Using DVR to digitize LPs

[Frobozz]

This is not a problem or question. I'm offering this as a tip.

I have the Pioneer DVR-510H-S and discovered that I can use it to digitize my LPs. Previously I had to connect my computer to the stereo system but this was inconvenient. Now I just set the DVR to its 1-hour record speed, which records audio in PCM, and select record. It doesn't matter that there is no video signal. In fact, the lack of a video signal allows me to record more than 7 hours of music on a DVD-RW even though I'm using the 1-hour record mode.

I record directly to the DVD-RW rather than to the hard drive. I format the DVD-RW in the Video mode and must finalize the DVD in order for my computer to read the files. I have a Mac, so I use Cinematize to rip the audio to AIFF files on my hard drive from which I can then use other software for filtering and track separation.

Technically, I can also play the audio-only DVDs as I would a video DVD. The menu shows the individual albums I've recorded. I suppose if I used one of the other recording settings that encodes Dolby Digital audio I could get more than 30 hours of music on a DVD this way, but I haven't tried that as yet.

[lordsmurf]

I would not do AC3, as it tends to compound errors. If you want to filter, you're doing perfect already.

[Offroad]

other software for filtering and track separation.

I'm thinking of doing the same thing.
What software are you using for filtering and track separation?

I don't have a Mac but sometimes programs are available for multiple OS's.

Thanks.

[Frobozz]

All of the applications I have for filtering and splitting audio files are Mac only.

They are
CD SpinDoctor (bundled as part of Roxio's Toast)
Bias' Peak Express
Felt Tip's Sound Studio
Griffin's Final Vinyl

[lordsmurf]

Use SOUNDFORGE for cleaning up audio.
http://www.digitalfaq.com/restoration/audio/soundforge/soundforge.htm

[nixie]

What would happen if you used the 2, 4, or 6 hour mode? Quality not good enough?

Also, is there any software that can detect the silent gaps between songs and make a separate WAV file for each song? Trying to do this by hand on a long contiguous recording is cumbersome.

[zenzen1]

Go Here..... http://www.audio-dvd-creator.com/

[Frobozz]

What would happen if you used the 2, 4, or 6 hour mode? Quality not good enough?

On my Pioneer DVR the only way to record PCM audio is to use the Fine (or 1-hour) record mode. Any other setting records audio in 2-channel Dolby Digital. So yes, there is a quality difference with the longer time setting.

[anzimike]

Great tip frobozz! I will check to see if this works with dvdr-7000. I am working on laptop for now which does not have audio line in.
Thanks!

[DanaT]

The Toshiba D-KR2 allows the user to choose low video rates, as well as choose which audio encoding scheme to use (D/M1, D/M2, or L-PCM). Even so, the maximum time one can get for L-PCM audio is 3hrs 21min.

Also, note that for all NTSC DVDs, the L-PCM sampling rate is 48k, while for a CD the sampling rate is always 44.1k. So you can not take the audio bitstream from a DVD and put it on a CD without either getting a pitch change or resampling.

[bigeck]

Sorry if I'm being daft here but why would the sample rate have any effect on the pitch?

[DanaT]

bigeck said:
Sorry if I'm being daft here but why would the sample rate have any effect on the pitch?

You're not daft at all! The problem is that if you record the PCM directly to CD without resampling, the result will be that the pitch sounds lower, because each cycle of the waveform was broken into more pieces than it would have been if it had been sampled at the standard rate for a CD (44.1 KHz). It's just like playing a 45 rpm record at 33 1/3 rpm (well, the ratio is different, but the concept is the same).

One way of dealing with the problem is to resample -- many software packages do this automatically and you really aren't aware that it's happening. The downside is that it takes time, and also the automated systems choose a "good" algorithm, which may or may not be well-suited for your specific recording.

Resampling also tends to accentuate any errors and often accentuates noise, so for these reasons it is often preferable to sample at the proper rate and avoid resampling.