Preferences set to Stereo but still recording in Mono

[James]

Hi, I am running Audacity 1.2.6 on mac osx v10.4.11. I have set the channels to stereo in the audio I/O of preferences and I can record from a usb turntable. My problem is that i can only hear the right channel when recording. When i convert the file to an mp3 format via lamelib i can play it back in itunes, and in itunes both channels can be heard, but the left is very very faint.

I have checked the output/ input settings in the sound file of system preferences on the mac and they are balanced normally.
Please do you have any suggestions as to what I may be doing wrong. Thank You.

[kozikowski]

<<<any suggestions as to what I may be doing wrong.>>>

What may be wrong is you're using a USB turntable. No shortage of complaints about those.

This particular problem may be traceable to the headshell connection. Did you have to screw the cartridge and needle assembly onto the tonearm before you played a record? Can you take it off and do it again?

If that didn't help, you may be a candidate for the analog method.

http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic ... +usb#p8840

Koz

[James]

Kos,
Many thanks , I shall try this.

[James]

Brilliant!

Simple as unscrewing the needle head from the tone arm and refitting.
10 second fix and it works fine!
Thanks a lot. Great advice.