It'll take a very long time saving change. Think "saving paychecks". ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Richter" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 10:52 PM Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Laser Turntable and Damaged Vinyl > Charles Lawson wrote: > >> A little while back, someone on this list asked whether playing a damaged >> vinyl disc on a laser turntable might yield improved results over >> straight >> stylus playback. I chimed in that, yes, the LT can often make a damaged >> disc sound substantially better by virtue of reading a less damaged part >> of the groove wall. A couple of you challenged me (privately) to provide >> an actual audio demonstration to prove my assertion, so I took some time >> to assemble a short MP3 today that shows fairly dramatically how the >> laser >> pickup can improve matters with a damaged disc. The demo file comprises >> three brief parts: stylus playback (using a well-known, well-regarded >> stylus/cartridge/turntable combination--with a very low-time stylus that >> is properly set up), laser playback of the same material and then a >> full-restoration of the original material (using a variety of software >> tools) based on the laser pickup. The MP3 is less than 1 MB in size and >> I'll be happy to email it to anyone who'd like it. > > The demonstration is most effective and I thank you for it. Amateur that I > am, I will venture some comments. > > The sound with the conventional stylus is worse than I have ever > encountered except when the wrong stylus was used. I believe I've > mentioned before that some 1950s issues on Odeon and other European EMI > labels require an elliptical 78-rpm stylus. With a conical stylus made for > LPs (0.7 mil, IIRC) and a filthy, scratched disc, the sound is similar to > that sample. > > The raw sound with the laser pickup is a revelation, as promised. The > sound has no evidence of the grundge in the groove and it appears that an > optimum stylus geometry has been found as well. The demo proves the case. > > As for the processed audio from the laser pickup, it shows that someone > <G> knows how to clean up a decent capture. From intolerable to enjoyable > in three easy demonstrations. > > I urge everyone concerned with preserving LPs to listen - and to start > collecting spare change for such a system. > > I will happily host the file on a WWW page (no ads, no cookies) if > desired. > > Thank you, Charles. > > Mike > -- > [log in to unmask] > http://www.mrichter.com/ > >