Reducing Record Surface Noise - I want to know all Approaches

But we do not know the absolute level of your 0dB test tone, Hans, because you either do not know it or haven't told us. Decibels are a ratio, and to be meaningful as an absolute measure, there must be a reference.
If one of my students would have mentioned this, I would have friendly advised him to specialise in another direction.
0dB never has an absolute level.
5.6cm/s@1kHz rms is the 0dB RIAA/IEC standard level for an LP.

Either give me the name of the LP that you used to make your recording in posting #29 and I will publish my test results with this LP to compare, or let's call it a day and stop this discussion leading to nothing at all.

Hans
 
For LD
 

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Either give me the name of the LP that you used to make your recording in posting #29 and I will publish my test results with this LP to compare, or let's call it a day and stop this discussion leading to nothing at all.

OK, it's a deal. But only if you publish your raw recorded files, via PM if you like. I really think there's an excellent chance it will lead somewhere, BTW.

LD
 
Blimey, what a rogues gallery ! Amazing it works so well in practice, which it does of course. There's also spindle bearing rumble, motor whining/cogging, platter microphony, ground hum, off the top of my head.......

There's a nuisance ranking to all of that lot. For me anything that has an audible single tone like sound, such as hum, rumble, motor noise etc is top of the eliminate list. After that, it's crackle-pop-tick, so static/dirt/friction. I don't mind white/pink noise if its quiet enough. Part of analog heritage !
D'oh knew I had missed a few. Although never had an audible rumble problem so never worried about it. Not sure how to accurately measure it in meaninful units either. A stethoscope or electronic equivalent could give you the rumble spectrum but picking up a level that can be isolated from all the other noises is beyond me at the moment.

When I get the koncrete kenwood up and running that was given to me I might start to see those, but the Roksan just silently spins at least at human hearing acuity.

Aside: found this in the skip at work. Was the frame to support a back projection unit. Figured was a useful base for some experiments in vinyl. Nearly 3ft wide so room to try silly things.
 

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Yes, it is cool. Stop frame animation though, wouldn't real time high frame rate be great ?! SEMs have fantastic depth of focus that optical can't touch !

LD

hi,
Probably you already know this but you can watch it in slow motion by clicking settings and adjusting video speed. It is a miracle that such tiny vibrations produce rock music. 😀

All credit goes to the inventor and scientists and engineers.
Regards
 
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Now 400x mag isn't really enough to see anything useful and suspect at higher magnification depth of field is going to be sucky.

This is true.

There aren't many/any SEM images showing up on search engines showing surface texture of vinyl - for records or otherwise.

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This one above is from a medical application of pvc, at 10,000x which is the sort of mag needed to see necessary surface texture. Stylus contact possibly spans about 1-3um, or perhaps smaller IMO.

That image shows that (non-record) vinyl surface texture can be smooth in the context of vinyl playback I think. This seems to tally with a few SEMs of whole grooves which suggest a smooth and 'solid' surface texture, albeit at lower mag than this.

Would be just great if someone with SEM access were able to examine surface texture at such mag........

LD
 
Loescher & Hirsch published an article back in 1974 in the JAES about comparisons (by microscopic inspection and aural comparison) between wet and dry playback, but were mainly interested in reduced wear of styli and records when played wet.

Loescher, Friedrich A.; Hirsch, Frank H., Long-Term Durability of Pickup Diamonds and Records, JAES Volume 22 Issue 10 pp. 800, 802, 804, 806; December 1974
 
Loescher & Hirsch published an article back in 1974 in the JAES about comparisons (by microscopic inspection and aural comparison) between wet and dry playback, but were mainly interested in reduced wear of styli and records when played wet.

Loescher, Friedrich A.; Hirsch, Frank H., Long-Term Durability of Pickup Diamonds and Records, JAES Volume 22 Issue 10 pp. 800, 802, 804, 806; December 1974

Thank you, Jakob2. Is it worthwhile, these days I don't subscribe so it's a trip to the British Library ? Can you summarise or quote the abstract ?

LD
 
The surface of the vinyl is going to dramatically change depending on the application. So it'd be a fool errand (IMO) to look at anything other than the actual wear surface of the record.

Nice find, Jakob! Modern metrology equipment would garner so much more.

Scott--those look pretty similar to what I see from dust. That said, that's a LOT of dust, not "moderately dusty". Unless that's all electrostatically bound, a blast with compressed air would push most of that off (or even a simple rinse, no need for ultrasound to get rid of 95% of that dust).
 
Back when there was a record store on every high street the only real complaints were of off centered or warped discs.
Perhaps the new breed of vinyl buyers expect too much from the medium or are trying to build a record collection from charity shop junk?
The problem with charity shops is that donations get sorted in the back and the good stuff never gets to the front of the store, that is why there is never any shortage of volunteers.
A while back I donated 2 boxes of discs to a local charity shop, the discs were in excellent condition, carefully played on good quality decks and I remember there was a complete set of The Rings. Anyway, none of the records joined the dogeared specimens out on the floor.
 
Ah the thread troll is lonely again. Poor you.
Why would my trying to inject some common sense into the mix deserve the above response, unless I hit the nail on the head and your record collection consists of thrift shop purchases?
I have noticed there are more charity shops on British high streets than there are pubs, and that is a crying shame.
What if one wanted to play wet 78 rpm discs, would waterproofs be required?😛
 
I'm curious how LAST was dismissed so quickly.

Not once have I applied it personally, but I buy records that have been treated somewhat regularly. They always have less noise, and I don't notice problems with my stylus. The only thing I'm wondering about is if I like the sound better or not because they're very smooth sounding. Close up claims from the manufacturer were impressive, but it's unknown how legit they are.

Reviews that I've found can't seem to account for any draw backs, but I'm certainly open to better information. However just claiming it doesn't do anything (SY) is pretty pointless since it's readily obvious something occurs. Is it permanent? Well, probably not, but it does appear you can get a lot of plays out of it before a retreat. To me it sounds a little bit like it lubricates the vinyl; not sure if it's better.
 
I'm curious how LAST was dismissed so quickly.

Not once have I applied it personally, but I buy records that have been treated somewhat regularly. They always have less noise, and I don't notice problems with my stylus. The only thing I'm wondering about is if I like the sound better or not because they're very smooth sounding.

I have several records purchased new with one side treated and one not over 30yr. ago. IME the treated side has less noise but sounds dull.