Sweet Vinyl Sugarcube - I Want It!!!

Update - After some time away, I returned home, fired up my SC-2, and was pleased to see I got an update. Both the SC-2 and the Sugarcube Android app were updated. The biggest difference I noticed was that you can now customize the resolution for recording, both the bit rate and the sampling frequency. This is very welcome, as for the time being, my streamer (SBT) cannot handle anything over 96/24.

It could be my imagination, but the sound on an unfamiliar LP I digitized last night seemed even smoother and more detailed than I remember the SC-2 sounding.

On the downside, the "light show" issue was not fixed. If anything, it’s worse. But there does not seem to be any impact on the sound or functionality of the SC-2 as a result.

Also, although I haven’t read it yet, Fremer posted a review on his Analog Planet site of one of the Sugarcubes.

Thanks bondmanp for reviving your thread,

Fremer reviewed the SC-1. The SC-1 as you know only does click and pop removal, no recording. He concluded:

"I think many will react as I did and come to see this is an indispensible addition to their vinyl playback systems. It will certainly change how I go used record shopping—especially in the bargain bins."

I have had my SC-2 for two months and really like the click and pop remover. It has brought new life to some of my Goodwill finds. I do not hear any attenuation of high notes which apparently was a problem with older click and pop removers. Seems there is a subtle change in sound with the feature engaged, but listening is still quite enjoyable. I leave it on most of the time, but it can be easily switched on and off by pressing a button on my tablet.

I use an iPad. Most of the time, I can see the track names and album art on the iPad app. Very cool. Rock music works well with track naming and album art, but not so much with the few jazz albums that I have played.

Also, I recorded an album to hear what it is like. The process was not very intuitive, at least for me. I can get the tracks to appear on my computer after plugging in the usb stick, but that is as far as I have been able to get. Still trying to figure out how to get the recording into my JRiver music library, how to view the album art, and how to edit metadata.

Hoping the track splitting function is introduced soon, and that along with it, that improvements are made to the iPad app to make it more functional and intuitive for recording.

I sent my comments to Sweetvinyl, and got a fast reply.  It seems I have the software version prior to the current release.  I set my SC-2 to Bypass and left it powered on, which should enable the firmware download.  I will reboot tonight or tomorrow night and see which version I have.  Apparently, the "light show" on the front panel was the tip-off that I had not yet received the latest software update, which fixes this issue.  Also, I neglected to mention that the Android app now "finds" my SC-2 on my home network very quickly and consistently, something that was not case before.  Also, not only the bit rate and sampling frequency are selectable, but also the digital format.  I use FLAC exclusively, but WAV and ALAC are also available.

@thaluza - Yes, I too hope we get track-splitting soon.  That, and the ability to send a digitized file over the home network to my server are key capabilities for me.  However, based on some things I have read, it seems that track-splitting is proving more of a bear to get right than had been anticipated.  I know that Sweetvinyl is determined to get it done, but I am afraid patience will be required.  Meanwhile, I continue to get great, clean digitized versions of my LPs using the SC-2 and my Marantz CD-R.  But I look forward to skipping this step and moving to higher-resolution digitization. 

Update: So I finally got the newest software download, and the blinking LED issue is gone. The USB & Record indicator light does cycle slowly on and off. The Sweetvinyl team is checking to see if that is normal.

Now for some good news: Track splitting is at the top of the development priority list for updating the software. It won’t be overnight, but it is the focus currently at Sweetvinyl. Also, level normalization is planned - this is like ReplyGain. If you ever listen to random tracks or albums on your server, you know that not all recordings are made at the same peak or average level. This can be annoying when listening, especially in the car or for background music. Encoding the digitized files with normalization data can enable the playback device (a streamer, player or computer music software) that is equipped to do so to normalize the volume from album to album or song to song, without changing the level balance within an album (so relative levels from track-to-track within an LP remain at the relative levels they were mastered with).

Additionally, I was told that a left-right balance adjustment via the app would be added for the recording process on the SC-2. This is huge, IMHO, as the channel balance from LP to LP and even within an LP is anything but centered or consistent. And there are also left-right imbalances on lots of phono cartridges out there, too. Being able to correct this in the digitization/recording process is a key feature for me, one which I currently accomplish using the ganged left & right record volume pots on my CD recorder. Without this feature in the Sweetvinyl app, I would still have to keep the recorder in the signal chain, just to adjust the balance. It would be great if I can mothball the CD recorder altogether. This possibility is getting closer.

I did learn that one of the processors, the one that controls the front panel indicators and displays, does need an embedded firmware upgrade, which cannot be accomplished via internet download. But Leo from Sweetvinyl will be in my area soon, and I plan to meet up with him, SC-2 in tow, so he can take care of this, as he has so kindly offered to do. No shipping, and no time without my favorite new toy!

As I told Leo, I am really enjoying the beta experience. Patience is important (helped along by the knowledge that I paid half of list for my SC-2 via the Indiegogo campaign), as well as is providing as much feedback as possible to the Sweetvinyl team. The responsiveness of the folks at Sweetvinyl to my questions and feedback make me feel like a part of the collaborative process of fully realizing all of the amazing capabilities of this one-box wonder.