24-bit 96kHz anybody using it for cassette transfers ?

[wayne]

hi,

I've been postulating if its worth going to these sampling specs when transferring cassette masters and low gens in my collection. I've got a
3-head Nakamichi BX300 tape deck, I usually feed this into a Tascam DA30mkII analog input and then go to the HD via SPDIF @48kHz.

I've got a Audiophile 2496 card which can cope with the higher spec but I'm wondering if its overkill to archive tape sources in this way. Anybody considered doing this, or is it considered a waste of bits.

thanks

Wayne

For Cassette I Dont Think You Need Go More Than 48 Khz 24 Bit

[Five]

I think 44.1kHz at 24bit should be fine. then you can also compress it to FLAC. If you record at 48kHz it will probably sound worse overall when you downsample it to 44.1. 24bit needs to be dithered down to 16 but is worth it if you're planning on doing some signal processing.

[onemanguitarband]

I don't think I've heard of anyone doing it at 96, but I've seen 24b 48k and I think it is a good idea.

I'd say part of it depends on if you are dealing with the master tape, and how good it sounds.

Personally, I don't think about the downsample issue, why do it? Think to the future....I know there is already talk of true HD-AUDIO coming out.

http://www.dvdfile.com/index.php?opt...5086&Itemid=11


If I was transfering I'd do it at 24b and 48k, if you are dealing with he master tape. Then let someone else do the lossy 16b 44.1 transfer if they want it on CD.

As for low gens, unless the masters are non-existant, I wouldn't worry about making that high of a quality copy.

[wayne]

I'll give 24/48 a go seeing as I'm not planning on making cds out of any of the sources - I'm just on an archive trip at present, some tapes date back to the early 80's and may not be with us for much longer.

thanks for the input

Wayne

[brainysod]

Originally Posted by wayne

some tapes date back to the early 80's and may not be with us for much longer.

thanks for the input

Wayne

I've transfered older.

Originally Posted by wayne

hi,

I've been postulating if its worth going to these sampling specs when transferring cassette masters and low gens in my collection. I've got a
3-head Nakamichi BX300 tape deck, I usually feed this into a Tascam DA30mkII analog input and then go to the HD via SPDIF @48kHz.

I've got a Audiophile 2496 card which can cope with the higher spec but I'm wondering if its overkill to archive tape sources in this way. Anybody considered doing this, or is it considered a waste of bits.

thanks

Wayne

if your going to master it and not just transfer

that is what all the pro master houses do up sample to 48 khz 24 bit

master then down sample to 44.1 khz 16 bit for cd burning


i master to dvd so no downsampling is needed unless im torrenting it !

[wayne]

Originally Posted by brainysod

I've transfered older.

I've noticed a few have crackles on them which make them sound like they've been sourced from LP, which isn't the case as its stuff I've taped. I'm guess its from when I was a student and I lived in cheap damp housing, dragging my tape collection with me.

Originally Posted by wayne

I've noticed a few have crackles on them which make them sound like they've been sourced from LP, which isn't the case as its stuff I've taped. I'm guess its from when I was a student and I lived in cheap damp housing, dragging my tape collection with me.

crackles not likely from analog cassettes unless the oxide is falling off

bad cables or soundcard more likely the culprit

or when recording to a pc or mac it is best to have a dedicated hard drive

as read wirtes from other services can interupt the tranfer

especially with a sound card integrated with the mother board !

[wayne]

Originally Posted by mort

if your going to master it and not just transfer

that is what all the pro master houses do up sample to 48 khz 24 bit

master then down sample to 44.1 khz 16 bit for cd burning


i master to dvd so no downsampling is needed unless im torrenting it !

thats what I've been doing so far - just transfer the tapes as side 1/2 and FLAC them to dvd with checksums, no editing or faffing about. I just want to avoid having to go through them again - I've done a couple of boxes at 16-bit/48k which I may go back to those and redo them.

[wayne]

Originally Posted by mort

crackles not likely from analog cassettes unless the oxide is falling off

well there are crackles there, some worse than others, tapes dating from 82/83ish and not confined to one brand. As a teenie I wasn't that kind to my tapes so I'm not surprised, they're all fixable when the inclination takes me.

edit: the crackles are evident on the tapedeck output as well, thees nothing wrong with the transfer system - empty partitions, no other apps running, great cables, no A/D done near the PC, no nasty appliances on the ring main thats running the audio kit.

Originally Posted by wayne

well there are crackles there, some worse than others, tapes dating from 82/83ish and not confined to one brand. As a teenie I wasn't that kind to my tapes so I'm not surprised, they're all fixable when the inclination takes me.

IVE GOT TAPES GOING BACK TO 72 AND THEY HAVE NO CRACKLES

IT IS POSSIBLE THE TAPES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED FROM A BAD TAPE HEAD ONE THAT HAS A BURR ON IT

Originally Posted by wayne

well there are crackles there, some worse than others, tapes dating from 82/83ish and not confined to one brand. As a teenie I wasn't that kind to my tapes so I'm not surprised, they're all fixable when the inclination takes me.

edit: the crackles are evident on the tapedeck output as well, thees nothing wrong with the transfer system - empty partitions, no other apps running, great cables, no A/D done near the PC, no nasty appliances on the ring main thats running the audio kit.

YOU MAY GET GOOD RESULTS USING WAVES X-CRACKLE ON THEM

[wayne]

Originally Posted by mort

IVE GOT TAPES GOING BACK TO 72 AND THEY HAVE NO CRACKLES

IT IS POSSIBLE THE TAPES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED FROM A BAD TAPE HEAD ONE THAT HAS A BURR ON IT

no, no tape damage on the suface of the tape at all

Originally Posted by wayne

no, no tape damage on the suface of the tape at all

WELL THEN YOU BETTER TRY A DIFFERANT TAPE DECK

BECASE SOMETHING IS TERRIBLY WRONG


I DO ANALOG TO COMPUTER TRANSFER ALL DAY LONG USING CASSETTES FROM AS FAR BACK AS THE EARLY 70'S AND NONE HAVE EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM


GOOD LUCK I HOPE YOU GET IT FIXED !