So...this is the paradigm, then:
Forum membership time = experience and knowlege
Sharing accurate knowlege = p***ing contest.
Got it.
Clearly defined target.
Now, what about the front end makes hitting that target difficult?
What about the front end are variables that make reproducing the original erratic?
What are the unknown variables in the front end that greatly impact frequency response?
What about the digital back-end makes hitting the target difficult?
What about the digital back-end are the unknown variables?
Perhaps I'll just ask the questions and leave the p***ing to those who have been forum members longer, and therefore surely have the answers.
Because I'm not the one searching for answers, just offering some of my own, which seem to be interpreted as p***ing.
I use a Behringer U-PHORIA UMC204HD USB interface.
Does a decent job for the money.
Not sure what ADC chip is using but sound plenty fine @24bit, 48kHz.
Pardon me for pointing this out, no offense, but mastering engineers would have no reason to use a USB DAC to digitize vinyl. Their work flow would be from a master, to cutting a lacquer, to sending the lacquer out for plating. Should a test lacquer be made, it can be played on a turntable once before noticeable wear occurs that would be undesirable to press. Auditioning would be done through a completely analog system, no need to digitize anything.
If cutting from an analog master there may be no ADC as preview delay can be done with a separate head on the master tape machine. IF digital preview is used (as it often is), that's a dedicated device with its own ADC, DAC, and precise delay time setting.
Professional recording studios use DAW systems that have different requirements for input ADCs, often integrated as part of a system, like the dominant ProTools package.
So Scott is technically correct, but but vinyl mastering is such a completely unique application where the need for a stand-alone ADC does not exist in the first place.
I was referring to what they consider adequate for vinyl playback. From post#2 here on you are obviously not interested in a conversation but simply telling everyone else without any regard to their experience and background that they are wrong and you are right.
Great threads evolve in an organic fashion, as have many of the legendary DIY Audio threads from the past, that are still smoking. They provide an invaluable resource for the future DIY Audio community.
This thread will not be one of these.
Right from the get-go it has been side-tracked by discussion of issues peripheral to the very relevant topic of the OP. In the past moderators have called for a thread to remain on topic, moved a thread or post to a more relevant forum, or taken more drastic measures. I now can better understand why.
This thread will not be one of these.
Right from the get-go it has been side-tracked by discussion of issues peripheral to the very relevant topic of the OP. In the past moderators have called for a thread to remain on topic, moved a thread or post to a more relevant forum, or taken more drastic measures. I now can better understand why.
My point exactly, that's why I called it a p***ing contest.
But some of the guys have come up with great suggestions. I worked on the presumption that most vinyl-addicts here have decent enough TT/arm/cartridge and RIAA front ends.
I will also drop Sheffield Labs an e-mail asking what they used, as they have done quite a bit of digital archival on a few of their albums, where the master-tape was lost or damaged. It may even be in the CD insert, but I can't get to my system and CDs at the moment, due to circumstances.
But some of the guys have come up with great suggestions. I worked on the presumption that most vinyl-addicts here have decent enough TT/arm/cartridge and RIAA front ends.
I will also drop Sheffield Labs an e-mail asking what they used, as they have done quite a bit of digital archival on a few of their albums, where the master-tape was lost or damaged. It may even be in the CD insert, but I can't get to my system and CDs at the moment, due to circumstances.
Sorry then, I was confused because you referred to a USB device, which they would never use for vinyl playback, having no need.
Sorry you see it that way. I'm sharing information from 5 decades of professional audio engineering. I'm not worried about being right, I'm far more concerned with the propagation of myth and misinformation. Unfortunately, that does make some people wrong in their concepts, but it is my hope that in the interest of furthering knowlege everyone is open to more accurate information.
You are correct in your observation that my posts are not really much of a conversation, more of an informative post (depending on one's openness of mind of course). I remain open to new understanding myself, and am constantly learning every day, even now. My information is based on science and research, and I'll post references whenever possible. As such I don't consider this information my "opinion" as much as proven fact.
Mine was the first reply. He asked what was a good 24/192 ADC, I told him it was not necessary for vinyl, that 16/48 was adequate. The next post agreed with me.
How is that off topic?
Where did the p***ing take place?
All I hoped to do was educate the OP in the realities of vinyl and digitizing it. Simply recommending any 24/192 ADC would not have done that, or done him any good. Would recommending any 24/192 ADC, regardless if it would accomplish the OPs goal or not, would have been considered on-topic?
I think NOW we're off topic, though.
Look at the title of the thread. It could not get more specific.
So far there are very few useful posts addressing the OP enquiry. Lots of answers to questions not asked though.
I read your linked article.
I found it to be mathematically imprecise and incorrect. It was not a compelling argument made by someone who actually knows the math.
I can easily hear the difference between 16 bits and 18 bits. I also found that 12 bit floating point sounded just as good as 16 bit linear. My testing was done when I worked for Pioneer. In the late 70s.