Recording Vinyl in SL3

Garage At Large 8:42 PM - 11 May, 2009

I am a vinyl junkie taking the plunge into digital. I read and understood most of the software instructions. My issue is I have a killer vinyl collection that I want to digitize using the SL3 and would like someone to walk me through it. Here is where I've got so far. Technics 1200 turntable hooked up to an original UREI 1620. I will use either master out or record out of the mixer and into the SL 3 line inputs. SL3 is hooked up to my computer via usb. Here is what I need to know.

1. I would like all my vinyl to be recorded uncompressed. Hard drive space is not an issue for me. Once the vinyl is recorded do I just use that file as it was recorded raw. Bare with me as I'm an old school DJ whose computer skills are limited.

2. When is the 24-bit processing of the SL3 go into effect. Is it processing 24-bit throught the input (while recording vinyl) or only on playback.

3. Do I need to use another software to organize my files such as itunes or can I just record the tracks straight to a hard drive then use the Scratch to organize?

4. How do I tag/label the .wav or aiff files to display Title, Artist, Label, Year, BPM and Genre in Scratch.

5. Does Scratch give me a bpm count of the vinyl that was recorded.

6. I'm using 4 250gig hard drive which is basically hard drives in an USB enclosure. Is there a hard drive that a lot of folks have succes on. I know nothing is crash free but performance matters to me.

Konix 9:12 PM - 11 May, 2009

Just connect your turntable strait to the SL3, no need to go through the mixer (and in fact you shouldn't, then then you have to worrying about double EQing, etc.)

1) Yes, once it's recorded you can use the file right away

2) 24-bit on recording. SL3 recordings are 24-bit/48kHz AIFF files.

3) Once you record and save the file in SSL, a new crate is made called "Recorded" and the file(s) will be in that crate. You can move them to a different crate if you so wish. You could use iTunes also if you want.

4) You can tag the AIFF recordings right in SSL's crate browser.

5) You'll need to build overviews/analyze the file(s) in SSL after you recorded them to get the BPM.

6) There's many brands of external drives, some better than others. This is more opinion than anything, but stick with the name brands; Segate, Western Digital, etc.

Garage At Large 9:21 PM - 11 May, 2009

Thank you. All my drives are Western Digital drives. With regards to question # 1, I have the UREI which only has bass and treble knobs. Those knobs are set to a flat response. My reason for going through the UREI is that it would give a more robust/warm punch to the recording. I know the SL3 has studio pres in their phono section but I also saw on the diagram listed in the SL3 manual that you can use your own preamp before going into the SL3 as long as you are using the line input. Any more voices would like to chime in on this as I have a huge collection and I want to make sure I get a good recording of the source material. Also I got the Ortofon Arkiv cartridge/needle and some Gruv Glide to clean my vinyls.

Zach S 9:53 PM - 11 May, 2009

Hello Garage At Large,

I would record a track with and without using the UREI to see if you can even hear a difference.

My guess is recording directly into the SL3 will be good enough. It has very high quality phono pres.

I would also suggest organizing your recorded vinyl into your own folders prior to importing them into SSL.

This is just so you keep things nice and tidy outside of Scratch LIVE.

You will find your recordings in a 'Recordings' folder inside the ScratchLIVE folder on your internal drive.

Note: If you move your files from this location then the originally recorded files in SSL (Serato Scratch LIVE) will show up pink when you try to play them.
This is because you moved the files.
Use the 'relocate lost files' feature to have SSL find where you moved your recordings.

Garage At Large 4:24 PM - 12 May, 2009

Ok, I recorded going directly into SSL3 box. I changed the phono settings to 6.0 V for the Ortofon Arkiv cartridge/needle. The sound is very good. However, I tried monitoring through the computer and heard nothing. Should I hook up an output from the SSL3 box to a mixer, then monitor through the mixer headphones? Also I converted the AIFF file to .WAV (not necessary but I just wanted to have all .WAV) through Audacity. I then dragged it back into Scratch. Is this correct? I noticed I two of the same files. Also I read in another post that in order to build overviews that I should start Scratch without the hardware. Is that correct?

Garage At Large 4:27 PM - 12 May, 2009

Additionally, I had to turn the record knob all the way up and I still didn't push into the yellow or reds. I thought I can go up two more notches on the LED to get a louder signal but it seems like I ran out of volume control. I think Rane/Serato should do a YouTube video dedicated strictly to vinyl or at least have better instructions regarding importing vinyl. This should be geared to new users like myself who are coming from a "strictly" vinyl background.

Zach S 4:55 PM - 12 May, 2009

Ya.. you won't be able to monitor it through your computer.
YOu can definitely listen to the track coming into the input by running the output of the SL3 into your mixer, clicking the 'thru' button in the software, and monitoring the track coming into your mixer.

Quote:

Also I converted the AIFF file to .WAV (not necessary but I just wanted to have all .WAV) through Audacity. I then dragged it back into Scratch. Is this correct? I noticed I two of the same files.

If both files play then you have an aiff version and a wav version.
Remember.. the original recorded file lives in the 'Recordings' folder inside the ScratchLIVE folder on your internal drive.
If you'd rather have a wav version then convert the file and delete the aiff version.
Once deleted from its home (Recordings/ScratchLIVE) then the file will turn pink in SSL indicating that SSL can't find it anymore.
Highlight the file and hold down ctrl+delete to get it out of your SSL library.

Quote:

Also I read in another post that in order to build overviews that I should start Scratch without the hardware. Is that correct?

Yes. You will not see the build overviews or "analyze files" tab unless the interface is disconnected.

Quote:

Additionally, I had to turn the record knob all the way up and I still didn't push into the yellow or reds. I thought I can go up two more notches on the LED to get a louder signal but it seems like I ran out of volume control.

If you've turned up the input volume knob all the way and you still aren't getting a hot enough signal then lower the phono sensitivity until you get the desired level.
Maybe even lower it to 2.5mV and from there you can lower the input volume knob.

I hope that helps;)

Garage At Large 6:34 PM - 12 May, 2009

Thank you. I will give all suggestions a try tonight. I got familiar with the interface and I think I'm beginning to really feel this software. I just need to get passed the digitizing. Thanks again.

Garage At Large 2:55 AM - 14 May, 2009

Ok, I have a problem. Recorded the vinyl good. I imported the file into Audacity to take some clicks out and to edit the in point and out point (as I recorded an entire side of an album) between tracks. Once I imported the track into Audacity, I noticed on the left side of the waveform, that it said "Stereo, 48000HZ, 32-bit float. After editing I tried to export the file as a .wav. and tried loading it into Scratch. In Scratch I got the lightening boltz icon with a message next to the file that says "Unsupported File: This file's data is not in PCM format" and when I loaded it to the player, it didn't play. I went back to Audacity + Preferences + File Format and in the Uncompressed Export Format drop down box but noticed that 16-bit is the highest PCM format available. When I exported a new file, it played perfectly. I thought being that this is 24-bit that I would be able to record 24-bit and playback 24-bit. Is it Audacity that is limiting me to 16-bit? If yes, is there a way that Scratch or another software can export .wave files in 24-bit?

Zach S 4:36 PM - 14 May, 2009

SSL is recording it as 24bit.
If Audacity only exports as 16bit then that is a restriction of the program.

Try using Soundforge or Wavelab to edit the recorded files.

Garage At Large 5:17 PM - 14 May, 2009

Ok, I have an old 001 Digi Design pro tools box. Do you think I can import it there and then export as 24-Bit? I definitely heard a difference between 24 and 16-bit.

Zach S 5:40 PM - 14 May, 2009

I don't know anything about that unit. Does it come with an audio editing program?
If so, give it a try.

Garage At Large 7:14 PM - 14 May, 2009

Yes, its Pro Tools LE. I will give it a try. Just working out all the steps before I start digitizing. Just another quick question (please bare with me as I'm new to this). Once I start recording the vinyl, do you think I should record say 20 vinyl records, then go back and edit and key in the track info? I ask because I have to disconnect the box to build overviews. Once I get all of this worked out, I will do a YouTube video as I'm sure there are other people new to this that would like to see a video that shows step-by-step instructions on recording the vinyl, saving the file + backup, editing the file, labeling it, getting the bpm, export and importing it and launching the file in the player/decks. I greatly appreciate your help. Peace!

Zach S 7:51 PM - 14 May, 2009

Quote:

Once I start recording the vinyl, do you think I should record say 20 vinyl records, then go back and edit and key in the track info?

Either way will work fine. I would just record what ever tracks first and when you get some time later do the rest of the process.

1:10 AM, 2 Aug 2010

This help request has been closed due to inactivity.

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Recording Vinyl in SL3

Recording Vinyl in SL3

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