What are you listening to right now ?

[d6jg]

♪ Playing Walk Awhile by Fairport Convention from Full House (Vinyl) (1970) (Local • 735kbps VBR 16Bits 44.1kHz FLC)

[slartibartfast]

I also use VinylClear and occasionally a knosti bath thing. On Amazon.

The most important part of the needledrop is the condition of the record and turntable/cartridge set up. I’m currently using an Onkyo CP1050 that I bought new maybe 5 years ago and have upgraded the cart to Ortofon 2M Blue.

As for the needledrop process itself I use VinylStudio with a UCA202. VinylStudio makes the initial recording, album art and tagging very easy. The £25 it costs is well worth it imho. After generating Flacs I post process through Foobar2000 to add Replay Gain tags before scanning into LMS. VinylStudio also has advanced clean up filters which can remove nasty pops and clicks without affecting the overall SQ. Does take some learning though.

Tip. Sometimes Windows detects the UCA202 as a mono device. Check the Sound settings thoroughly before starting in earnest. Do this regularly.

The best part is you get the chance to re-listen to your original vinyl over and over.

How does Vinyl Studio add track labels? I have just discovered a "Label Sound" function in Audacity which can automatically add labels before tracks but you still need to manually add the track names.

[Apesbrain]

♪ Playing "I Will Always Be Your Shelter" by Robin Trower from No More Worlds To Conquer (2022)

[Grumpy Bob]

RIP Tom Verlaine. Television's Marquee Moon will be on my playlist this evening!

[d6jg]

How does Vinyl Studio add track labels? I have just discovered a "Label Sound" function in Audacity which can automatically add labels before tracks but you still need to manually add the track names.

It looks up to Discogs & Music Brainz for the correctly timed tracks and then writes track title etc to FLAC or whatever when you get to that stage. Gets album art from same sources. All you generally have to do is move track end markers a little. It produces exactly the same as you can achieve with Audacity but in a fraction of the time.

Edit. I think there is a free trial option so you can give it a try. There is also a full tutorial on their web site.

[d6jg]

RIP Tom Verlaine. Television's Marquee Moon will be on my playlist this evening!

Already played it.

[d6jg]

Tonight I’m needledropping my Wife’s copy of this.

[slartibartfast]

It looks up to Discogs & Music Brainz for the correctly timed tracks and then writes track title etc to FLAC or whatever when you get to that stage. Gets album art from same sources. All you generally have to do is move track end markers a little. It produces exactly the same as you can achieve with Audacity but in a fraction of the time.

Edit. I think there is a free trial option so you can give it a try. There is also a full tutorial on their web site.

Does it work well when the Vinyl has a different track listing to the CD? I just tried Musicbrainz Picard and it insists a track is missing.

[d6jg]

Does it work well when the Vinyl has a different track listing to the CD? I just tried Musicbrainz Picard and it insists a track is missing.

Yes. Discogs/Music Brainz will show you multiple different versions and you choose the one you want. Same with the cover.

[slartibartfast]

Yes. Discogs/Music Brainz will show you multiple different versions and you choose the one you want. Same with the cover.

Yup, I think I need to play more with Picard. I did indeed find the correct vinyl version by manually searching although it wasn't found automatically. The next one will be a better test without any previous metadata in the tags.

[slartibartfast]

This is the state of our dining room table when I digitise vinyl 🤣
The only "Audiophile" pressing I own, a half speed master of Billy Joel - The Stranger.

[d6jg]

Yup, I think I need to play more with Picard. I did indeed find the correct vinyl version by manually searching although it wasn't found automatically. The next one will be a better test without any previous metadata in the tags.

I have never used Picard - never needed to.

This is VinylStudio screenshot

[slartibartfast]

I have never used Picard - never needed to.

This is VinylStudio screenshot

I've just realised after years of using MP3tag that it can tag tracks using Musicbrainz 🤦♂️

[d6jg]

Needledrop

[castalla]

Talking Heads
Once in a Lifetime