As slks says, there are plenty of post-transfer processes that could be used to eliminate pretty much all of the tell-tale signs that the source was vinyl. Easiest of those to accomplish would be various types of EQ to remove rumble and adjust the frequency balance, plus broadband noise reduction to reduce the characteristic vinyl surface noise "hash".
As for removing all the pops and ticks: while it can be done with enough effort, the cost of doing it well for a commercial release is sufficiently high that it wouldn't get done for a release where sales volumes are likely to be low. It will either be skipped altogether (in which case careful analysis would reveal some minor vinyl ticks), or it would be done quickly with an automated tool that would leave behind the typical artefacts of automated click removal: low level "thuds" and "plops".
I reckon I could fairly quickly establish whether a commercial CD was sourced from vinyl. A needledrop created by an enthusiast willing to put in the effort is another matter. If you want to try, and there really are no clicks and ticks, then I recommend you look for those "thuds" and "plops".
As for removing all the pops and ticks: while it can be done with enough effort, the cost of doing it well for a commercial release is sufficiently high that it wouldn't get done for a release where sales volumes are likely to be low. It will either be skipped altogether (in which case careful analysis would reveal some minor vinyl ticks), or it would be done quickly with an automated tool that would leave behind the typical artefacts of automated click removal: low level "thuds" and "plops".
I reckon I could fairly quickly establish whether a commercial CD was sourced from vinyl. A needledrop created by an enthusiast willing to put in the effort is another matter. If you want to try, and there really are no clicks and ticks, then I recommend you look for those "thuds" and "plops".