Sweet Vinyl Sugarcube - I Want It!!!

A new update from Sweetvinyl: Some of the SC-1 beta units have shipped. About 60 of the SC-2 units are expected to ship in September. This means I will probably receive mine within the month (I am the 12th contributor for the SC-2 to the Indiegogo campaign). However, the SC-2 will initially ship with SC-1 software. That means it will not have the digitizing functionality or the track division functionality. Bummer. Also, the smart phone control app is not ready yet. So, it will function as a declicker, using the front panel controls, but that’s about it. I will probably insert it in the signal chain prior to my CD recorder, so I can continue to make CD-Rs of my vinyl, but now without the clicks and pops.

All the functionality being left out of the SC-2 can be added via firmware updates over the web, so I am hopeful that these functions will be added soon.

I use declicker software in Wavelab and as a plug in with Cubase. I found they do work but can effect the music if applied universally and is best used only on the wav. segment where the click or pop happens.

I've also found there is never a free lunch but sometimes you have to do what is necessary. I doubt that anyone could tell where I declicker without listening really hard and thus, missing the music.

Thanks, raymonda.  So, if I understand it correctly, in order to declick a recording, you have to locate the click on a graphic visual representation of the audio file, and manually remove the click.  Is that correct?  If so, wouldn't the process be rather time-consuming, depending on how many clicks you want to remove?

Yes, you have to look at the file, listen and determine where the click or pop is, highlight the area and process it. A typical album, which has maybe 2-6 issues may take 2 minutes at best. Generally it can be done in under a minute.

If an album has many issues it is generally not worth, IME, to record it. I would wait until I was able to buy a cleaner copy. I can process the whole album at once but I would rather stay clear of having to process sections that don't require it. I have found that, regardless of claims, there is no free lunch. I also have a Denoiser plug in that I use and which can be fairly effective with tape hiss. But that too has to be lightly used. It will leave finger prints. As with all these things it just a matter of how many finger prints one can tolerate. 

I transfer my recordings via 24/96. It affords me great sound on the go plus it leaves me an accurate representation of cartridges and phono amps for future references.