Track preload affects sonics - HELP!!!

[mansr]

Stopping and starting sometimes helps with video streaming using adaptive bit rate that ramps up too slowly. Of course, then the data is different the second time around.

 

The caching Miska mentions is true in principle, but I doubt it has much of an effect in practice. When a file is accessed the OS will pre-cache some amount ahead of the reading position of the application. How much depends on the OS and its settings, but an entire high-res music file will probably not be pre-loaded in one go. As the playback gets close to the end of the cached data, the OS will fetch another chunk off disk. Fiddling around in the first seconds isn't going affect what happens a minute or more into the playback. If disk access is having an adverse effect, there should be dips in quality at regular intervals when playing large files. Then there is the question of how much of an audible effect disk activity has in the first place. I have owned computers with poor built-in sound cards where disk activity was very audible over speakers. In those same computers, installing a $20 PCI sound card made the problem go away. I find it hard to believe that the effect, if any at all, on a USB-attached quality DAC would be anything other than subtle.

[mansr]

21 minutes ago, Ishmael Slapowitz said:

Haha..or getting vaporized by an ultrasonic vacuum vinyl cleaner..🤗

Ultrasonic cleaners could be useful for vinyl records. I don't have any vinyl, but my ultrasonic cleaner is great for getting grime out of tight spaces like the links in the wristband of my "fancy" watch. As for watches, a cheap one might not survive that treatment, so there's that.

[mansr]

1 minute ago, Miska said:

Wood glue dirt removal works pretty well.

 

My biggest challenge is one warbled vinyl (it was like that when I got it). I've been thinking the solution is to very carefully oven it first. And since it's 12" 45 rpm and I have all the digital capabilities, I'll play it out at 33 rpm and then speed it up to 45 digitally. That'll make the needle have less tracking challenge... Other good ideas are welcome.

If you can get it to track as is, your best option is probably to record whatever comes off it and correct the distortion digitally. It shouldn't be too hard to characterise it and compensate. My worry with baking it would be the risk of causing additional damage. Maybe you could somehow clamp it to a turntable to reduce the warping.