Mixer Toolbar Not Working in XP

[feisar]

Hi guys, I dont normally write on forums because I can normally find out the info using the web but this has beat me. I took the day off today to archive all my 12" records onto my pc. All was good, I read all the 'wiki' stuff to get me started.
The only problem is that all my tracks show the red clipping mark at 0 on the mixer toolbar. I have spent hours following all the 'wiki' troubleshooting but had no effect, I searched for drivers to update the usb audio device but had no luck so now I am thinking maybe I just cant do it.
For sound playback I have to select Realtek AC97 Audio or I cannot hear any sound through Audacity and for sound recording I have selected USB Audio CODEC but I cannot select volume as this is greyed out. No matter what I do there is no effect on input volume.
In device manager under sound, video & game it is there as USB Audio Device, there is no automatic update, if I click on driver, the provider is Microsoft date is 01/07/2001, version 5.1.2535.0. I am using Audacity 1.3.13 beta.
Hopefully someone can help me, thanks for your time

[steve]

I'll move this to the Audacity 1.3.x / Windows part of the forum so that the appropriate people will see it.

The only problem is that all my tracks show the red clipping mark at 0 on the mixer toolbar.

Could you zoom in close on the beginning of the track and take a screen shot that shows the problem bit and a second screenshot that is zoomed out to show the whole track (there's a screenshot tool in the Help menu)
There's an "Upload Attachment" tab below the message composing box when you reply.

[feisar]

Thanks for replying, not sure if this is what you want.

[steve]

Thanks yes.
This is recording with a USB turntable?

Everything you describe seems to be normal, except that the recorded signal level is too high.
Have a look on the under-side of the USB turntable (assuming that's what you're using) and see if there is an output level control hidden there (I don't know why they should put it somewhere so inconvenient, but they often do). If you find one, turn it down.

[feisar]

Yes that is correct. I am using Ion TTUSB05. There is no output level control anywhere on this model. There is nothing I can do to change the input volume.

[steve]

Are your 12 inch records LPs or singles?
12" singles are often recorded extremely loudly and may just be too loud for the ION TTUSB05

If this is the case, you may be able to work around the problem by recording the analogue output from the turntable through your computer sound card.

[feisar]

Yes they are 12" dance records from the early 90's.
So you don't think there is a way of getting the audio input volume to work?
Ok, so you want me to use the phono leads? How much quality will I lose?
Thanks

[steve]

The signal from the cartridge is an analogue signal. That signal goes through a "phono pre-amp" (built into the turntable) that amplifies the signal and applies the necessary RIAA equalization. The signal then goes to an analogue to digital (A/D) converter and then through a USB interface into your computer.

The signal that the computer receives is a digital signal, but what you really need to do is to reduce the signal before it goes into the A/D converter. Too big a signal into the A/D converter will "clip" (distort), and even if the computer is able to reduce the digital level, it's too late as all it will be doing is making a quieter recording of the clipped sound.

Some USB turntables provide a level control (often positioned on the bottom of the turntable) so that the amount of amplification by the phono pre-amp can be controlled. Unfortunately some USB turntables don't have that.

What you are doing by recording the analogue output, is to take the signal from the phono pre-amp and use the A/D converter that is in your sound card rather than the A/D converter that is in the turntable. The sound quality of doing it this way depends on the sound quality of your computer sound card. It could be very good, or rubbish, or somewhere in between (you'll need to try it to find out).

One slight complication is that some turntables have the analogue output coming directly from the cartridge without it first going through the phono pre-amp. You will know immediately if your turntable does that because the sound from the analogue connectors will be really thin and tinny with no bass (unless you plug it into a "phono" input that is designed for turntables).

[feisar]

Many thanks, appreciate you taking the time to write that, very informative.
My turntable has 2 phono leads left & right to connect to an amp so I presume the analogue sound has passed through the pre amp.
I have the standard sound card in my 6 year old pc, I have an adapter to plug the 2 phono leads in, then that plugs into to mic or line in socket. My soundcard has never been upgraded but I will probably be upgrading very soon.
I will give that a shot as soon as I get chance.

[steve]

If your computer is a full-size PC (rather than a laptop), AND if the analogue sound has passed through the pre amp as we suspect, then you will probably get a reasonable recording by connecting the 2 phono out connectors to the "Line In" of the computer sound card (even with a cheap sound card - though a good sound card designed for music production would be better). It tends to be the Mic inputs on cheap sound cards that are particularly rubbish