(snip) The obvious advantages when copying a tape/record etc onto the computer is the added advantage of being able to "clean-up" the recordings - by using a stand-alone CD recorder all you will do is have a copy of a noisy wow ridden recording but on a format that won't degrade at the same rate as the original.


Noisy wow ridden recording? Maybe if you've got a crappy turntable or cartridge or a lotta surface noise on your records... I was always pretty fastidious about taking care of my vinyl and think I'm kind of particular about sound quality; the few I've dubbed from vinyl have sounded great. If you want to talk about getting the sound the way the engineer wanted it, most of this stuff was mastered for analog vinyl, and I think a few engineers would be alarmed at how some folks armed with sound editing software just plain go too far, taking (for want of a better term) the edge, or warmth, off their mix. But, whatever works for you!