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Archive for November 4th, 2009

eric on Nov 4th 2009 Music, Punk/Hardcore, Records

New Project – my punk/hardcore 7″s for you!

Over the years I’ve amassed a fair-sized 7″ collection. I got my first two 7″s – both comps – in 1991. Since then, I’ve picked up a record or two at shows, distros and stores. So I thought that it would be fun to share some of them that are out of print and mostly forgotten.

I probably don’t have anything incredibly rare, but it gives me something to do and a bit of nostalgia never killed anyone.

Three or four years ago, I ripped a few of them from vinyl to digital with varying results. I didn’t know much about the process way back then and they didn’t turn out so well. The equipment I had wasn’t more than a novelty turntable and the “IN” jack on the back of my computer.

Nowadays, I’ve got a new turntable, an Audio-Technica PL-120 (the poor man’s Technics SL-1200 series). The Audio-Technica PL-120 came with a built in phono preamp, but something wasn’t right with it (has to do with messed up waveforms – don’t worry about it). So, I got myself a pretty decent preamp (TCC TC-750LC). It’s quite an improvement. And instead of my computer’s very iffy soundcard, I now use a Roland Edirol UA-1EX USB external soundcard.

On the software end of things, I’m fully Linux-based – most programs for Linux are free. I am using Audacity, a free audio software program that allows me to record, mix, edit and slightly repair audio files. It’s definitely more limited than Cool Edit Pro, but it does everything I need. To take the pops and licks out of the vinyl rips, I use Gnome Wave Cleaner. I’ve been very impressed with how well it works.

I’m not really sure when I’ll start this one, but I think I’ll do it in alphabetical order. That’s how my 7″s are stored, so why not?