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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
> -- 
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> http://www.mrichter.com/
>
>