How to change Win 7 default volume when ripping LPs?

[Cantico]

I have Windows 7 and am trying to rip LPs using Audicity and my Audio-Technica AT-LP60 USB Turntable but am having problems. As the Audicity manual explains, my Windows 7 motherboard is defaulting to maximum volume, the Output Level Meter is grayed out and I cannot move the slider on the Input Level Meter to -6 to avoid clipping. As you can see from the screen grab above the vast majority of my rip is clipped so I'm getting heavy distortion in my recording.

The manual also says: "If you are unable to move the sliders, or if the sliders always "jump back" to the same value no matter where you put them, don't panic: some sound cards do not have level controls, and some of them have controls that are not compatible with Audacity. To adjust your sound card levels, you will need to use other system software or perhaps a special control panel that came with your sound card." But I still cannot figure out how to adjust the default volume level.

Is there a way to do this? I've tried the few suggestions in the manual -- adjusting the volume from Control Panel, lowering the Gain in Audacity etc -- but still no luck. Lowering the Input Volume makes it quieter but the clipping and distortion are still there.

Any suggestions??

[Gale Andrews]

If your are connecting the recording to the computer via the USB cable then the motherboard sound device is not involved except for playback. You won't be able to hear the audio in the computer as it's being recorded unless you set the "Playback Device" in Audacity Devices Preferences to your inbuilt sound card, and then enable Transport > Software Playthrough.

If the Audacity input slider is stuck on maximum when you are recording from USB audio codec, that suggests Audacity cannot directly control the input level from the turntable. You can turn down the input level on the "Recording" tab of Sound in the Windows Control Panel (right-click over USB Audio Codec > Properties: Levels). You may still find that will only scale down the same distorted input rather than reduce the input level directly - If so, the level might fall below +/-1 so seem quieter, but it would still distort. Therefore, see if there is a gain knob on the turntable (usually there is one underneath the chassis) to turn down the output it's sending,

If not, does the turntable have RCA cables for speakers? If so, and if the computer has a line-in, buy an RCA stereo > 1/8 inch stereo TRS adaptor, plug the RCA cables into the adaptor and the adaptor into the line-in of the computer. Change the "Recording Device" in Audacity Devices Preferences to Line-In for the built-in computer sound device. Audacity's input slider should then be able to directly control the line-in input level.



Gale

[Cantico]

Thanks for the speedy reply! My turntable doesn't seem to have a gain knob -- it's a pretty barebones model -- but I'll try the RCA cable approach. I've messed with the Control Panel sound a lot lately and its made no difference.

Thanks again!

[Cantico]

Wanted to say thanks again -- this worked like a charm!

[Farsangolf]

I have problems with this! Using a roxcore usb turntable and cannot change the input level. ????

Can I use the microphone jack as input?

[steve]

I have problems with this! Using a roxcore usb turntable and cannot change the input level. ????

Read the post be Gale Andrews earlier in this topic.

[Farsangolf]

Can I use the microphone jack as input for the turntable??

[waxcylinder]

Can I use the microphone jack as input for the turntable??

In most cases no, absolutely not. The mic-in is expecting a much lower level signal than your TT will supply. You will get distortion - and may well damage your soundcard.

However there are some (not many) PCs that have a single input for mic-in and line-in and adjusts itself accordingly.

WC