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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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,582 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
591 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
22,582 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.
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o_holter
979 posts
 
Anyone know of a decent little player for running etc that can play 24/96?
craig_c OP
21 posts
 

Johnss,
My computer is a Mac G4 with an M-Audio Audiophile 24/96.
I can record at better than Redbook but since I tend to save everything in Apple Lossless, I don't know if that codec can save high bit rate recordings.

My Nakamichi CD player won't play DVD's. My DVD player might be able to, but I don't have it integrated into my audio system.

Craig
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