I’m following the topics here that are discussing tape as I might repress an album from 1978. I have the original 1/4” master tapes but they have not been stored in a good environment and might be pooched.
I was hoping a workable Plan B would be to make a master file from the original LP. I have 3 unopened LPs. I assume I need to find someone with a high end turntable and related bits.
I’m asking if anyone here has digitized an LP to an acceptable degree. I assume there will be some clicks and pops and surface noise.
( I find it amusing that I may end up with a digital master that has all the LP noises embedded in it that will then be pressed into an LP that will add it’s own LP noises upon playback making the playback experience doubly better? )
Use the master tapes - they will be retrievable by someone who knows what they are doing. If I remember right you aren't too far from Toronto so Richard Hess would probably be the person to contact to transfer the tapes.
I've mastered albums taken from vinyl where the tapes have been lost and the results, in my opinion, are never quite as good as they would have been if the tapes were available. Pops and clicks can be removed easily but the biggest issue is inner groove distortion on the tracks closer to the centre of the record.
I agree with James that finding an expert is the key. Often the most dangerous time for a tape is when it is unwound and played. Richard is a world expert in tape treatment and playback.
Valuable tip. I will search him out. I’ve sent out feelers to a few other people with this experience too. I won’t even touch the tape until advised by an expert.
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