Playback of file is too fast

[Volvet85]

I recently purchased an Ion TTUSB10 turntable to transfer LP's to iTunes. The device came with software for easy conversion as well as Audacity v 1.2.X. I attempted to record an album (which recorded fine) with the EZ conversion program and the program automatically allows the importation of the music file into iTunes. The album appeared to record fine and I was able to name the tracks. The sound level was very low and the file size was small, and I do not know what format it was saved in.
Since the quality of the recording was poor and after reading an article in Macworld describing how to convert LP's to digital w/USB turntable ( describing use of Final Vinyl or CD Spin Dr.) I decided to try using Audacity in a similar manner. I downloaded the most recent Audacity (v1.3.7 I think) and initially could not hear the play of album but after reading posts on here I was able to hear the album as it recorded. The meters showed the proper recording level and I created a project prior to beginning the recording process. After recording the album side, I attempted to play back the file which took 28 seconds (from a 24 minute album side) and sounded like the chipmunks or a very compressed file. I am using MAC OS X 10.4.11 and attached the turntable via a USB cable directly into the G4 iBook that I was using. I also exported the file as AIFF to iTunes but nothing played when trying to open in iTunes v8. The file shows up in the documents folder as an aif file.
So is there something I did wrong or a setting that will change the playback to a more normal speed?
Thank you in advance
John

[kozikowski]

Using an AIFF file just muddies the waters. Switch Audacity back to WAV in Preferences. Apple (and everybody else) directly supports WAV format.

You recorded a 24-minute side of vinyl, Saved a Project, and then it wouldn't playback in the Audacity timeline right then? Describe the exact steps before you got the chipmunk voices.

iTunes can't be used for diagnostics because it has an import function that changes things all around. Open up the file in QuickTime Player and press Apple-I to open up the INFO panel. What does that say?

Koz

[Volvet85]

Koz,
I set up the computer and attached USB turntable via cable directly to computer (no hub). I selected start monitor and started record to look at output volume and record volume for device. I then repositioned the needle at the beginning of the record and stated turntable then selected the "record" button on Audacity. I watched as the wave forms began to form and travelled across the screen as the record played. I was able to listen to the record in regular time through the built-in computer speakers. At the end of the record, I selected the "stop" button on the Audacity control panel. I chose export from the pull down menu and set format as AIFF, since I thought that WAV was for Windows only and would not work with the Mac OS. I found the saved AIFF file in documents as well as an .aup file, then opened iTunes, chose Add To Library and navigated to the AIFF file. Afterwards the file was in the library list on iTunes and showed file length of 0:28. When I went back to Audacity and opened the saved project and selected "play" on the control panel the progress bar (cursor) moved brisky through the file and the music was played back in hyperspace. You could tell there were several songs being played, but very compressed and played very rapidly. I tried to look at the various pull down menus along the toolbar to see if there was something that was set incorrectly or that would allow playback at a normal speed.
Should I go back and use the Audacity version 1.2.X or re-install the program? I also had downloaded the Lame Library to store the projects as directed on Audacity.
Thank you for your help

[kozikowski]

We always urge people, especially new Mac users, to stop using Audacity 1.2 and go on to 1.3. The page listings suggest that all sorts of Really Bad Things are going to happen if you use 1.3, but that was written back when 1.3 was a collection of bad programming blocks, not now. The current 1.3 is a breath away from Stable Release 1.4 -- and it's the only version that Mac/Intel/Leopard runs correctly.

Dig into Audacity Preferences and set the standards for 44100, 16-bit, Stereo and not 32-bit floating. 32 bit sometimes gives people trouble. I need to read that description again.

Koz

[kozikowski]

<<<I found the saved AIFF file in documents as well as an .aup file,>>>

You didn't say in your narrative that you Saved A Project, but you must have, because that's what creates the AUP file. The AUP file is the Audacity Project manager. It's a list of instructions, not a sound file.

<<<I tried to look at the various pull down menus along the toolbar to see if there was something that was set incorrectly or that would allow playback at a normal speed.>>>

Where's the AIFF file and what did the QuickTime INFO panel say when you opened it up in QT?

I don't use Audacity Projects. The AIFF or the WAV file can be seen as the archive capture master and saved in a backup drive or other backup media -- assuming it's in good health, so we need to determine that.

Koz

[Volvet85]

Koz,
"I don't use Audacity Projects. The AIFF or the WAV file can be seen as the archive capture master and saved in a backup drive or other backup media -- assuming it's in good health, so we need to determine that."
I thought that you were required to save the recordings as a project in Audacity before exporting in another format (WAV or AIFF). Please enlighten me as my understanding from reading instructional material suggests that. Do you just record and export as WAV without saving a project?
John

[steve]

Do you just record and export as WAV without saving a project?

There is no need to save the Audacity Project unless you want to do further editing at a later time.
See here for an excellent overview: http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... ement_Tips