Vinyl Record Transfers from Pristine Audio - the best in the business

At Pristine Audio we live and breathe records! Our own award-winning releases of classical recordings are drawn almost exclusively from those fabulous black grooves of captured music.

We've spent years refining every aspect of transfer technique, from removing every last trace of dirt, dust and muck from the disc's surface, to putting together the finest replay and transfer set-up, to developing our very own unique, hugely successful digital processing and remastering system chain.

That's why we have private clients who've been coming back to us for years. That's why record companies around the world use Pristine Audio to remaster from vinyl records for commercial CD release. That's why music lovers entrust us with the transfer of their precious vinyl collections. That's why we win awards for what we do.

Whether you have a single side or a full collection to transfer, each disc receives the same close attention. And if it's damaged or needs something extra special to get the best from it, we can usually manage that, too.

Pristine Audio - the vinyl specialists.

Your records can sound great: Have a listen and prepare to be surprised! This is the sound of 1950's vinyl at its best, remastered and reissued by award-winning Pristine Audio:

Gabriel Fauré - 'Ballade' (Kathleen Long, LPO, Martinon, 1953)
(remastered from the Decca LP LXT2963, released as PASC038 ©2006 Pristine Audio)

What we do and how we do it:

1. All records are first professionally cleaned using internationaly acclaimed Disc Doctor products, with our custom-built vacuum record cleaning system, to leave the grooves literally spotless. This can remove grime that's been drid in for decades and dramatically improve sound quality.

2. The records are played on the very best replay equipment - equipment from Nottingham Analogue, Musical Fidelity, GSP Audio Projects, Expert Stylus, Benz, Rega, Michell - all chosen for each project to bring out the best sound quality from your discs, and transcribed at 24-bit resolution for the finest digital sound reproduction.

3. Our award-winning digital signal processing chain removes clicks, scratches, crackle and other surface noise and rumble, using a combination of semi-automated and manually-controlled techniques tailored to the condition of each original disc.

4. The final master file is dithered using high-quality algorithms down to 16-bits for CD reproductions. Track markers are inserted and tracks titled, ready to write to CD.

(Note that due to copyright restrictions we do not copy any cover artwork - we supply our own covers with full track listings and timings.)

Don't just take our word for it: Here's the editor of The Gramophone, the world's most respected classical music magazine, reviewing a Pristine Audio restoration from LP:

"The original recording was clearly not one of Decca's best days in the studio and the originals Rose had to contend with had moments of different pitch to attend to: he's made a fine job, offering plenty of body but also nice detail...this is well worth hearing." - James Jolly

(The Gramophone, Awards Issue, 2005, ©Haymarket Publishing)

Problem discs - warps, off-centre pressings:

1. Warped records can often be transferred, either by clamping the disc hard onto the turntable or by playing at a lower speed and digitally repitching to the correct speed later - or by a combination of the two. A recently recovered badly warped and rippled single was eventually transferred at 16rpm and digitally repitched to 45rpm and sounded as good as new.(Note that we don't attempt to flatten the records permanently - if you want to buy a machine to do this it costs $1999 - please enquire elsewhere!)

A short video featuring a very warped LP record being transcribed:

(AVI, 1.69MB)

2. Off-centre pressings are corrected by the gentle filing of the centre hole and repositioning the record prior to clamping to ensure pitch stability throughout.

3. Other pitch problems can be corrected digitally as required - a painstaking process at times, but worth it with particularly precious and rare material.

All tastes catered for: We may have a specialist classical music business, but we cater for all tastes and have been commissioned to remaster professionally from LPs of a wide range of music - rock, pop, punk, jazz, spoken word, as well as classical!

"This is a long 'un for an LP, nearly 50 minutes, (and with good sound) it's not an unreasonable length for a CD comp as well. Compiled, researched and annotated by Record Collector contributor, Nigel Lees, this is the first release on his Top Sounds label and an obvious labour of love...This is a very welcome collection indeed" - Paul Martin, Shindig

"Alphabeat - Pop, Psyche and Prog Rock, 1967-1970", Top Sounds CD & LP
Remastered from original vinyl and acetate discs by Pristine Audio

Professional remastering service

Our professional service is mainly designed for remastering recordings for reissue. Although using the same equipment, software and expertise as our standard service, our pricing reflects the additional time taken to prepare material for commercial release. It may also be appropriate for particularly difficult or complex private work.

Posting or delivery of your original material:
We've never suffered from having LPs, 78s or tapes lost or broken in the post, but do use your common sense with regard to packaging and method of posting - I'm happy to offer advice on packaging. I aim to return original material recycling the same packaging and by the same method of posting wherever possible and desired.

Vinyl is relatively easily shipped and usually requires little more than sufficient wrapping to protect the cover - improvised cardboard taped around the disc(s) usually does the trick.

General information on posting is available here.

Posting your finished CDs:
Finished CDs are sent out in padded envelopes by standard mail or airmail. A back-up copy of each disc is kept as security.

Studio Rates and Payments to Pristine Audio

Studio rates are charged at €50/hr (+VAT) to the nearest half-hour.
We require a €50 deposit payment on all work undertaken - you can make payment below. This payment will be deducted from your final invoice. €50 is approximately GB£35 or US$65.

Deposit Payment can be made by debit or credit card online, or by PayPal online.
You may also pay a deposit by Sterling cheque (£35, payable to Pristine Audio) or French bank cheque (€50, payable to SARL Pristine Audio). This cheque must be included with your media, and must clear prior to our returning final work.

Your final total will be calculated and invoiced to you for payment online, less your deposit, and including airmail shipping where appropriate - we will try to provide an estimate of your final bill prior to starting work. If at this stage you prefer not to proceed we will retain your deposit and return your media.

VAT/TVA will be charged at 19.6% to all EU customers - please contact us with an EU VAT registration number if you have one; if so, your VAT will be zero-rated (for customers outside of France). There is no VAT/TVA charge for customers outside the EU.

To make a deposit payment, click here: Payment by credit/debit card or PayPal

Please contact us before booking in any work!