[sjg]

Hi, I am slowly making digital restorations of my collection of pre-wwI records.  I uploaded them to a legal music sharing site, 8tracks.com -- which presents the music as streaming internet radio.

I discovered that really only one of the records is not readily available but still every transfer I do of these early records is a learning experience.

http://8tracks.com/sjg/caruso-tetrazzini-galli-curci-originals-recorded-90-100-years-ago#

I welcome any questions or comments.  Particularly if you think the pitch is off. 

Stephanie

[jimdgoulding]

   Stephanie, I wouldn't propose to make a comment other than to say I'm feelin ya.  My mother's best friend who I have made reference to in these pages willed to me her opera collection.  Once, she was over to my house and we listened to some before she died.  They are pretty rough but you've lit a lite bulb for me.  I may investigate something along the lines of what you're doing.  At the very least I'll be listening to them again.  Thank you.  I see you're pretty new to posting if not the site itself.  It's a very fine community.  I'm too rough around the edges to be representing but I hope you will jump in.  Your site may have some interest to members, also.  Welcome.

[woodsyi]

Stephanie,

Welcome to the AC Opera House.  You did an excellent job.  They sound good form my work PC speakers.  You have inspired me to fire up my 78 setup again.  It's been too long.  I have a Grado 78 cart, Basis/Rega table-arm and a Bugle Pro with multiple EQ settings I use for 78.  What are you using to playback and record?  What EQ curves are you using?  Do you have a variable speed TT or are you locked into 78?  Also, what are you using to clean your shellac?  I hope you don't mind the questions but a curious mind always want to know...   Once again, welcome to AC.

P.S. I will wear my facilitator hat and ask you to do one thing for us.  I noticed your on-line used record shop.  We have a policy of full disclosure of any commercial interest.  Would you please add a link to your store in your signature?  Thanks.

[sjg]

Hi,

I am happy to see this forum here.  I spend a lot of time over at audio asylum and audio karma but pop over here from time to time.  And, there are not so many places to chat about opera and classical music.

I enjoy sharing my transfers with folks and getting feedback -- so thanks to all who take the time to listen.  I made a webpage with the files so they can be downloaded with pictures of each label. 

http://www.stephsrecordsale.com/78s/opera-1.html

2 of the 8 cuts on my 8tracks mix are not my own -- so there are only 6 songs on my webpage.  (I do list records for sale/trade on my website -- I do this as part of my record collecting hobby - I will go over Audio Circle policy about this -- I don't want to break any rules.) 

I applied more digital processing to these audio files than I have before.  I am slowly learning about the tools I have via inexpensive PC programs and the
DSP processing on the Alesis Masterlink harddisk cd recorder I use(not so inexpensive:)). 

Below is a detailed rundown on the equipment used and the transfer process.  I keep track of each step of the process for each batch of transfers but it seems that every time I do it a little differently.

Audio Equipment:  Fons CQ 30 turntable dc motor with variable speed -- 10-90rpm practically, KAB Speed Strobe, Sumiko MMT Tonearm, Shure M44-7 Cartridge, Expert Stylus 4.0 Truncated Elliptical Stylus, McCormack Micro Phono Drive, Rek-o-kut re-equalizer set to 300Hz Turnover/-5db Treble cut, 24bit/96khz AIF files captured on Alesis Masterlink HD/CD Recorder, FMS Audio ESP Interconnects.

Speed: 76.59 RPM following Rek-o-kut guide and my own limited sense of pitch.  I find setting the right speed to be difficult -- this would be easier for a musician with perfect or highly developed perfect pitch.

Initial EQ via Alesis onboard 3 band parametric equalizer to reduce hiss and rumble:

        -18 DB at 40.9 HZ
         -6 DB at 14.22 kHz
        -18 at 20.22 kHz

I also used the Alesis on board Look ahead Peak Limiter to bring out the mid range while reducing moments of clipping and groove damage.  Alesis Peak Limiter Settings:  Threshold = -1.0 db; Output Level = -2 db; Release = 10 msec. Maybe next time I will try a more aggressive setting for greater impact.

AIF files burned to CD-RW disc and copied to PC for further editing with Click Repair 3.0.1, Denoise 1.0.7  & Goldwave Audio 5.52.

Click Repair Settings:  30 de-click wavelet; 20 de-crackle wavelet -- applied in 2 separate passes.

Denoise applied for further hiss reduction  -- custom samples taken for noise profile from each file; corrections range from -8 to -12 db.

Goldwave Audio Software:  trim, fade in/out and a Static Band pass filter applied to reduce effects of clipping and/or groove damage.  Default Voice hum & his profile used as a starting place and then modified to 60Hz, 6800Hz with a curve rating of 8.  Band Pass Filtering applied in spots or to whole file which ever worked better.