 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2006-11-26 21:41
We got a USB turntable, and I've been creating files of my old clarinet LPs. First up was the "red" Concert Hall Society LP of the Brahms Quintet by Gallodoro. Next was an MGM Buddy DeFranco record, "The King of the Clarinet." Then came Louis Cahuzac doing the Mozart Concerto ("Haydn Society"). Next up is a couple of Gino Cioffi LPs.
It's a great way to spend a Sunday, the closest I'll ever come to a clarinet masterclass. Some of what I hear really surprises me. For instance, the Cahuzac Mozart Concerto is quite strange (for me), especially in the Adagio. I assume it is the primitive recording. It seems a little unruly, and a bit uneven. I haven't listened to some of these LPs for a few years, and I'm anxious to find out how I feel about the different performances now. I'm looking forward to Sidney Forrest and Jaques Lancelot.
The new equipment, even better than enabling me to make these recordings more convenient, has got me to listen to them again. Really exciting and rewarding.
Bill.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
Post Edited (2006-11-26 21:42)
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Author: jmcgann
Date: 2006-11-26 23:41
Hi Bill- does the turntable have a built-in preamp so you can go directly USB into the computer? Is there software to make "tracks" for each band, or do you have to do it manually? I've done this with a regular turntable, but it is labor intensive...
www.johnmcgann.com
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Author: Bill
Date: 2006-11-27 01:57
The software I'm using is Audacity - seems to work well. It does feed directly into the computer. I'm still figuring out the noise filter option, which if not done carefully has a terrible effect on the music. But I figure I really can't do much better than the LPs I'm working with. After listening to so many cds in the last couple of years, some of the really old LPs are tough listening!
I'd be curious to date the Cahuzac Mozart Concerto in relation to his Hindemith recording. Does anyone know?
Bill.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: jmsa
Date: 2006-11-27 07:11
I have an original LP of Jimmy Guifre playing with The Modern Jazz Quartet and would like to transfer it to CD. I have a Sony PSLX-250H turntable. Does anyone have any suggestions how to accomplish this task.
jmsa
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-11-27 08:22
Assuming you can connect your record player (patiphon - I assume this is what you all mean by turntable) to your computer, it is easy but takes a bit of time. Connect your record player to the computer (sound card) input with the correct cable (usually small PL). With whatever software (I use Cubase or Soundforge, you probably want a simpler free software) you record while the record is playing, this is the annoying part - you actually have to wait until the entire record ends. If possible record to WAV format. Then you can devide (usually wit the same software) the long track into tracks (the software Mark suggested seems to do this automatically, but does it keep it in WAV format?). After you have the tracks in WAV format you can use a CD burner software (I use Nero) to make an audio CD from it. If you prefer to make an mp3 from it then just use a mp3 encoder (Windows Media Player can do this).
Hope this helps.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-11-27 08:44
I use an older version of Magix Audio Cleaning lab - it will record the LP, split, decrackle etc and save the individual pieces. It won't make a silk swab out of a sow's ear, but the results are good enough for your home stereo.
--
Ben
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Author: Tony Beck
Date: 2006-11-27 12:25
I've been using Polderbits recorder. It takes the output of any turntable through your soundcard audio input port, no USB needed. It has a reasonably good equalizer, adjustable click and hum filters, auto track splitting (which doesn't work well on classical recordings), and so on. I've gotten good results on everything from Sousa's Band 78s to "modern" Telarcs. A full feature version can be downloaded free for 2 weeks.
The reason that a lot of old recordings sound odd is that they didn't use RIAA equalization, which has been built into most turn table pre-amps since the 1950s. Equalization de-emphasises the bass, so record grooves can be cut closer together, resulting in the "Long Playing" record. Before about 1940 no equalization was used, between 1940 and 1954 there were several "standards", AES, LP, NAB and FFRR being the most popular. After '54 RIAA pretty much took over.
Just because your old records sound out of balance, booming or tinny, doesn't mean that the actual performance was that way. Don't be afraid to tweak them a bit with an equalizer.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-11-27 17:46
Cahuzac's Mozart Concerto was recorded in the 1940s, I think, or the early 1950s. The Hindemith was recorded when he was 78, in 1958.
The Mozart was done before the tape recorder was perfected and so editing was impossible. There are a couple of major squeaks, both here and in his Nielsen Concerto recording, which was originally on 78s.
His Mozart tempos are extremely slow, particularly in the finale. In an article in the first series of The Clarinet, he said that the finale was mastered at the wrong speed. However, it's at the correct pitch. Even though Cahuzac published a clarinet and piano score of the Mozart Concerto half a step up for Bb clarinet, I seriously doubt whether he would have recorded it on the Bb. It's puzzling, particularly since his early recordings http://www7.mailordercentral.com/frederichweinerinc/prodinfo.asp?number=CDRG08 show a big technique.
I'm slowly dubbing my clarinet LPs to WAV files, but with several thousand on the shelves, I have a long way to go. Eventually, I'll give everything to the ICA, assuming they want anything to do with LPs (and even some 78s). For now, I'm keeping them on a spare hard drive, since CDRs have a reputation for not lasting. Terabyte drives are coming down to affordable prices.
Ken Shaw
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Author: beejay
Date: 2006-11-27 23:19
A program called Wave Corrector (www.wavecor.co.uk) does a remarkable job in converting LPs and audio tapes to WAV format that can be burned onto CDs. It removes clicks and noise without affecting the warm quality of analog sound.
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Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2006-11-28 00:31
Inasmuch as I am a total computer luddite, I am doing my LP and 78 transfers using analog processing throughout until the final result is digitized when recorded to the CD.
I am running a pair of turntables (Rek-o-kut & Numark) through a Pyramid pre-amp, Burwen transient noise reducer (to remove surface pops & clicks), Esoteric Re-equalizer (to apply the correct equalization such as none, AES, NAB, FFRR, RIAA, etc.), Tascam parametric equalizer (a "notch filter" to remove specific squeals; also good for reducing sympathetic vibration of the "mike" horn and mechanical equipment in acoustical recording), and finally an ordinary DOD 2 x 15 equalizer. After processing the music (through only the pieces of equipment as needed for a given record), I still don't use the computer - instead I feed it into a Tascam CD recorder which digitizes it and records it on the CD.
Although all of the above might sound complicated, I suspect that those computer programs are really doing the same sort of processing digitally that I am doing with analog equipment. Mine may be old fashioned, but it works for me.
Eu
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Author: hans
Date: 2006-11-28 02:37
I use a hardware device to copy my LPs to Audio CD-RW. It is a stereo component that connects (via the receiver) to the turntable. This is a very simple and trouble free way (i.e., it doesn't rely on Windows) to convert LPs to CD and the Audio CD-RW can be re-used many times.
Hans
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Author: LeeB
Date: 2006-11-28 04:42
These days, it's pretty amazing what some of the high-end DSP plug-ins can do. I have a professional recording studio, and use Waves X-Noise, X-Click and X-Crackle within PT HD Accel. I've been able to take recordings that looked like the kids played with them in the sand box, and make quite decent transfers. As long as I can get the needle to track, I can fix things up later. I find that thoroughly cleaning the record surface with a good record cleaning solvent really helps.
BTW, it can be fun to go the other way, too (i.e. take a modern recording, and make it sound like an old 78 or wax cylinder). I've got one piece of software called Opcode Vinyl that does the job so well, it's spooky. Unfortunately, the company is out of business, and it only works on Mac OS 9.
There's also a free plug-in out there for adding vinyl ambience and artifacts that you can use if you have a basic audio application that can host it. It's called iZotope Vinyl.
http://www.izotope.com/products/audio/vinyl/
It can be amusing to process a colleague's recording to sound like it's ancient, and surreptitiously play it for them.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-11-28 17:13
LeeB and others -
I have Adobe Audition (1.5). I know it can be set to re-equalize, but I'm not sure of the numbers.
The RIAA equalization is given on http://www.rfwilmut.clara.net/repro78/repro.html as:
Treble turnover 2.1215 kHz
Bass Turnover 500.5 Hz
Lower bass t/o 50.5 Hz
Cut at 10 kHz 13.6 dB
Boost at 50 hz 17 dB
I want to play an old Columbia LP through my RIAA-only preamp into my computer and convert it to the Columbia equalization, which is:
Treble turnover 1590 Hz
Bass Turnover 500 Hz
Lower bass t/o 100 Hz
Cut at 10 kHz 16 dB
Boost at 50 hz 12.5 dB
Any hints?
Ken Shaw
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