Converting LP to digital. Advice please...

Technology marches on. I don't think the Tascam offers de-clicking, nor does it automatically split and name tracks.

The Sweet Vinyl SC-2 seems to do it all. It seems very promising as an easy to use all-in-one solution. It is being beta tested and it should be available soon for purchase.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sweetvinyl-sugarcube#/

You can also play your records with the SC-2 hooked up to your phono pre, which supposedly will eliminate clicks and pops as the record is being played, without degrading the sound. Fremer gave it a positive write up.

Lewm -

I am in general agreement with your post. It is the convenience features of the Sweet Vinyl SC-2 that are appealing to me.

I have around 2500 LP’s that I want to digitize. I have an Alesis Masterlink. It is nice for making the occasional recording, but there is no way I am going to digitize my entire collection with it. The process is too cumbersome. The Tascam, and the Sound Devices units that Al mentions, allow recording to a usb stick or sd card, but other than that, none of them seem much easier to use than the Alesis that I own.

It is the splitting and naming of tracks, and the de-clicking, that takes up a lot of my time. The extra cost of the Sweet Vinyl SC-2 in my case would be worth it, as it does all of this in real time while the record is being played and recorded.

I don’t doubt that recordings made with the Tascam are excellent. I strongly considered buying it to replace my Masterlink. I am familiar with the two guys on VA and have much respect for their technological knowledge. I have owned some of the same gear that they currently own, but have moved on and discovered other gear that were an improvement to my ears. Such could be the case with the SC-2; who knows until it has been tried and evaluated?

I’m waiting to read further reviews of the SC-2. If the sound quality is good, and preliminary reports are positive, I would choose the SC-2 as it is worth the extra money to me if it means it will make it easier and quicker to digitize my collection. If I were only doing an occasional recording here and there, the Alesis, Tascam, or Sound Devices would suffice.

The feature that takes out the clicks and pops during playback is just a bonus that would be fun to play with. I agree with your philosophy that simpler connections are better. I would use the feature in something like a tape loop so that I can switch back and forth and do a comparison. If I hear a degradation of sound quality, I would not use the feature most of the time, but I would use it on occasion for fun or for some of my more compromised records.