Peel shows on VHS

vegetablesman vegetablesman@...
Thu May 19 21:30:34 CEST 2011



Hi,

As you say the version of Audacity I'm using doesn't allow for VBR.  As Steve says I can use iTunes but I have heard that some people don't like the results of itunes mp3 encoding and prefer Lame. I have a program called xACT http://xact.scottcbrown.org/ which encodes to a variety of formats including Lame mp3. I have tried it with my Peel file and it has produced a 178.6mb mp3 file at 228kbps VBR Joint Stereo from my 1hr 49min 27sec .aiff file (Peel was in a 1hr 50 slot). Does that seem about right? I'm currently uploading it to mediafire as suggested and will post a link.

How do I contact Branko regarding this Mooo server?  Hopefully,  I will be digitising quite a number of programmes as time goes on and an account would be very handy. 

Finally, do people here prefer mp3 to flac?  I think the quality of the recording benefits from lossless but realise that the larger file sizes are a bit of a problem.  I've just tried a flac encode using xACT and  have a file size of 698.3mb. Is this too big for 1hr49m?

Thanks.

--- In peel@yahoogroups.com, "Stuart" <stuartb@...> wrote:
>
> Glad you've made some progress!
> 
> I would just use Audacity itself to export to mp3 and flac, from the
> Audacity project file. 220-260 kbps vbr is a good option to save mp3s
> (option comes up when you export). The first time you use Audacity to export
> to mp3  you will need to download a LAME mp3 encoder (a dll file) and let
> Audacity know where it is (you will get help with this from Audacity first
> time you try) this is for boring licensing conditions.
> 
>  
> 
> There aren't many programmes available from 1998 so you're certainly not
> stepping on anyone's toes there!!
> 
>  
> 
> As far as uploading goes, well a 220-260 kbps mp3 file of 2 hours will
> probably come in at around 270Mb. So, you could split the file into two
> halfs and upload to Mediafire (their file size limit is 200Mb) alternatively
> see if Branko on the Peel Newsgroup has any space left on his Mooo server
> and ask for an account.
> 
>  
> 
> Mediafire is good, as uploads and downloads are fast and less troublesome
> than Rapidfire or Megaupload, and there is no limit on the number of files
> or total space used.
> 
>  
> 
> Stuart
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>   _____  
> 
> From: peel@yahoogroups.com [mailto:peel@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
> vegetablesman
> Sent: 18 May 2011 20:56
> To: peel@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [peel] Re: Peel shows on VHS
> 
>  
> 
>   
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Thanks for the interest and sorry for the delay in my reply. The advice did
> help. I ended up using an older version of Audacity. I had a few tracking
> problems and had to dig out a different VHS recorder than I'd intended for
> digitising my first show. 
> 
> I grabbed a tape at random and have now digitised a complete programme which
> I believe to be from 25th February 1998 ( I hope this doesn't step on anyone
> else's toes). I think the sound quality is pretty good but would like other
> opinions before I digitise any further tapes.
> 
> I have the programme in .aiff format and would welcome tips on converting to
> flac and mp3. I would also like to know the best place to upload the
> programme.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> --- In peel@yahoogroups.com <mailto:peel%40yahoogroups.com> ,
> "billfromnorthwales" <billfromnorthwales@> wrote:
> >
> > 
> > Hello vegetablesman
> > 
> > Did this advice from Stuart help?
> > 
> > Do you need any more advice or step by step guides we will all try to
> assist.
> > 
> > I think your recodings are encoded on HiFi video, and so still get almost
> 20-20khz full sound response even in LP mode, so are likely to be the
> highest quality available, up there with metal cassettes.
> > 
> > It would be great to help you get them digitised, let us know....
> > 
> > 
> > --- In peel@yahoogroups.com <mailto:peel%40yahoogroups.com> , "Stuart"
> <stuartb@> wrote:
> > >
> > > HI
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > I assume that when you say they are recorded in stereo that they are
> > > recorded in hifi mode (i.e. using the flying video heads rather than the
> > > little linear head used in non-hifi VCR decks).
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Having had a lot of experience with playing back old recordings that
> way,
> > > the most critical thing is really to make sure that the tracking is spot
> on.
> > > If not there will be all sorts of nasty interference (much like on a
> badly
> > > tuned FM station). A good deck should be able to align the heads
> > > automatically on playback but manual tracking may be required to get it
> just
> > > right. As long as the recording deck was in good condition at the time
> (no
> > > creasing of the tape by worn pinch rollers for example) and the deck you
> > > have now is still in good condition, you should have no problem.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > The old mono soundtrack will not sound very good, in fact much worse
> than an
> > > audio cassette, but is more robust. I don't think there is a way of
> altering
> > > a tracking of a mono soundtrack to improve quality. (without taking the
> deck
> > > apart)
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Coming to the Mac I have heard that Audacity can be a problem to get
> > > working, but this page
> > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free_software_for_audio lists a
> number
> > > of alternatives.
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Assuming you do get a sound out of your VCR and into Audacity or such on
> the
> > > mac, just make sure that there is no clipping on the record levels, and
> save
> > > to flac and high bit rate mp3. (I use 220-260kbs vbr)
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Good luck
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Stuart
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > _____ 
> > > 
> > > From: peel@yahoogroups.com <mailto:peel%40yahoogroups.com>
> [mailto:peel@yahoogroups.com <mailto:peel%40yahoogroups.com> ] On Behalf Of
> > > vegetablesman
> > > Sent: 02 May 2011 20:44
> > > To: peel@yahoogroups.com <mailto:peel%40yahoogroups.com> 
> > > Subject: [peel] Peel shows on VHS
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Hi,
> > > 
> > > I have a number of John Peel Radio 1 shows from the Nineties recorded
> onto
> > > VHS video cassettes in LP mode. Almost all are complete programmes taped
> in
> > > stereo from a good quality Rotel FM tuner receiving a strong signal. 
> > > 
> > > I would be grateful if anyone can provide some tips on getting the best
> > > quality from these tapes when converting to flac/mp3. I am currently
> using
> > > an old iMac PPC running OS 10.5.8 and have had some difficulties using
> > > audacity in the past.
> > > 
> > > Thanks for your help.
> > >
> >
>





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