Application Tips 

• Use a stereo record player if you restore old mono vinyl or shellac records and process both channels individually before merging again to mono. This improves the signal-to-noise ratio by at least 3dB (actually a factor of two) when compared to the one-channel descratching procedure.
• Transfer recordings directly to .WAV file without using any processing devices like limiter or compressor prior to the descratching procedure.
• Use the DC-Removal PlugIn to remove the DC-offset before going into the DeScratcher PlugIn. This may improve the audio quality for the low-level signals in the whole processing chain.
• If the audio material to be restored contains very strong clicks, you may allow some clipping while transferring to the digital domain. We recommend you make a few versions recorded with different input gain and compare the results after the descratching process.
• To get good results in short time work systematically: first set up the declicking part (setting the decrackle parameter to 0) and then subsequent decrackling part of the DeScratcher PlugIn. Start with proper profile (digital, shellac, vinyl), declick equal to 60, and shape equal to 70. Dependent on how heavy the clicks are you need to remove look for a proper declick setup (good compromise between original material to be prevented and possible artifacts). In the second step investigate if the shape parameter adjustment get less artifacts. You may need to recursively readjust declick if shape needs to be significantly changed. In the third step you can try to lower click sense if it decreases the intensity of artifacts. In fourth step you should activate the decrackle parameter starting with 70 and find the best setting. If working with critical material you can try to decrease crackle sense, assuming you hear any advantage in sound.
• Do not exaggerate with the declick and decrackle parameter to avoid artifacts. When working on heavily disturbed material, use a good acoustical compromise between the level of remaining disturbances and artifacts introduced to the output signal. Be indulgent if you have hopelessly damaged material; nobody can restore original data from nothing.
• To complete the restoration process for old records, first use the DeNoiser PlugIn to remove broadband residual noise and eventually PlugIns to modify the frequency range: Low-High Cut, PEQclassic, or PEQlinearPhase.
• For the best results, use your own ears in combination with the difference feature of the PlugIn Station. Switch between the original input signal and the input/output difference, i.e. the part of the signal taken out by the descratching algorithms. This difference signal normally should not contain any parts of the original signal you want to preserve.

Important Remark:
The DeScratcher PlugIn is a very fast and very effective tool. You will be amazed by how dramatically the audio quality of old records can be improved. But please do not expect miracles if you process material with long gaps or jumps. The information theory says that once the information is lost and there is not enough redundancy in the remaining material, the restoration process for the original material is impossible. In such hopeless cases, experienced mastering engineers try to transfer similar recording parts into gaps using very precise audio editors.