[erikzen]

After about a 20 year absence from vinyl, I recently set up a turntable.  I have too many good records just sitting in boxes not being listened to.

I really don't have the room to properly set up a turntable im my home stereo so I decided I would hook it up to my computer in my office, and, little by little, digitize my albums.

My setup is a Technics SL-1900, Shure M97xE, Radio Shack "Li'L Rat" preamp into a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz soundcard.  I know this is not the best stuff but with the exception of the cartridge and the preamp, this is the stuff I already had and I did not want to make a big investment.

I'm really enjoying listening to some of my old records again.  The problem is that I find them to be extremely noisy.  There is a constant crackle or static in the background.  The records look clean, although they have been sitting around unplayed for many years.  I clean them with Stanton record cleaner and brush and I also have a carbon fiber brush.  Again, the budget is limited so I didn't want to spend lots of money on cleaning equipment or supplies.

Are my records just dirty, despite looking very clean or could something else be causing this problem?

Thanks for any and all advice.

[eico1]

Find a cleaning recipe on the web using soap and water.

Then, you might try some software based de-noisers.

steve

[erikzen]

Thanks for your quick reply!

I was hoping to avoid heavy manual cleaning but if dirty records are the culprit then I'll do what I have to do.

I just downloaded the demo for DC Millenium software.  It seems pretty powerful and a decent value for $60.  Anybody have any experience with it?

I forgot to add that in my haste to listen to my records again, once I received the cartridge I set up my turntable and I must admit, I played a few records without cleaning my records.  I noticed a large amount of buildup on my stylus.  Did I do permanent damage to it?  I did clean it as per the manufacturers recommendations.

[bluesky]

Hi Ezriken

I too was struck by the noise problem and then I upgraded the preamp.  What a difference to the noise issue!

I have got to say it was only a very cheap kit from one of our local Australian electronics suppliers, less than $15 actually!

This is worth a try IMHO.  There are lots of RIAA kits around and for a few bucks you could see if its worth it.  I am currently upgrading (again) to one of Rod Elliott's (ESP) circuits for the phono stage.  The cost is quite minimal considering what is aked by many retail outlets.

Best Regards

Ian

[orthobiz]

Try
The Most Comprehensive Record Cleaning Article Ever!
at
www.musicangle.com.

So far I've been sucking up dust with my Loricraft, but I am appalled by the crackling in some of my college discs (and I thought I was totally in control of how to take care of records 30 yrs ago). I had a Dual 1215S followed by a Beogram 3000 followed by my current Linn Sondek.

In general, the sound is very good, but I'm looking at deeper cleaning for the older discs.

If you follow the article, you'll be spending so much time cleaning the records you won't have any time to hear them snap, crackle and pop!

biz

[erikzen]

Try
The Most Comprehensive Record Cleaning Article Ever!
at
www.musicangle.com.

So far I've been sucking up dust with my Loricraft, but I am appalled by the crackling in some of my college discs (and I thought I was totally in control of how to take care of records 30 yrs ago).
If you follow the article, you'll be spending s ...

Thanks for the link.  Yes, I thought I was taking very good care of my records, too, until I pulled them out of the box after 25 years and listened to them again, and forget about my wife's albums!

I really didn't want to spend all that much time cleaning records.  If I wanted to clean I could always clean the bathroom!  

[jqp]

I have enough trouble keeping my CDs clean. I think if I had LPs and I read this article, I would have to follow this regimine or cringe whenever I played an LP.

[dogberry]

Just get a Nitty Gritty 1.5 cleaning machine and get on with listening.  A few pumps of cleaning solution from the resevoir, 5-6 spins, turn on the vacuum for another 5-6 spins and voila!

Couple that with the Audioquest brush and you're pretty much stylin'

Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio (www.upscaleaudio.com) has some great deals on factory blems.  Can't beat it and Kevin is the best.

[erikzen]

I'll check out the prices at Upscale, but honestly I feel a little funny buying a record cleaner that costs more than my turntable.  But maybe that's what you have to do.

[meilankev]

Erik,

I'm afraid your efforts are going to be in vain.  No amount of cleaning, dusting, and hard work will ever make your albums listenable again.  I'm sorry to be the one to have to tell you this.

But I do have some good news for you.  You are welcome to let me take those pieces of junk off your hands for the astronomical sum of $100.00.  I promise to give them a good home.

   All in jest,

Kevin

P.S. - Good luck in your efforts to get your rig/albums up to your expectations - it will all be worth it in the end...

[erikzen]

I do have some good news for you.  You are welcome to let me take those pieces of junk off your hands for the astronomical sum of $100.00.  I promise to give them a good home.

I couldn't possibly do that.  I wouldn't want to impose.  Why don't you let me give you $100 for you to cart the junk away.  I'll have my wife cook you dinner, too, and if you get tired carrying everything out I'll have her give you a massage.

Better yet, since I don't want to inconvenience you, why don't I just pack everything up and ship it to you.  You'll find $500 inside my original pressing of "Meet the Beatles".  Use the money to buy yourself a nice dinner and hire the massuese of your choise.