Vinyl recordings - best methods

dgarretson - thank you, I will study this. I am not able to do it myself but maybe I can find a tech who can. By the way, as related in another thread here ("Why are my woofers pumping?"), my cart/arm combo has too low resonance, resulting in subsonic pumping. What is interesting in this context is that the pumping carries over to the DSD recordings made on the Tascam. So it records whatever is there, very low in the frequency spectrum (probably around 7hz).

I've been stopped in my tracks due to a cartridge problem, the diamond fell off. So vinyl recordings must be postponed. All I can say is, the Tascam recordings I made before still sound good - even if they can be improved. I am more interested in the recording part, than how the Tascam plays back. Once it is in "optimal" version in the DSD recording, playback can be adjusted later.  Due to my recent unfortunate experience, I think a main point is to record - when the system works OK. As many LPs as you can. Before something breaks down.

@o_holter - Sorry to hear about your "diamonds are NOT forever" experience.  Not for nothing, but that is why I have always insisted on a tonearm with interchangeable headshells or wands.  I have my trusty old Thorens TD-166MkII with two 'arm wands.  I can just swap it out if one cartridge or stylus messes the bed.  One of them is an Ortofon MM with a user-replaceable stylus, and I have a spare for that as well.  The way I see it, I have so little time to digitize my vinyl as it is, that I don't want to be prevented from doing it when I have the chance by technical issues if I can possibly plan for them. 

Bondmanp - thanks, and agree - common experience - diamonds are not forever. I also had a Thorens. On my Hanss T30 I can have two arms, and I consider it, although part of my thinking is, why do I need two arms, one is enough, I will choose the best one anyway. The best arm and cart combo. Why do I need more. And to record, I would use the best combo, not the next best. But your experience is maybe different?

@o_holter - Horses for courses, as they say.  I find my Ortofon is plenty good for most rock and pop recordings.  I use the Denon for better recordings, classical and well-recorded jazz.  I save the wear on the Denon when the quality of the LP isn't so great, and of course, I have a spare in case there are any problems with one or the other.  Believe it or not, I got two wands initially during my mix tape days in the 80's, when I wanted one wand with a Stanton cartridge for back-queuing, and another one for spinning vinyl or dubbing to cassette tape.  Good times...good times.