Re: [ARSCLIST] Sound restoration software

[Karl Miller <lyaa071@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 8 Jun 2004, Daniel Leech-Wilkinson wrote:

> We're due to buy a second set of transfer equipment (78s and LPs to CD and
> other digital formats, for study of performance). Our current set uses a
> Technics SL 1210 turntable, a selection of cartridges and styli from the
> Expert Stylus Company, Elberg MD12 equalising preamp, Flying Cow A/D D/A
> converters, CEDAR DCX and CRX units, Lynx L22 sound card.
>
> While I'd welcome views on any of these, I'm really asking for your
> thoughts on the relative merits of hardware and software noise reduction.

I have experience with the CEDAR declicker and the WAVES restoration
software running on ProTools.

With ProTools, it is a simple matter to record a flat signal and then take
it out of the computer and into whatever box you want and then rerecord on
another channel, so, for me, there isn't any difference having it in an
outboard box versus software...unless one hates dealing with updates to
software.

As to the relative merits of each, both will produce artifacts when
overused. Perhaps I am being subjective, but I find CEDAR to be better,
especially on the light ticks and pops. Some years ago I sent samples to
CEDAR to see what they could do with them. Two of the examples were recorded
voice, with extremely high noise levels (surface noise from discs). I could
not make out what was being said. After the folks at CEDAR were finished
with them, I could make out what was being said.

Three years later, I used WAVES restoration on the same examples. I found
that I was able to accomplish about the same, however, it took a great
deal of tweaking.

If you choose CEDAR as your benchmark for excellence, which I do, and if
you consider the price versus WAVES...if you spend a minimum of $15,000
for the three basic CEDAR modules...I  figure that I am getting
something about 85% as good with WAVES...one could make a comparison
that 85% of $15,000 is $12,750 yet the WAVES software can be found for
less than $1,000

I should also add that I used DINR, since my recent ProTools update had a
demo version. While I only worked with it for a short time, I did find
that I could justify the cost in my mind, as I found the WAVES package to
be just as good...but perhaps I just didn't work with DINR long enough.

Years ago, I tried some of the least expensive stuff like Ray Gun...which
seemed to create more noise than it removed.

Just my two cents...

Karl