Recording from vinyl

[Mikebaabaa]

I have a usb player connected to a quad-core with 4 g RAM. When recording the first track is great but half way through the second track distortion kicks - sounds like the input is overdriving and distorting. Can stop and start with new tracks but is this the best solution?

[Edgar]

To give you any answer other than "This problem does not seem to occur for me." we will need a lot more details. What brand (make & model) computer, OS & SP; exactly which build of Audacity (see menu Help > About and give us version number & build date). List all your audio hardware exactly (turntable; sound card etc.-- give make & model). Make sure you go to the manufacturer of your hardware and get & install the latest drivers (do not use the computer or OS manufacturer's drivers for your sound card & turntable -- use the sound card/turntable manufacturer's).

[waxcylinder]

Could be a bad USB connection - check the plugs and cables.

WC

[Edgar]

When recording the first track is great but half way through the second track distortion kicks... Can stop and start with new tracks

Could be a bad USB connection

Given OP can record sequential single tracks successfully I do not suspect it is hardware, but I always like to check cable & connections as the very first step in solving audio glitches (except "NO SOUND!!?!!" which is almost always "one more button"* <grin>)!

*[Ed -- audio tech with OMB Productions]

[Mikebaabaa]

Just to give some details. I have audacity 1.3.13-beta
Win 7 home premium
An intel quad core processor at 2.67Ghz with 4 G RAM (32 bit)
I am using an mbeat usb player.

I can play up to half a 33.3 rpm LP before the sound starts to distort - as if there is input buffer which is overloading. I can stop recording and add another track then cut and paste to add to previous one (crude but it works) so it seems OK there. After having done this I can export all the tracks to my MP3 player and works fine (when I remember to get the sampling rate right)

[Mikebaabaa]

Forgot to say - have checked the USB connection - must be OK as sound starts well but am about to try a shorter cable. Have been using an extension - perhaps that has something to dso with it

[waxcylinder]

Forgot to say - have checked the USB connection - must be OK as sound starts well but am about to try a shorter cable. Have been using an extension - perhaps that has something to dso with it

Extension cable = more plugs&sockets = more potential points of failure

So let us know how the shorter cable works

And glad you found a workable workaround for yourself - not ideal, but at least it works for you.

WC

[Mikebaabaa]

After changing to short - single USB cable, situation seemed fine for first LP disc but on checking last track, some distortion had crept in. Starting to think that it might be the needle on the player. Will attempt to change that and see what happens.

[waxcylinder]

Before you buy a new stylus - do check that your cartridge alignment and it;s tracking angle are corect and that if you have anti-skate force adjustment make sure that is set up properly - and that the tracking weight is correct.

It is a fact of life that distortion is likely to increase as the arm travels to the centre/inneer tracks of the LP, it's just down to the physics of having an arm pivoting from a single fixed point (the catridge alignment varies slightly as the record plays) - but correct alignment and proper setup can alleviate most of that.

WC

[Mikebaabaa]

Before you buy a new stylus - do check that your cartridge alignment and it;s tracking angle are corect and that if you have anti-skate force adjustment make sure that is set up properly - and that the tracking weight is correct.

It is a fact of life that distortion is likely to increase as the arm travels to the centre/inneer tracks of the LP, it's just down to the physics of having an arm pivoting from a single fixed point (the catridge alignment varies slightly as the record plays) - but correct alignment and proper setup can alleviate most of that.

WC

Thanks, I'll take that on board and check it out as much as I can