Shellac and Vinyl Disc Restoration

OUR EQUIPMENT

TECHNICS SP10 MKII TURNTABLE AND ADJUSTABLE TONEARM, CUSTOM PLINTH, PREAMPLIFIER WITH RCA 72-A RECORD CUTTING LATHE RECORDING TO POLYCARBONATE AND VINYL DISC

TECHNICS 1200SL MKII ACCURATELY CALIBRATED AND FULLY SERVICED

CONSIDERATIONS FOR DIGITISATION

We use the latest software technologies, and professional equipment to transfer different audio disc types to any digital format. Encoding and conversion of files are done using several software programs

including Audacity and Reaper, and tag editors for metadata.

1. Working with audio files (quality)

The correct file format is important, working with the highest quality files we would recommend PCM uncompressed 192khz/24 bits. For audio archiving purposes the file quality that we would

recommend is PCM uncompressed WAV at 96Khz/24 bits. For general file storage we

recommend a WAV file that is 44.1Khz /16 bits or MP3 2 channels at 320kbps.

2. Our equipment in more detail and disc material considerations

- Our low resonance Technics SP10 and SL-1200 turntables have selected speeds and are measured for accuracy.

- An assortment of cartridges are used including the Stanton 500, Shure SC35C, Nagaoka MP-10, Orofon Pro-S.

- Stylus of varying sizes accessible depending on the format this includes the Nagaoka NMP-3.5 for worn 78s.

- Adjustable weighted tonearms provide the right amount of balance for any disc played on our equipment

- Rotation speeds of (78,45, 24 rpm and 80rpm, and customised speed adjustments can also be made.

- Material Composition; cardboard, acetate/aluminum vinyl, shellac, magnetic formats are supported.

DIGITAL RESTORATION

We use Izotope RX to help with the restoration process for click, crackling, hiss, noise, wow and flutter issues.

FACTORS THAT CAN AFFECT THE DISC

Breakage, scratches, palmitic acid (acetate, lacquered discs) embedded dirt, misshaping, warping, mould.

DISCS WE CAN TRANSFER TO DIGITAL

– Large, 16″ radio transcription disc transfers to digital.

– 16 rpm low speed lacquered discs, transfer to digital.

– The Acetate/aluminum, test discs, transfers to digital.

– LP 33 1/3 rpm vinyl disc recording transfers to digital.

– Single, 45 rpm vinyl disc recording, transfer to digital.

– Extended Play vinyl disc recording, transfer to digital.

– Pathe, Freres, Hill and Dale discs, transfers to digital.

– Edison Diamond vertical cut record transfer to digital.

– RCA-Victor home recording record, transfer to digital.

– Shellac disc transfer to digital playable for any speed-

e.g. 76 rpm, 78 rpm, 90 rpm, 95 rpm, 100 rpm and all variations.

DISC LATHE CUTTING (RECORD YOUR OWN VINYL DISC)

We use our 1940s RCA-72-B cutting lathe paired with the Technics SP10 for high quality mono recording and can record 7" 10" and 12" sizes, our lathe cut process is a handmade one off method where a groove is

cut into a blank disc in real time using our RCA-72-B record lathe creating a unique single copy, this

is different from pressed vinyl which is standardised and mass produced in a factory. We only

cut recycled polycarbonate and vinyl discs and repurpose any discarded discs for future use.

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