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SweetVinyl SugarCube

SugarCube by SweetVinyl - Vinyl Noise Removal & Hi-Res Digital Recording Components for Vinyl Lovers

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SweetVinyl SugarCube

SweetVinyl SugarCube

SweetVinyl SugarCube

SweetVinyl SugarCube

SweetVinyl SugarCube

SugarCube by SweetVinyl - Vinyl Noise Removal & Hi-Res Digital Recording Components for Vinyl Lovers

SugarCube by SweetVinyl - Vinyl Noise Removal & Hi-Res Digital Recording Components for Vinyl Lovers

SugarCube by SweetVinyl - Vinyl Noise Removal & Hi-Res Digital Recording Components for Vinyl Lovers

SugarCube by SweetVinyl - Vinyl Noise Removal & Hi-Res Digital Recording Components for Vinyl Lovers

Dan Eakins
Dan Eakins
Dan Eakins
Dan Eakins
2 Campaigns |
Mountain View, United States
$173,081 USD by 175 backers
$119,437 USD by 108 backers on Dec 30, 2016
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects
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Overview
Silicon Valley based SweetVinyl™ introduces the SugarCube™ line of vinyl noise removal and recording/playback components. The SugarCube SC-1 and SC-2 are the first audiophile-grade products to enable non-destructive click & pop removal on any vinyl LP record in real-time. The SC-2 also records digitally - providing automatic LP metadata identification and tagging, track splitting and recording to connected USB storage.

 

A new category of audio component

for the Vinyl Lover

 

 

 

In the Press

 

http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/10/10/13233328/sweetvinyl-sugarcube-sc-1-vinyl-clicks-pops

 

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2016/05/04/axpona-2016-sugarcube-rips-out-the-crap/

 

http://www.analogplanet.com/content/listen-sweet-vinyls-sugar-cube-remove-bad-scratch-blue-rondo-la-turk#O6Bz3EYRBmX0q2rv.97

 

SC-1

Product Features:

Noise reduction platform for vinyl listening with click and pop removal system that makes your vinyl records sound like new:

  • Bypass function enables pushbutton pass-through via internal, audiophile-grade passive relay.
  • Absolutely transparent digital processing at 192k/24bits with front panel “Strength” removal control.
  • Selectable monitoring: listen to cleaned output or raw input or just the clicks & pops isolated from the music.
  • All functions controllable from the front panel and through iOS or Android mobile app.

 

SC-2

Product Features:

Vinyl listening and recording component. Featuring the same click and pop removal features of the SC-1, plus:

  • Automatic LP metadata identification shows artist, song and LP with catalog number and album artwork. 
  • Easy-to-use recording capability with automated track splitting and metadata tagging.
  • The system creates any digital file format and sample rate directly to attached USB or network storage. 
  • Audiophile grade headphone amplifier. 
  • Absolutely transparent digital processing at 192k/24bits. 
  • All functions controllable from both the front panel as well as via an iOS or Android mobile app.

 

Demo of SugarCube SC-2 with Vinyl Records:

 
 

Background

SweetVinyl is launching a funding campaign for the first production runs of the SugarCube SC-1 and SC-2 vinyl playback enhancement products. The technology deployed in these products is the culmination of several years of research and development into the recovery of master-tape quality recordings from early vinyl pressings. During this time the founding team has created thousands of digital recordings of vinyl LPs and produced reverse-mastered LPs for Universal and Warner Music (UMG and WMG) as part of the development of the technology. With the SugarCube SC-1 and SC-2, the team has brought the proven commercial solution to home audio enthusiasts. 

Project Status

SweetVinyl has finished the hardware development and majority of the software for the release of these products and is now prepared to roll out production units  to the hundreds of users who have seen and heard demonstrations of the SugarCube systems at audiophile events throughout 2016 (CES, Axpona, Newport THE Show, RMAF, TAVES and NYAS).

Participants will have the opportunity to be a beta-tester and pay a discounted price or to pay a deposit on the first production runs at a smaller discount. Both the SC-1 and the SC-2 are offered in this campaign.

Development Status:

 

 

Motherboard:

Production version layout of power supply, analog signal path, relays, microcontroller, headphone amp, USB 3.0, and relays complete. Includes automatic level set adjustment with high quality op amps and microcontroller circuitry.

Production-grade firmware is in final development and testing for functionality and reliability.

AD-DA Daughter Card:

Production version layout complete utilizing AKM 5397 high resolution ADC and ESS Saber DAC.  Critical analog signals routed to utilize shortest possible signal path and careful grounding strategy to ensure quiet operation.

Digital Processing CPU board:

Production layout complete featuring high performance Intel 1.85 Ghz Atom based CPU and SOC complete. Includes Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0 + OTG, GPIO, Clock, 32Gbytes SSD, 2 Gbytes DDR3 DRAM, heat sinks.

Front Control Board:

Production layout SC-1 and SC-2 front control boards with micro switches, LEDs, rotary encoders and USB 3.0 interface.

Display Boards:

2x16 LCD Blue Backlight SC1 and 320x240 graphics display sourced, tested and integrated.

Operating System:

Linux based operating system including all system functions for audio processing, click and pop removal, recording, playback and communication with SweetVinyl server is complete.  Final OS hardening for security, reliability and performance is specified and scheduled to be completed prior to first Beta shipments. Preliminary update mechanisms in place with final update mechanisms to be added prior to Beta shipments.

Production version click & pop removal code base has been exhaustively tested for errors, stability and accuracy.

Audio Fingerprinting Library

Completely integrated and tested.

LPDB Metadata Library:

LPDB Library and communications facility is written and tested for accuracy, reliability and performance. The LPDB is a million album (15 million track) database of vinyl LP metadata and album artwork created by SweetVinyl for the service of SugarCube devices.

SweetVinyl Webserver:

SweetVinyl SugarServer is developed and production features in place.  Failover servers and load balancing scheme to support peak demand is specified and scheduled for development and testing during Beta test period.

Enclosure Design & Tooling:

All mechanical tooling is complete and production ready for SugarCube enclosures.  Pre-production prototypes of final sheet metal is complete.  Black and clear brushed aluminum finishing is sourced and volume manufacturer is in place with final designs and labeling.

All assembly BOMs are complete and vendors are selected.  The majority of components are sourced, fabricated and assembled in the US.  

Aluminum enclosure components are sourced from North American vendors in Canada and utilize high quality raw materials specified to tolerances of +-.01 inch.

Board fabrication and assembly vendors have finished pre-production prototypes and are ready for volume production and final assembly.  All final assembly and test is completed at Silicon Valley assembly houses. Finished product will be subject to 100% functional test.

 

 

 

In Development:

The specifications of iOS app has been completed and development effort continues for incorporation of new functionality including: LP metadata search by catalog number, playback of recorded SweetVinyl recordings, track split viewing, scrubbing and adjustment, pairing methodology, manual track metadata entry and editing.

Production version of Android app is scheduled to follow iOS UX development guidelines and scheduled to be finished with 2 months of iOS app availability.

Logging, Self-Test, Diagnostics and Customer Support Modules for SugarCube.

Automated Track Splitting and metadata tagging module has been prototyped and specified.  Production version of module and app integration to be available prior to SC2 beta test delivery.

Pairing Module for initial mobile app installation.

UL Certification (Safety) Electromagnetic Compliance tests (FCC) for US markets.

Risk:

Development risk is low as the major technical milestones for the SC-1 and SC-2 are complete and tested. The technical complexity for the tasks left before volume production are known and it is now a matter of scheduling, integration, testing, manufacture and sufficient capital resources.  The technical resources are engaged and have been working on the project during the entire development.   The relationships with component and sub-assembly vendors have been made, commercial terms established, and prototype samples made.

Funding To Date:

The company's founders have funded the technology and product development to date, and the company is free of any debt to external vendors.  Funds received will be used to acquire production-level quantities of components and complete final software design, integration and testing from beta test to final delivery.

 

Team:

The SweetVinyl team is led by the two founders, Leo Hoarty and Dan Eakins.  Both Leo and Dan have successfully started and grown a number of high-tech startups in Silicon Valley and together have over 50 years of start-up experience.  They have recruited a team of talented hardware designers who have strong experience in both analog and digital design and software engineers who have decades of experience building and delivering complex projects.  The funding from this campaign will help to finish writing and testing the software that will be deployed on the SugarCube modules.

Leo – Founder

Leo is leading the implementation of SweetVinyl products and technology.  He has a deep background in hardware and software design and specializes in digital signal processing, advanced media database systems and cloud-based media distribution. He previously founded Active Video Networks now a part Arris Group,  and Dotcast which produced the MovieBeam set top box with funding from Walt Disney, Intel and Cisco. His products have won Best-of-Show awards twice at the CES. He holds over 70 patents.

Dan – Co-Founder

Dan is heading the business and marketing efforts at SweetVinyl.  Dan was formely CEO of Zeitera a leading developer of content recognition technology for the entertainment industry. He has a background in sales, marketing and business development. He  was a cofounder of Blue Steel Networks (acquired by Broadcom) and MiLAN Technology (acquired by Digi International).

Roger – System Software Development

Roger is heading up system software development for the SweetVinyl cloud based services as well as the embedded software environment. Roger has over 30 years of software development experience on almost every Unix and Linux based system.

Alex – Mobile App Development

Alex is responsible for the development of iOS and Android SugarCube Apps. Alex has over 30 years of software development and has been developing iOS and Androd apps for 10 years.

Kevin - Firmware Development

Kevin is supporting the firmware used in the SugarCube motherboard. He has been supporting software and firmware projects for several years.

Brian – Hardware Design

Brian is the lead hardware designer for the SugarCube product family.  Brian has been designing hardware systems for the High End Audio market since founding his first audio company some 30 years ago.

Razvan – Hardware Design

Raz is developing the analog to digital and digital to analog converters used in the SugarCube. He has over 10 years of hardware and firmware design experience at companies such as Microchip, Sigma Design and eAsic.

Rob – Marketing - Sales

Rob supports the marketing, sales and whatever else needs doing. A professional manager and consultant, Rob has more than thirty years of business experience in a variety of roles and industries.

How to connect and use the SugarCube:

 

Q&A:

  • How do I hook it up?

The inputs to the SugarCube Model SC-1 and SC-2 are "line level" and require an upstream phono preamp compatible with the phono cartridge in use on the vinyl playback turntable. In some high end systems this will be a standalone phono preamp audio component feeding the SugarCube and the SugarCubes output feeding an Auxiliary input of the audio system Source Selector. However, on most audio systems an available set of Tape Monitor connections is a perfect approach. Just select Phono on the audio system Source Selector and engage the Tape Monitor when using the SugarCube to route the signals appropriately.

  • How do I connect the app to the SugarCube?

Just press the ‘Pair’ button on the back panel and follow the simple steps on the app screen.

  • Do I have to do this every time I turn it on?

No, just once.

  • Can I use the app even if I don’t have a WiFi network?

Absolutely, the SugarCube has its own network built in.

  • What is the maximum resolution of the digital audio?

192k/24bit in current models

  • Does SC-2 have a disk drive or internal storage for recorded albums?

The SC-2 does not have internal storage. It provides a USB 3.0 interface to connect any size of USB attached storage and Ethernet to save files to a NAS drive or media server.

  • How does the recording process deal with start up noise, i.e. does it automatically remove and/or truncate lead-in groove noise?

The first release does not remove any groove or surface noise as we have been careful not to damage or alter any vinyl sound that would also have an effect on the music – we will be offering an additional package to do this as a software upgrade package as shown in the video – the pricing will be reasonable and will need to also have some tools to do lead in, lead out noise reduction and some ability to operate on surface noise in a non-destructive manner.

  • Is album metadata automatically associated with the sound files?  Does SC-2 allow for, or require, manual manipulation of metadata?

Yes – it is automatic and to some extent depends on the digital format you choose how that will work, however we will the user manually enter or adjust the metadata and approve it before it is finally written to a file.

  • There are two Indiegogo options: pre-release order with a deposit up front, and beta unit purchase at a deeper discount with payment up front.

Yes -  for both the SC-1 and the SC-2 - in each case the hardware will be the same, the only difference is the timing of delivery and the software initially provided. Both units will be updated over the internet with maintenance updates and feature additions –  we will update all units so that all have production software.

  • Are International power supplies available with different voltages than the standard US 110/120 VAC?

Yes the SugarCube requires 12 VDC to the back panel which is supplied by an external transformer.  We would ship you a 220/240 VAC unit that provides 12VDC and  has IEC connector that can accommodate a variety of cords. 

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Choose your Perk

sold out

SC1 - SugarCube Beta

$899 USD
Estimated Shipping
January 2017
20 out of 20 of claimed
Ships worldwide.
sold out

SC-2 SugarCube Beta

$1,499 USD
Estimated Shipping
March 2017
50 out of 50 of claimed
Ships worldwide.
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