Advice on making good-quality vinyl rips?

[Bryan]

Is anyone around here an expert on this?

I'm getting acceptable results with my method, but would love to hear some tips. Currently, I go into my PC's Mic In (mini) from my amp's Tape Out. I'm recording using Audacity. I've found that Audacity seems to limit the level automatically at about the 0.5 mark. This usually sounds pretty hollow.

Since my understanding is that I would like to get as powerful a signal as possible without clipping, after recording, I use Audacity's "Amplify" effect. However, I don't really know what the "Amplify" effect is doing. It sounds pretty good, but is it messing with the dynamics of the signal in any meaningful way?

[Martin]

Been meaning to reply to this.

I also use Audacity for my vinyl rips, although I have a different setup: I have one of those USB-enabled turntables. But the principle should be the same.

I've never experienced Audacity automatically limiting/clipping the levels - at least I don't think so. I usually just try and adjust the IN levels on my computer so it's not up in the red too much.

After capturing the whole thing I use the Noise Removal effect to clear up the most obvious cracks and pops, and then I Normalize - not Amplify - the track (standard settings). That usually does the trick when it comes to cranking up the volume without blowing out the speakers or messing with the sound too much.

Don't know if any of this helps. But good luck!

[Gilly]

I'd love to have a machine that transfers vinyl rips onto vinyl.

[icepants]

I'm big fan of this guy's rips, he seems to have a near perfect setup, though not a cheap one.  I just have one of those super cheap usb converters.

http://pbthal.blogspot.com