Ripping records to music server NAS

[Bob from Florida]

I am getting closer to using the Waxwing to rip a record via the optical output - just received the Hifime optical to USB converter. My laptop is rather old and was running Windows 7 last time I used it. So, rather than try to resurrect it or buy a new one, I was looking into using my iPad for the job. There is an app called Wavepad that looks to fill the bill. If I can get the iPad to see my NAS, I would be able to rip directly to the folder used for my music server. Has anyone here used an iPad to do anything along these lines?

 

[diddley]

Can't help you i rip via laptop and then copy to NAS.

 

[Joachim Herbert]

To each his own.

 

[linuxfan]

If I can get the iPad to see my NAS ,,,

iOS natively supports the SMB network protocol, so an iPad can easily access NAS boxes. Just Google "iPad access NAS" for connection instructions.

But for audio production, even at a basic level, I would prefer to have my storage drive connected directly to the workstation, not via a LAN, and certainly not via wifi on a LAN.
I would also prefer to have a keyboard and mouse for this task.
I would also prefer to keep my initial recordings separate from the NAS, and later transfer the final audio tracks to NAS after clipping up individual songs, converted to FLAC or ALAC, with tags added. In other words; keep production files on a dedicated audio workstation, and transfer only the final product to the NAS.

Alternatively, I would avoid vinyl ripping altogether, instead sourcing the desired albums as second hand CD's on eBay, then ripping them. To each his own.

 

[Bob from Florida]

iOS natively supports the SMB network protocol, so an iPad can easily access NAS boxes. Just Google "iPad access NAS" for connection instructions.

But for audio production, even at a basic level, I would prefer to have my storage drive connected directly to the workstation, not via a LAN, and certainly not via wifi on a LAN.
I would also prefer to have a keyboard and mouse for this task.
I would also prefer to keep my initial recordings separate from the NAS, and later transfer the final audio tracks to NAS after clipping up individual songs, converted to FLAC or ALAC, with tags added. In other words; keep production files on a dedicated audio workstation, and transfer only the final product to the NAS.

Alternatively, I would avoid vinyl ripping altogether, instead sourcing the desired albums as second hand CD's on eBay, then ripping them. To each his own.

I am not sure as to why I would need a local hard drive to record album sides. Wifi has plenty of bandwidth. If it were an issue there is plenty of storage in the iPad.
A couple of reasons for using albums I already have rather than looking for a CD. First, if I like the recording on the LP, there is no guarantee the mastering will be the same on the CD. Secondly, the fun of getting my favorite albums on the server. I probably won't get as fancy as snipping individual songs - just leave it as entire album sides captured at 96 KHZ by 24 bits wav files.

 

[linuxfan]

Then proceed - Google "iPad access NAS". This is the first result -
https://support.apple.com/en-au/guide/ipad/ipad1c415e32/ipados

 

[rcstevensonaz]

iOS natively supports the SMB network protocol, so an iPad can easily access NAS boxes. Just Google "iPad access NAS" for connection instructions.

The OP didn't mention what their NAS device is. Using the SMB protocol, as noted here is a very good option and a well supported protocol. And depending on the NAS device, there may be other network protocols available that also work (and perhaps even slightly better) for an Apple device.

But for audio production, even at a basic level, I would prefer to have my storage drive connected directly to the workstation, not via a LAN, and certainly not via wifi on a LAN.

While I can understand why that might be your preference, I'm not sure why it would matter in this case since the context here is writing the blocks of data to file storage — which is a highly reliable process. The writing to file by the iPad is not UDP-based real-time audio capture where there is the risk of losing packets.

[And if we are on personal preferences, my NAS is based on ZFS using redundant 3-way mirrors; so writing the original "master data" directly to the NAS would be orders of magnitude more reliable compared to writing to a single SSD stick on my local machine before copying it to the NAS]

Alternatively, I would avoid vinyl ripping altogether, instead sourcing the desired albums as second hand CD's on eBay, then ripping them. To each his own.

[Edit: I'm striking out my original comment below as it is likely that I misunderstood the original intention of @linuxfan's wording, as noted in comment #14 below.]
Wow. You are telling a person they are wasting their time (in your humble opinion) if they write the original ripped data to a file on a NAS-based storage device instead of a file on their local machine? Your welcome to your opinion, but personally I think that view makes no sense at all; and the comment itself comes across quite condescending.

 

[madrac]

If the Win7 laptop still works, why not use it? Then you could use something like Audacity or VinylStudio to split the tracks (if desired), clean up any pops/clicks. Afterwards, then just copy to your NAS.

I have a TASCAM DA-3000, so I just record to an SD card, pop it in my PC, split/cleanup with VinylStudio, then copy to my NAS (and the internal SSD in my streamer and a couple of other backup drives - I'm OCD about having backups of critical files.)

 

[Berwhale]

[And if we are on personal preferences, my NAS is based on ZFS using redundant 3-way mirrors; so writing the original "master data" directly to the NAS would be orders of magnitude more reliable compared to writing to a single SSD stick on my local machine before copying it to the NAS]

ZFS would be more resilient, once the data is written, i'm not sure it would be anymore 'reliable' for writing the data given the overhead of creating the redundancy (with the 3 way mirror) in the first place, a commit is a commit, right? In any case, I don't think this is a huge concern when ripping vinyl and I think Linuxfans 'preferences' are somewhat irrelevant to OPs task.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

ZFS would be more resilient, once the data is written, i'm not sure it would be anymore 'reliable' for writing the data given the overhead of creating the redundancy (with the 3 way mirror) in the first place, a commit is a commit, right? In any case, I don't think this is a huge concern when ripping vinyl and I think Linuxfans 'preferences' are somewhat irrelevant to OPs task.

Granted, this is a bit off topic, but just to reply back. With ZFS, the file is immediately written with verified triple redundancy (in my case) from the very start, using a file system that will then actively monitor for and (if needed) correct "silent bit rot" at any time in the future.

When written to a single SSD stick in the local machine, there is still some internal error corrections in place. But in general, if anything happens to that SSD stick or even if a segment within that SSD stick fails or bits of data get corrupted, then you will have lost some or all of the data. Is that a huge risk with a quality SSD? Not really. But, my comment was primarily in response to the person who was strongly against using network-based storage (even though all of our modern industry now relies on exactly that technology).

 

[Chrispy]

I thought I wanted to rip my vinyl at one point....but found it so tedious I decided that if I wanted to hear one I'd just play it and enjoy it. I do automatically rip all my cds to a drive, tho and put the disc away.

 

[Bob from Florida]

I thought I wanted to rip my vinyl at one point....but found it so tedious I decided that if I wanted to hear one I'd just play it and enjoy it. I do automatically rip all my cds to a drive, tho and put the disc away.

I am, of course, behind schedule on the ripping project. I have a stack of new CD’s to rip as well - those are easy. The last time I ripped LP’s was probably 30 years ago. The process then was a very long interconnect cable from the “tape out” of my preamp to the room where my tower computer lived into a Sound Blaster Platinum sound card input. Process involved finding the loudest passage on the LP, setting levels, hit record, start LP, write to CD , and put it in the car CD changer. That was dedication.

 

[linuxfan]

Wow. You are telling a person they are wasting their time (in your humble opinion) if they write the original ripped data to a file on a NAS-based storage device instead of a file on their local machine? Your welcome to your opinion, but personally I think that view makes no sense at all; and the comment itself comes across quite condescending.

No, I never said that at all. I could re-state and paraphrase my original post #4, but I won't waste time trying to resolve someone else's poor interpretation.
Forum member Chrispy clearly understood my main point - as per post #11.

As for the rest of that word salad in post #7, yes, we are certainly all entitled to our opinions, and I expressed mine quite concisely, sensibly, and respectfully. I was given a "like" by the original poster in post #6, implying that they will follow up with a NAS connection from iPad, for which I provided a how-to link.
As to "condescending"? More applicable to your own post.
I have been very restrained. But if you continue with that tone I will return fire with both barrels.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

No, I never said that at all. I could re-state and paraphrase my original post #4, but I won't waste time trying to resolve someone else's poor interpretation.
Forum member Chrispy clearly understood my main point - as per post #11.

As for the rest of that word salad in post #7, yes, we are certainly all entitled to our opinions, and I expressed mine quite concisely, sensibly, and respectfully. I was given a "like" by the original poster in post #6, implying that they will follow up with a NAS connection from iPad, for which I provided a how-to link.
As to "condescending"? More applicable to your own post.
I have been very restrained. But if you continue with that tone I will return fire with both barrels.

My apology as I very likely misread your closing comment "Alternatively, I would avoid vinyl ripping altogether, instead sourcing the desired albums as second hand CD's on eBay, then ripping them. To each his own." Thanks for calling me out on that.

I read that as meaning that the alterative—i.e., if the only option was writing to a NAS instead of locally—is to just buy CDs as second hand and that they should avoid ripping vinyl altogether if they are planning to use a NAS. But in re-reading, you may simply have meant that an alternative (unrelated to everything else) is to buy cheap used CDs instead of ripping since that would be a relatively cheap option.

 

[Chrispy]

I am, of course, behind schedule on the ripping project. I have a stack of new CD’s to rip as well - those are easy. The last time I ripped LP’s was probably 30 years ago. The process then was a very long interconnect cable from the “tape out” of my preamp to the room where my tower computer lived into a Sound Blaster Platinum sound card input. Process involved finding the loudest passage on the LP, setting levels, hit record, start LP, write to CD , and put it in the car CD changer. That was dedication.

Yep cds are far easier, can do the whole album hands free The positioning of my tt has something to do with the convenience of ripping gear to setup there.....but really don't think its worth the time. Your ripping sounds like my old vinyl to cassette efforts (pre-cd)

 

[linuxfan]

The positioning of my tt has something to do with the convenience of ripping gear to setup there.....but really don't think its worth the time.

Yeah that's my opinion, too, but I don't wish to disparage people who choose to rip vinyl - heck, my sister-in-law is in the process of ripping her vinyl collection.
I think I almost understand - people have an attachment to their vinyl, and wish to transition it into the modern world!?

Bob from Florida, I would be interested to know the brand/model of your NAS, and if you now have a successful connection to your iPad.

 

[Snarfie]

499,- thats a lot of money for a AAD.
I'm using my Allan & Heath Xone 4D digital/ analog workststion working with Ableton an Traktor Pro. Used they are also around 4 a 500,-.

Quality stuff an you could have so much More fun with it. Mabey there is a DJ in you. ️

Allen & Heath Xone:4D review

Allen & Heath's hybrid mixer is the total tool for the next generation DJ

www.musicradar.com

 

[DVDdoug]

Process involved finding the loudest passage on the LP, setting levels,

Digital recording levels are not critical. You can amplify digitally after recording. It's not like analog tape where you wanted a hot signal to overcome tape noise. Just leave enough headroom to prevent clipping. Pros often record around -12 to -18dB (at 24 bits). (You don't need to go THAT low.)

For cleaning-up clicks & pops I have Wave Repair ($30 USD). It has a few repair options and it can do an audibly-perfect job on most (but not all) clicks & pops. It's manual so it only "touches" the audio where you identify a defect, but it's also VERY time consuming. It usually takes me most of a weekend to clean-up a digitized LP! (Another issue for you is that it doesn't support 24/96 audio.) I also have Wave Corrector which is FREE and automatic. Audacity has Click Removal (automatic), Repair (manual), or you can zoom-in and re-draw the waveform.

For tagging/metadata, I use Mp3Tag (it works with all popular formats, not just MP3). Audacity can add or edit metadata, but it's a "weak point" and it doesn't support embedded artwork at all. And if you just want to edit the metadata in Audacity you have to export to a whole file (or overwrite the whole old one). Mp3Tag doesn't touch the audio part of the file.

just leave it as entire album sides

Don't do that! Your player software can play the songs like an album in track order, or sort by artist, title, album, etc. And you need separate files to to "tag" the individual song titles.

captured at 96 KHZ by 24 bits

That's not necessary with analog vinyl but the only downside is larger files (and Wave Repair won't work).

wav files.

Metadata is not well standardized or universally supported for WAV. All of the standard compressed formats are better for metadata. FLAC is lossless compression, and as a bonus your files will be about half the size. FLAC is not as universally playable as WAV or MP3, but it's lossless so you can copy to any other lossless or lossy format anytime in the future. A lot of people keep a FLAC archive, and them make MP3 or AAC files for portable use, etc.

 

[JP]

heck, my sister-in-law is in the process of ripping her vinyl collection.

And making way? I can count the people who I’ve seen report material progress on one hand with three fingers missing. Despite my intentions I’ve failed to be one of them.

 

[Bob from Florida]

Bob from Florida, I would be interested to know the brand/model of your NAS, and if you now have a successful connection to your iPad.

Synology 220+ with 2 - 4 Tb Enterprise rated hard drives set up to mirror.

Connection to iPad not attempted yet - I am behind schedule. Soon - which I hope means before 2025z