It’s been a while again since I’ve updated this blog – I have actually purchased a fair few LPs over the last month or so and will be putting up details and photos of them when I get chance.
Recent acquisitions
Posted by admin -
October 14th, 2010
Ok these are some of the vinyl LPs I have acquired recently.
The Yardbirds – “Roger the Engineer” , circa 1966, Edsel Records
Stevie Wonder – “Fulfillingness’ First Finale”, circa 1974, Motown Records
Popol Vuh – “Affenstunde”, circa 1980 (re-issue) WEA Records
The Kinks – debut LP, circa 1964 PYE Records
Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros – “Global A-Go-Go”, circa 2001 Hell Cat Records – USA Import
Jah Wobble, Jaki Leibezeit & Hogar Czukay -”How Much Are They?”, circa 1981 Island Records – 45rpm 12″ single
Can – “Monster Movie”, circa 1969 United Artists Records
Can – “Ege Bamyasi”, circa 1980 Spoon Records – (re-issue)
Can – “Delay”, circa 1981 Spoon Records – German Import
Backdoor – “8th Street Nites”, circa 1973 Warner Records
Ace – “Five a Side”, circa 1974 Anchor Records
Can – “Landed”, circa 1975 EMI Electrola Records – German Import
Can – “Can”, circa 1979 Laser Records
DIY cleaning formula 1
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October 10th, 2010
I’m currently testing one or two DIY recipes for vinyl cleaning solutions.
The one I’m trying at the moment is one that appears to be used extensively by HiFi officiandos and is a mix of distilled water, isopropynol alcohol and washing up liquid. There are 2 camps in regards to the use of isopropynol alcohol – some are vehemently against it, claiming it hardens the vinyl making it brittle – citing chemical experts on this opinion; the others claim exactly the opposite, and also citing chemical experts! I veer towards the few that state that a small amount used sparingly wont cause any long term issues. So this first recipe is as follows:
80% distilled water – high grade
20% isopropynol alcohol
30-40 drops of washing up liquid
some also recommend the use of some form of anti-fungal cleaning solution added too, but I’m going to test out the formula as is first…..
So far I’ve run 5 LPs that I bought from a friend of mine who was a DJ so therefore the records have had a rough life – though he did state he cleaned them using the old fashioned DIY water and washing up liquid treatment, manually washing and drying them.
Results so far:
The vinyl treated appears ok after being washed and then run through the Moth RCM. The outer appearance is of a very clean and shiny LP. But on playing, the 3 I tested showed significant background noise due to contamination still. Some of the users of this recipe advocate upping the quantity of isopropynol alcohol to 50% for use on severely contaminated records. I’m not happy doing that, but will try upping to say 35% and see what results show. I may also increase the quantity of washing up liquid too – I originally put in 30 drops……
Moth RCM…. 1
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October 6th, 2010
Well it’s still working ok since I last fucked around with it. Putting some of the sound deadening material between the motor mount and the motor appears to have sorted some of the issues out. I still notice some vibration noise after the vacuum motor has been running for a few minutes……. but that goes away …….. then it’s just the vacuum motor sound.
Vinyl record database software
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October 5th, 2010
I’ve been looking for a good vinyl LP/45 database program for a while now. My problem is it has to be compatible with the mac OS – in particular – OSX. It would have been an easy problem to resolve if I was using a Windows based computer, but seeing as I hate Windows and the PCs it runs on, I have been searching somewhat fruitlessly for nearly a year for a suitable software package.
Until now. The makers of Filemaker Pro have produced a database package called Bento. Yeah I know – shit name aint it? But it is a really good, well to look at so far it is. It allows you to create all sorts of databases to store info on a wide range of stuff – and more for my needs – to store info on a record collection. In fact I’ve been able to download a template that is exactly what I need to enter all the info on my vinyl collection – including photos. I can store Artiste data, record data, loads of pictures of an individual record – I can even adapt the template say by adding room for more photos if there are more than 1 LP.
Moth RCM acting up again…..
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September 27th, 2010
Well, after adding some foam padding between the vacuum motor and the wooden casing, the RCM operated fine for a while. Cleaned about 7 records before the vibration noise returned again – worse than ever.
So, took it apart yet again. Removed all the foam I had added and stuck some of the sound dampening material in place instead. Actually cut out a crescent shaped piece the same diameter as the motor housing, glued it in place, used a sheet of plastic between the motor and the dampening material so it would slide in without pushing the material out of place – then pulled that out. Added some more material to the under the front of the motor housing, and retested – fekkin quite as it was when I first used it. All you can hear in the main is the vacuum motor running.
Will see how it goes this time……..
Moth RCM problem…
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September 25th, 2010
Well I thought the 2nd vacuum motor was on it’s way out – not something I was looking forward to sorting again! Over the last week it has developed a nastie vibration that slowly gets noisier as the cleaning goes on, until it is irritating to the extreme……
I’ve been trying to locate where it was coming from, and was very worried it might be the motor packing in again…… but turns out it isn’t.
I decided to take the bull by the horns today and took the base board off to have a look n listen, to see if I could track down exactly what was making the noise. To begin with, I couldn’t get a hold on it. After taking the base board off and running the motor I couldn’t hear anything noise at all – so decided it couldn’t be the motor packing in. But when I put it all together again, back came that irritating vibration.
So, off came the base board again – I also decided to change the screws that were securing it together – substituted decking self-tapping screws instead and they pulled the base board into place very tightly. But the base wasn’t fitting snugly enough, checking I could see the motor mount over lapped one of the walls thus keeping the base from fitting correctly. Taking a millimetre or two off sorted that problem. Fitting back together and the it had made the noise worse. Bugger! Off came the base again. Ran the motor again – still no noise or vibration from the motor or anything else for that matter, but when I put the base back on temporarily and ran the motor whilst still having the RCM on it’s side the noise was there, only less obtrusive. So took the base off again and lay the RCM flat and ran the motor again. Back came the noise only worse than ever! Checked the motor. Now when I had fitted the mount back on, it was all very tight n snug. The motor was now loose and sure enough laying the RCM down correctly but without the base on – the vibration was far more noticeable – so I thought maybe the motor was moving around after it had all warmed up – loosening things off. Packing under the motor with foam and then running the motor again – voila! All fine – maybe a little noise but barely noticeable. Back on went the base, and I ran the RCM for a few minutes. Usually after this length of time the vibration noise would have been excessive – but I could hardly here any vibration. I therefore buttoned up the base board and began cleaning a record. No noise! Sorted! Worries about having to replace the motor again allayed, great!!
Test Vinyl Studio mp3 file
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September 16th, 2010
Ok, I’ve had a go with the Vinyl Studio software today. Managed to make an MP3 file from one of my Velvet Underground LPs – The Velvet Underground & Nico – the one with the banana on the cover. It’s embedded below. This was recorded directly from the NAD PP3 pre-amp whilst the LP was playing. Excellent!!!
Also I’ve been trying to find a way around people being able to download the file, thereby breaking piracy issues. I finally found a streaming media/video player for WordPress that seems to work ok
Extracting the mp3 version was fairly easy, hook up the USB cable between the pre-amp and the Mac, open Vinyl Studio, create an album, check recording levels, then click Record. Once you have the file recorded to disk it is then possible to split the album into tracks, add any noise suppression you need (click/crackle removal, hiss attenuation, rumble filter and other stuff), then save the resultant sound file with the edits you have made.
All in all it was a fairly easy task, when I figured out how to, declick, dehiss and save a file. The hard part has been finding some secure way of displaying the file so it can’t be pinched. Stream Video seems to fit the bill. I’m going to see if can help with display of images too – because although I can prevent right clicking to access the Save As menu, if the user just clicks on the image, it opens up the image and it is possible from there to steal the image. Not good!
Vinyl Studio …….
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September 15th, 2010
When I bought my NAD PP3 phono pre-amp just over a year ago, it came packaged with some Windows software – Vinyl Studio.
This allowed the user to record audio tracks from vinyl direct to computer. Unfortunately as you may have seen, it was Windows only – which was useless to myself – running a Mac Powerbook. So I looked around to see if there was any other software that might do a similar task. Yes there was, but it was too costly – so I forgot about it – until today when I happened to see a link to Alpinesoft, the company that makes the software. Checking it out I found that they now do a version for the Mac – so I’ve grabbed a copy – there’s a free trial download to test it out. Tomorrow I’m going to try it out, running a USB connection from the NAD PP3 pre-amp to my Mac and attempt some direct recording from vinyl.
This software allows you to record whole LPs or just singles. If you record an LP it enables you to split it up into it’s seperate tracks. Also it lets you run processes on the recording to attenuate or remove hiss, background noise and even clicks n crackles from the audio file – without altering the original file. These processes are saved in a seperate file and applied to the original audio file when played.
It’s all done on a screen that looks reasonably intuitive:
Vinyl Studio accepts input via various means. From the pre-amp via phono or USB connection. Direct from the turntable, or from the phono outputs from the rear of the amplifier.
The software costs $29.95 or £23.46 (including the VAT for EU countries) and is available directly from Alpinesoft at Alpinesoft website
Anyway, I’m going to test it out tomorrow………..
Cleaning and more gems from Stuart……
Posted by admin -
September 15th, 2010
I’ve been cleaning some more of my vinyl again today – well hardly a day goes by when I don’t do a few. Anyway, thought I’d put up this couple of LPs that Stuart let me have:
Lindisfarne – Fog on the Tyne – circa 1971, Charisma label – one of their best I reckon
Uriah Heep – Very ‘eavy, Very ‘umble – circa 1970, Bronze Label
