which has been properly set up. If the stylus is tracking properly then your friend's job will be made much easier.

Cheers

James.

Something like this might be a fairly simple start. It is both a phono preamp and USB audio interface in one and comes with Audacity audio software.

http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp?type=90&cat=13&id=128

Thumbs up for the USBPhonoPlus v2! I recently purchased one for needle drops and, for the money, it sounds great and is ultra-convenient.

Thanks v much for this up-to-date advice, gents.   Much appreciated.

Audacity-free
Soundcard $69-$100
Turntable-$150 for something halfway decent
decent cartridge-$89
phono stage, preamp, or reciever-probably already has one, but one can find a decent phono preamp for just over $100.
headphones-$49-$200

Cost is a nominal $500 if one has to buy all of them.  Cheap!

The analog part of the chain is as important as the digital.

Don't skimp.  Buy a good preamp (easier said than done).  I have some VERY expensive preamps that aren't nearly as good as cheap ones.  I can show you this on graphs and Har-Bal.   Pricier is not always better.

Send me e-mail if desired and I wlil elaborate.


Best,

Dogger