Thanks for the info. I really don't want the PC closer to my audio setup as it introduces noise. Maybe a wireless option would be best. As much as I love macs I can't use one...the software I use is PC only (use to be Unix only) and I don't want to purchase another PC just for audio. I really don't plan on recording that many LPs/45s to digital, just the stuff that never made it to CD. I have 1500+ CDs so I may look into that ripping service.
Need advice on formats for vinyl recordings
I am new to the PC audiophile world. I have a large collection of CDs, LPs and 45s thanks to 5 years of working in a record store in the late 90s. I also have lots of MP3s from my college days (late 90s to 2003...prime Napster era) but most are 128k to 192k (hard drives weren't as plentiful and my budget was low). Anyway, now I am thinking of re-ripping my collection and running through my hi-end system rather than my PC.
I would like to do lossless but EAC is soooo sloooow on my current system (a brand new Dell Optiplex w/2GB ram). There are also lots of settings I don't understand and I would hate to start this thing and have to go back and re-do them later.
I am going to purchase a Benchmark DAC w/USB for my system and was thinking of getting the complimenting ADC for recording vinyl. Anyway here are my questions:
1. Does USB cable length/brand matter? In my audioroom the PC is about 20' cablewise from my system (this cannot change).
2. For ripping CDs, will iTunes with Apple lossless be just as good as FLAC? I would rather have a user friendly format and I may get an iPod in the future if this goes well.
3. For recording vinyl, if I want a superhigh quality recording can I do it at 24bit/192k like the Benchmarks will encode/decode so long as I am always going to play it back through that setup? I know the iPod probably won't support this.
4. Also any recs on good recording software to support those bitrates and remove noise (I use to use SoundForge many years ago and it was pretty good)?
Any info will be much appreciated. Thanks.
I would like to do lossless but EAC is soooo sloooow on my current system (a brand new Dell Optiplex w/2GB ram). There are also lots of settings I don't understand and I would hate to start this thing and have to go back and re-do them later.
I am going to purchase a Benchmark DAC w/USB for my system and was thinking of getting the complimenting ADC for recording vinyl. Anyway here are my questions:
1. Does USB cable length/brand matter? In my audioroom the PC is about 20' cablewise from my system (this cannot change).
2. For ripping CDs, will iTunes with Apple lossless be just as good as FLAC? I would rather have a user friendly format and I may get an iPod in the future if this goes well.
3. For recording vinyl, if I want a superhigh quality recording can I do it at 24bit/192k like the Benchmarks will encode/decode so long as I am always going to play it back through that setup? I know the iPod probably won't support this.
4. Also any recs on good recording software to support those bitrates and remove noise (I use to use SoundForge many years ago and it was pretty good)?
Any info will be much appreciated. Thanks.