2. analog
  3. 1235722624

Can digitizing vinyl match CD?

I'm digitizing some of my vinyl so that it is transportable. I'll keep the LPs, but I just don't want to buy duplicates of the LPs on CD. I have some LPs not released on vinyl. I'll be sampling at either 48 or 96 bps.

Is it possible for digitizing vinyl to match or exceed commercial Red Book CDs?

Is the commercial process of CD production by definition superior to anything I could achieve since the studio master recordings are fewer generations removed from the original than my LPs would be?

Are my CBS Masterworks Series Digitally Remastered LPs already compromised (compared to original analog releases) because they've departed from the analog production cycle?

Or is it only possible to exceed CD quality if price is no object?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Craig
craig_c
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
I just burned a track on my Masterlink in 24/88.2 (Not CD 24) and it played perfectly in my Esoteric X03 SE.

GREAT tip, Atmasphere. I just finished and didn't do any serious listening, just tested it, but off the bat, it sounded better than 16/44 (as it should). I originally picked up the Masterlink to do compilations of my favirite tunes, for some uninterupted listening. I kind of abandoned that when I got the Squeezebox/Benchmark but now I'll go back to the compilations.
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
...which leads me to a question.

Any benefit burning a redbood CD on the Masterlink to 24/88.2? Being the original source material is 16/44.1, is it that if it isn't already there, it won't make a difference?
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,152 posts
 
"Any benefit burning a redbood CD on the Masterlink to 24/88.2? Being the original source material is 16/44.1, is it that if it isn't already there, it won't make a difference?"

I would say no benefit. Adds overhead of larger files with no benefit.
johnss
569 posts
 
Craig,
I would stick with the higher sampling rates. Go for 96k or 176.4Khz. they do sound better than 44.1 and 48k.
You did not mention how you were going to do this, but there are several options;
1. use a high res sound card like the audiophile 192

2. purchase stand alone hi res recorder like the Tascam DV-RA1000HD.

Instead of limiting yourself to the CD bit rate, why not spend 20 bucks and download DVD-A solo from Cirlinca? Then you could take your hi res digital LP tracks and burn them to a DVD-R as a high res. DVD-Audio disc which will sound way better than any CD would.

best
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,152 posts
 
If you want oversampling, then I would store the files at the native resolution because this is the most compact form to store in without loss, and then rely on a good oversampling DAC to do the oversampling constructively during playback.
More to discover