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Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
https://forum.lddb.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=4751		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  tegmentum [ 13 Dec 2014, 17:12 ]
Post subject:  Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
One of my goals has been to one day make 'deluxe editions' of some of my favorite catalog movies by merging the blu ray picture with the original PCM stereo or mono tracks from the laserdisc. The problem is I'm pretty computer illiterate when it comes to the technicalities of these things. So does anyone have a 'so easy your grandmother could do it' kind of setup guide to make this happen? Preferably with screencaps as a visual for the technically un-inclined. And once captured, is there more that has to be done to sync it up due to the LD's side breaks? I'd love to have this figured out.

Cheers!
Author:  elieb [ 18 Dec 2014, 01:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
i have some

1) older analog stereo tracks= "line in" on your pc's audio (worked for the vcr)
2) digital sound= s/pdif "digital out" on your pc's audio (my pc has a digital audio jack, but didn't test it)
good luck

oh, and you can also try upgrading your pc's sound card or do a search on google
Author:  happycube [ 18 Dec 2014, 18:19 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
You need a SP/DIF capture card/box, preferably with the same digital out as your LD player, and for something like this you want it to be bit-perfect. It's just like capturing from a CD player, so you can use that as a cross-reference.
Author:  signofzeta [ 19 Dec 2014, 06:30 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
A lot of laptops, such as all Macbooks for some years now, have a TOSLINK hidden in the 1/8" mic/line in. You need a mini TOSLINK adaptor like what was popular in the day of Minidisc. I did this to record the audio from Lou Reed & John Cale: Songs for Drella (1990) [LVD9225] since the LD version is live and, IMHO, superior to the studio album, its my preferred version. Its nice to have a more portable copy.
Author:  Guest [ 20 Dec 2014, 01:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
I've used an Edirol R-44 to do bit-perfect captures of both PCM and (demodulated) Dolby-Digital tracks. It records wav files to SD cards, so it's trivial to 'leave it running' and go do something else.

Not a cheap solution (unless you can find one on ebay/craigslist), but mostly idiot proof. Mostly.
Author:  substance [ 20 Dec 2014, 03:12 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
signofzeta wrote:
A lot of laptops, such as all Macbooks for some years now, have a TOSLINK hidden in the 1/8" mic/line in. You need a mini TOSLINK adaptor like what was popular in the day of Minidisc. I did this to record the audio from Lou Reed & John Cale: Songs for Drella (1990) [LVD9225] since the LD version is live and, IMHO, superior to the studio album, its my preferred version. Its nice to have a more portable copy.


Unfortunately last two generations macbook dropped this feature. I was so excited when my wife bought her macbook pro last year then I found out the newer models don't have any audio inputs anymore:(
Author:  laserdisc.ws [ 31 Jan 2015, 16:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
Don't forget that is also possible to capture AC3 and DTS tracks, too!
PCM and DTS should be converted from 44.1Khz to 48Khz, while AC3 could be used "as is"...

I made some fan restoration projects using laserdisc audio tracks, pm me for more info.
Author:  elviscaprice [ 01 Feb 2015, 09:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
To capture the LPCM or 44.1/16bit digital signal otherwise know as redbook, is worthwhile if one has the equipment for other analog captures/digital thru. Otherwise I don't think it's worth the effort.
Author:  confederate [ 07 Mar 2015, 04:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
Is it even possible to make a bitperfect recording of a PCM track from a Laserdisc ?

I really want to record a song from a Laserdisc I just bought yesterday.

I guess I need a better soundcard to make a bitperfect recording ? Can anyone please help ? Thank you
Author:  happycube [ 07 Mar 2015, 09:47 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
There are some cheaper USB ones that can do it, I'm not sure what they are... I might have one - just never actually tried it yet. If it works I'll pass the info on.
Author:  signofzeta [ 07 Mar 2015, 10:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
Of course it works. Why wouldn't it?
Author:  happycube [ 07 Mar 2015, 18:04 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
Works yes, but it might not be bit-perfect.
Author:  nissling [ 07 Mar 2015, 19:00 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
Getting bit perfect should be very easy as long as it accepts 16/44.1, unless the hard- or software intentionally manipulates the signal or if the disc is heavily rotted.
Author:  confederate [ 08 Mar 2015, 04:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
All I need now is to find out which soundcards are bitperfect capable.

It appears that the output is not relevant here as it is bitperfect in any case but I could be wrong.
Author:  nissling [ 08 Mar 2015, 06:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
As long as it's optical or coax you're fine.
Author:  mercury77 [ 08 Mar 2015, 12:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
One thing I like to do is record the end title songs on from alot of my laserdisc titles as many of them are in higher quality than the CD. So I want to keep it as analogue as possible, which I am sure you want to do. This is how I have it set up, no need to buy additional equipment. Although my does run through an amplifier first, but that's only because so does my vinyl record player and SACD player and VCR. So hook up your laserdisc both Digitally and analogue using the cables. The right and left RCA cables coloured red and white have a single headphone like jack on the end that gets plugged up to the Line In feed on the computer. The digital cable goes to the receiver. As I said I have the cable heading to an amp first. On the computer I have adobe audition that takes the incoming feed and I can record it to whatever format or resolution I like. I like to do 96/24 converts, remember this way keeps everything analogue and changable, if you were to do it via USB or additional boxes to plug up they convert the signal to digital first. This way it is pure analogue (unless you are recording the Digital channel), if you wanted to record a DTS track then you would need to plug from the headphone socket from your receiver to the Line In on the computer to get the uncompressed feed otherwise you would noise that needs to be decoded first. Have fun with your travels..!
Author:  nissling [ 08 Mar 2015, 15:37 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
mercury77 wrote:
So I want to keep it as analogue as possible, which I am sure you want to do.

The sound is encoded digitally (16/44.1) in many cases, although analoge track do exist, so why make a D/A conversion before transferring it to your PC? It makes no sense to me at least. If you're recording the analog track then I fully understand, although for actual listening there is no reason to go any higher than 16/44.1 (unless you're listening to music with a dynamic range of 115dB and are playing it at 130dB+).
Author:  signofzeta [ 08 Mar 2015, 17:17 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
happycube wrote:
Works yes, but it might not be bit-perfect.


I've made quite a few copies of things over TOSLINK. Depending on what systems you are using its often possible to monitor how many errors need to be corrected by the recording device. Usually, over the course of 30 minutes the number of errors is zero. Sometimes is like...two. If it's a half hour recording that's two samples out of 80 million. I don't know what "bitperfect" is but if you want an identical copy of what's on the LD this is the way to do it. It's easy, common, trivial, honestly.
Author:  nissling [ 08 Mar 2015, 17:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
Very true. Of course there can occur C1 errors during playback, which are corrected before outputted through TOSLINK or converted to an analog signal so they won't matter. C2 errors are much more rare and we're not even getting into CU errors. In general, digital sound is very "secure" when it comes to bit perfection.

Only time I've gotten far from bit perfect was when I used a CD player with a very badly calibrated laser. The tracking/focus gain was all off and it sounded like a heavily worn cassette tape.
Author:  confederate [ 08 Mar 2015, 18:20 ]
Post subject:  Re: Capturing PCM soundtrack to a computer
Now all I need is a recommendation for a cheap external sound card with digital in which should get me bitperfect results !
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