I am running Audacity v2.2.0 on the latest version of Windows 10.
I have recorded my LP collection with the procedures outlined in the manual including normalization. The content is classical music.
I have exported the results as variously as MP3, WMA and FLAC all with the same results.
If I play the files with Windows Media Player or with Mediamonkey on the PC, the results are excellent.
If I play the files using the Sonos version of Media Player or the Groove version, the volume is extremely low. CDs that I have ripped into MP3 play normally with these applications. Using Audacity, I have compared the CD files with the Audacity files and can see no difference in bit rates, bit depths, or general volume levels.
Any ideas as to what could be causing this?
I have compared the CD files with the Audacity files and can see no difference in bit rates, bit depths, or general volume levels.
Did you check phase?
Open one of the troublesome songs in Audacity. Tracks > Mix Stereo down to Mono. Just for listening. Don’t save anything.
What normally happens is the stereo left-right separation collapses and the violins aren’t on the left any more, but everything comes from the middle—maybe slightly lower in volume. I half-way expect your performance to also greatly reduce in volume.
Let us know.
Koz
Yes indeed - the volume level is GREATLY reduced. This does not happen with the files I have ripped from CDs.
Can this be remedied?
The specific answer is yes, but it’s a patch you have to do to all your captures.
Open one of the damaged songs. Using the down arrow on the left > Split Stereo Track.
Select the newly split bottom track by clicking just to the right of the Up button. Effect > Invert.
Select the upper track by clicking just right of the Up button. Down arrow > Make Stereo Track.
That track should work normally.
I know you’re thinking to yourself, “That’s awkward…” Correct. You shouldn’t have to do that. You’re capturing your records wrong. Something you did during capture is making your stereo track with Left or Right a mirror image of what it’s supposed to be. That little dance up there corrects one of the sides. I can’t actually tell which one is broken. Two mirror images will sound as perfect as two correct sounds. They just need to match.
That creaking sound you hear is the can of worms opening. Remember you complained that some applications had the problem badly and others didn’t? The applications which did that aren’t playing in stereo. They are mixing Left and Right down to mono and playing you that. Your damaged tracks have Left and Right fighting each other.
But wait. There’s more!!
One of the common wiring errors has you capturing two copies of (for example) Left, one right-side up and one upside down, and ignoring Right altogether.
So how are you capturing your vinyl—in detail.
Koz
I am using a Thorens TD 125 Turntable with a Sure M91ED stereo cartridge. This goes into a Technolink TC-750 preamp.
The line output of this goes to the onboard VIA HD (Win10) audio chip line input on the computer. The computer is an AMD Athlon II X2 250 CPU running the latest Win 10.
The VIA line input has clear stereo separation from other inputs.
Could it be a bad cartridge?
The line output of this goes to the onboard VIA HD (Win10) audio chip line input on the computer.
Describe this connection. This is without question the single most likely place to create this damage.
We still wouldn’t recognize the computer on the street. Desktop?
Could it be a bad cartridge?
Did you install, wire, and weight-balance the cartridge? In that case, yes. I did that to a cartridge once. I reversed the two “Right” tiny wires by accident. It was days before I found the error.
Technolink TC-750
I had one of those. I’m using one of the two phono connections on a Hafler preamp now. The MacBook Pro has a stereo Line-In and connects directly with one of these.
Koz
Yes the computer is a desktop - nice machine.
The connection from the preamp are RCA pin plugs for each channel into a std 3.5mm male going to the stereo line-in jack on the computer.
I am traveling over the Christmas holidays but will look at the cartridge connections when i return next week.
going to the stereo line-in jack on the computer.
Does it explicitly say Stereo Line-In (maybe blue) or is it unlabeled or say Audio-In and you’re assuming it’s stereo?
Does the cable look like this?
This is the step most likely to mess up.
Koz
There is a sillier one. Is the plug in back of the computer all the way in? I have a soundcard that appears perfectly normal and it works perfectly as long as you get the cable shoved all the way in. If I don’t push it all the way in (and it’s easier to get this wrong than you think), the sound doesn’t fail, but it starts acting magical.
Koz
The cord is identical to your pix. I am connected to the blue jack and have confirmed that its stereo by using another input - right and left channels are independent and work normally.
I will focus on the cartridge when I return this week.
right and left channels are independent
That’s what I’d be doing.
I will focus on the cartridge when I return this week.
You may be the once every two or three decade cartridge harness failure.
Koz
Success! The issue was, as you suggested, bad wiring of the cartridge - I straightened it out such that the hot and ground leads for each channel are no longer mixed.
Your help on this is greatly appreciated. You are a terrific resource. Many thanks!!!
