Vinyl records:

PLAYER
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CARTRIDGE: Audio-Technica AT-OC9ML/II (April 2017-January 2018 [1st copy], January 2018-March 2021 [2nd copy], April 2021-present [3rd copy]), AT-150MLX (July 2016-April 2017), Nagaoka MP-500 (before July 2016)
TURNTABLE: Technics SL-1200mk5
PHONO STAGE: Lehmann Audio Black Cube Statement

PROCESS
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CLEANING:
RECORD CLEANING MACHINE: Record Doctor V (vacuum RCM)
RECORD CLEANING LIQUID: Audio Intelligent Enzymatic Formula and Super Cleaner. Records were first cleaned using the enzymatic formula by wetting and brushing it for at least 3 minutes. After vacuuming the enzymatic formula, the super cleaner is applied and brushed over the record for 1 minute, then vacuumed off. Newly cleaned records were stored in Diskeeper Ultimate inner sleeves.
STYLUS CLEANING: Onzow Zerodust, applied every time one side finished playing.

RIPPING:
1. Record in 24/96 to Audition
2. iZotope DeClicker and Audition's built-in declicker plugin were used to manually eliminate clicks and pops. Low frequency rumble <20Hz was deleted. After cleaning, fix stereo imbalance (if any), normalize to -0.1dB.
3. Separate individual tracks, export as WAV, tag in kid3 using Discogs data, convert to FLAC in XLD using compression level 8.

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Cassettes:

PLAYER
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Nakamichi BX-300

PROCESS
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PREPARATION:
1. Cassettes were rewound and fast forwarded once to "exercise" the tape.
2. Playback head azimuth adjusted if needed by summing channels to mono and adjusting azimuth screw looking for highest frequency response.


RIPPING:
1. Record in 24/48 to Audition. Dolby B is used if noted on the cassette.
2. Fix stereo imbalance (if any), normalize to -0.1dB.
3. Separate individual tracks, export as WAV, tag in kid3 using Discogs data, convert to FLAC in XLD using compression level 8.

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Computer:

SOUND CARD: Apogee Duet 2 for Mac
RECORDING SOFTWARE: Adobe Audition CC
OS: macOS 10.13 "High Sierra"
SOUND MONITORING: InEar StageDiver SD-3s or Moondrop Variations or Sennheiser HD800 + Benchmark DAC1 USB or iFi iDSD Diablo
POST-PROCESSING SOFTWARE: Adobe Audition CC, iZotope RX 6 Declicker
SCANNER: Epson 11000XL or GT-15000 @ 600 dpi to TIFF format
IMAGE EDITOR: Adobe Photoshop CC, scans saved for distribution as JPEG quality 10