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The best and computer software for tick & Pop removal and EQ??

bergun

bergun

Well-Known Member
Hi, I'm finally getting ready to transfer my vinyl collection to CDs since most of them I cannot find in that format or willing to pay $$$ for the limited imports. Anyway, I'm looking to buy a user friendy and good software for my computer to do this task.

My main concerns are for the removal of hiss, ticks, pops and other related surface noise from vinyl, as well as correcting some of the EQ issues on older and slightly worn lps.

I know that there are several free software programs out there, but since I'm going to "invest" my limited free-time in this, I want to do it right the first time AND not wishing that I did in the first place.

A few years ago, before Computer USA closed in my area, they offered at least 4-6 different programs that looked pretty good, but since I live in Anchorage, Alaska, places that offer software, other than pc games, are pretty limited.

Also, any ideals on a computer program that can convert the original album art work to work with standard plastic jewel cases, as well as to correct some of the worn areas of the original art work??

Thanks for looking!!
 
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Nearly all of the CC/DVD writers come with software that will do a decent job on your cover art. For instance, Nero comes with some basic audio cleanup functions, and cover printing.

You can google Best Free Software and get numerous results for audio programs, such as Audacity.
I personally use DCart by Diamond Cut Productions, which may have a free version. However, you can usually download a brand name Demo, like DCart, and have a week or two to evaluate, then pay for a serial number that will give you the full version. (often $39.00 or so)

These programs do an amazing job of cleaning up noise.They can virtually eliminate ticks, pops and crackle, hum and hiss. Most have a way to convert speeds, like say inputting a 78 speed record from your 33 turntable setting. They have equalizers, filters to simulate different preamps, tube simulaters. Can simulate stereo from a mono recording, etc. There is enough facilities there to keep you busy forever!

However, it is very easy to overdo a lot of those filters.
 
I've been happily using Audacity, which is free, I don't use any of its noise reducing or cleanup functions, other than i will sometimes do fade outs, silences, and fade ins between tracks, and at the beginning and end of albums.
I do use Brian Davies' ClickRepair for the clicks and pops. I first save the whole album as a wav file, then let ClickRepair process it. It saves the clickrepaired file as a new file, which I then listen to & if it sounds good its back to audacity to divide into tracks and then its ready for a CD burning program.
ClickRepair has a free trial and is $35 or $40 to purchase the license to keep using it.
I haven't tried DCart or Groove Mechanic so I can't compare. I did trial GoldWave a long time ago and it was OK but I didn't buy.

I will say that the first thing you want to be sure of is you have a good system for cleaning your records, your turntable and cartridge are in good working order, and make sure you are getting a good clean signal all the way from your stylus, through the phono preamp, and into and through your computer. It is easy to pick up electrical noise somewhere along that route. Keep listening carefully to assure you're getting a clean result, since it is such an investment of your time.
You will doubtlessly also have to fiddle with the output level of your source and the input level of your recording software to find the best result.
Have fun!
 
Nero Wave Editor (part of the general Nero media suite) for general editing, Nero Express for burning and ClickRepair for transient noise processing. Paint Shop Pro for cover art. (Note - I have an older version of this and much prefer it to Photoshop Essentials. Can't speak for any differences in newer versions, sorry!) I usually record with Sony Sound Forge but the Nero recorder does fine and again is part of the media suite. The Nero transient noise reduction algorithms are not as good as ClickRepair, but they are very respectable and come free with Wave Editor.

ClickRepair is superb, and super-easy to use. Default settings work well but they are easily adjustable. You can monitor the noise removal results audibly as it works, if you like; sometimes very useful to make sure you aren't clipping out any music with the noise. You can download a fully functional version for a trial run and then pay to get a key to make it permanent. Very reasonably priced for the performance level.

I use a cheapy digital camera and a handmade wood alignment jig to photograph the album covers, which are too large for most scanners unless you go through the very tedious process of splicing multiple seperate scans. The photo program then allows retouching-- simple or eleborate-- and adjusting LP to CD cover size.
 
I use Adobe Audition 1.5 and Click Repair on a custom built PC audio workstation which is our music server PC. Sound card is by AudioScience. Playout software is BSI WaveCart and Simian.
 
Sound Forge is the professional package, although I don't know what's happened to it since Sony bought the company.
 
I have used Sound Forge too, it works excellent for removing ticks
and pops from LPs although with any software that does a good job
at that is going to consume your time.
 
Sony has done an excellent job with Sound Forge and has continued to improve on superb software. It's still one of my favorite audio editing apps. And they still improve and continue to support the excellent Vegas Video as well.
 
Thanks for the responses... I was hoping to "buy" the software package in order to have a independent disc and manual on hand.

I'm a little old school and I still like having something sitting on the shelf enstead of having everything on the computer since my computer crashes about 1-2 times a year.

Are there any places still around to buy this software like J&R out of NYC or some internet site that still sells packaged audio software???

Again, thanks!!
 
Magix Audio Cleaning Lab has always been a favorite of mine. Does clean up, and great for converting vinly into your pc. I have version 12, and it's on 16 not I believe. Very good software, and really user friendly for that type of softward.
 
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