I'm back...

After a brief hiatus, I am back full force into the world of audio restoration, vinyl record collecting and selling, and anything else my little mind goes to.  This Monday I am picking up a large amount of used vinyl, 78's etc. to see what treasures are in store.  I am so excited!  Will keep you posted.

Also will be telling you about a new venture that is a dream come true for me.

What a Wonderful World!

Just had a delightful conversation with a friend of mine who just purchased the 51 CD set of the Mercury Living Presence Box Set (out March 6, 2012).  He is so excited to find some of the finest classical recordings ever made in one place!  These were meticulous recordings and deserve a new listening.
Mercury Living Presence Box Set

Then I went to www.amazon.com and noticed the Living Stereo 60 CD Box Collection from RCA.  These were some of the finest recordings ever made in the '50's and '60's with first class talent, such as Cliburn and Rubinstein.  Living Stereo 60 CD Collection Box

But the great news is the collectors dream come true:  Arthur Rubinstein:  The Complete Album Collection.  Are you sitting down?  142 CD's and 2 DVD's!  Plus a 164 page book!
Arthur Rubinstein: The Complete Album Collection

Any time you order off the links on this blog, you help out The Audio Restoration Guy a little bit.

And we thank you for your support!

If you bought all these sets, you would have approximately 253 CD's and 2 DVD's, all for a little over $2.00 each!  What a wonderful world...

The RECORD-MATIC!!!

Any one out there ever own a Record-Matic?  The coolest record holder on the planet.  It would hold 25 single albums in a plastic tray, with the albums stored upright.  When you flip the first, the rest could follow in a dominos fashion.  It worked!  And as far as I could tell (and believe me, I'm as anal about my vinyl as one could get) the records never warped.  It was just that you would need one of these devices for every 25 albums.  Lots of real estate space taken.  I would set one on top of my speaker.

Couldn't find a decent pic of one.  But if any of my faithful readers have a pic, please send it and I'll post it.

One of my great friends and music lovers recently posted a comment about vinyl album cover art that I hadn't thought about.  We will talk about that next time.

Clean up your act!

Today's topic is the physical cleaning of vinyl albums.

The first step to great audio from old albums is starting with the best source material.  Getting in there and cleaning out the grooves.  There are two ways I would like to discuss today.

1.  The home brew version.  I saw this online a year ago and have to say it's impressive.  $50.00 or less out the door.  I am really wanting to build one!  www.teresaudio.com/haven/cleaner/cleaner.html

2.  An affordable, practical method for under $80.00.  This looks way to cool!  www.needledoctor.com/Spin-Clean-Record-Washer

As a teenager I loved my albums and took great care of them.  Protective DiscWasher inner sleeves.  DiscWasher cleaner.

So when I found a new product, a can of spray on record cleaner, I thought I had found the best of the best.  This would be great.

I should have realized it wasn't good when it sprayed on the record with the consistency of Gillette Foamy!  Unfortunately, I did several records before I played them.  Great sounding records sounded like CRAP after this.

Advice.  Only clean one record with a new device, cleaner, etc. before you subject your treasures to an unknown entity.  And only use a record you can easily live without.  The Best of ABBA, etc.  Wait a minute, that was only a 45 RPM...(joke alert).

Any questions, any answers, any rags any bones any bottles today...bring them my way.  I am the
AUDIO RESTORATION GUY!  Drop me an email.  Let's talk.

The Best Record Shop in the Midwest (in my humble opinion)...

You have to go to Kanesville Kollectibles in Council Bluffs, IA for the record experience of a lifetime!  Over 1,000,000 (yes, one million) albums under one roof. And Tim Behrens (owner) is one of the nicest and knowledgable people in the business.  Great prices and great service.  If you can't find it at Tim's place, you probably don't need it!  Kanesville Kollectibles in Council Bluffs, IA.  Tell him Brian Hanson sent you.

The Beginning

My name is Brian Hanson, and I am the Audio Restoration Guy.  

I love restoring old audio.  

My passion is finding old recordings to restore.  Especially vinyl.  

Physically clean up old recordings (acetate, vinyl or tape) and then record them digitally.  Apply only needful amounts of restoration software to make them sound as good as possible.  Scan the covers and restore the artwork.  

Give them new lease on life.  

I'm not as interested in things that are readily available as those that are obscure.  Their are many wonderful musical artists who only recorded one or a few albums, whose life work is now sitting in the family closet or in the bin at Goodwill.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to bring these treasures back to life, and in return create a audio legacy?  I believe if someone went to the trouble of recording, they deserve being remembered.  

Who knows what I may find?  

This blog is not only about to how to restore, but restoration projects that have been done.  Discuss your favorite album.  Wonder about where a recording is.  What is the best restoration software?  How to clean an album.  Tube or SS?  Where to find turntables, etc.  The more esoteric, the better.  We're not going mainstream here.   

Join me on the journey of a lifetime.