occasional noise

[waxcylinder]

You've not mentioned the word, but does "USB" come into this somewhere?

Sorry.
Windows 7 on a relatively new, very clean Dell Laptop. I'm using a NAD PP3i analog to Digital converter ...

You didn't answer Steve's question directly, but with a bit of googling I see that the PP3i is indead a USB device.

The symptoms that you are experiencing are most likely to be down to a poor USB connection, bad cable, bad socket or a fault in the NAD's USB services. Try a different cable, a different socket (you're not using a USB hub by any chance are you - if so you shou;dn't be).

WC

[sombunya]

Is the noise sudden bursts of full-scale (full track height) noise?

The best description I can give is, it sounds like static interference. Not constant, but persistent. Almost like a loose wire somewhere. Not overwhelming but definitely noticeable.

It started doing again tonight, even though I did not click "start monitoring". During the middle of the record I noticed the distortion. I stopped the recording and then quickly clicked the record button again. The distortion stopped.

Obviously my original recording was ruined (no big deal, I'm digitizing vinyl to listen to in the car or on a device), but after that I stopped the recording again, undid both recordings, started a new recording and grabbed the entire side without hitch.

My tendency is to undo all of the edits, labels etc. that I do to an LP side and then record a new LP. Maybe I'll try just closing and then opening the program for each LP side I record. Also, I can't think of any changes made to my equipment.

What's interesting is that early on, I've probably recorded 30-40 complete vinyl LP's without a problem. Now this minor annoyance cropped up. I guess I'll keep experimenting.

[sombunya]

This condition occurred again. It was really noticeable between tracks; it sounded like a really bad pressing.

I clicked the "stop" button and then quickly clicked the "record" button again. The noise went away. I then re-recorded the album side with no issues.

I don't have another A to D converter so i can't rule out the NAD PP3i as the culprit. I'm quite sure it isn't the turntable. Until another version comes out and I can un-install and then re-install/upgrade to a newer version I guess I'll just live with it. And I'll quit harping on it, unless someone else experiences the same issues.

[steve]

USB is not always completely reliable. Sometimes the data can "loose sync" and then the data becomes corrupted, which can cause noise. It is more common for such noise to be "full scale" noise, which is definitely "overwhelming", though there can probably be less severe cases.

[otwo_pipes]

Hi Sombunya: You might find it interesting to read my post at http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 46&t=66697
In there I have written:-
@otwo_pipes:

I have heard distortion when I started ripping, not severe distortion but certainly audible, just like sibilance. Not knowing what to do I just pressed Audacity Stop followed by Record and the sibilance disappeared. I do not know what this says.

and quite a lot more. In essence I think we are experiencing the same problem

[sombunya]

In the past few days I've digitized three or four 12" vinyl records, no issues.

Tonight I started a record, brand new, and heard what sounded like dust or damage in the lead-in grooves.

I let it go for about 10 seconds, stopped and then un-did the recording, started the record over and started a new recording, noise-free.

Just posting it here. If I figure out why (I hope) I'll sound off here.

[otwo_pipes]

@Sombunya

I let it go for about 10 seconds, stopped and then un-did the recording, started the record over and started a new recording, noise-free.

Next time this occurs please toggle 'Pause' i.e. Pause and un-Pause the recording to see if this also removes the noise problem.

[sombunya]

I will do that. Thank you.

(It did it again, before I read your message)

[sombunya]

I started a record and started Audacity. I noticed noise on the lead-in groove, similar to an old record that may have dust damage.

I hit "pause" and then unpaused it. No change.

I then hit "stop" and quickly then "record" again. The noise was gone.

I read the other posts in this thread. I am by no means, an expert here. So I'd like to ask people who know more than I do;

Is it possible that a cable might be at fault even though I am not touching any of the connections? I am not using a USB hub.

Is it possible that the NAD PP3i is glitching out? I would not think so as the equipment beyond the computer does not know what the software is doing (I think).

Again, the noise is not overpowering, just unacceptable, of course.

What baffles me is, I probably recorded 30-40 records before this condition occurred. And, I may be wrong but it seemed to start when I upgraded to 2.0.1. I uninstalled it and I'm using 2.0.0.

As always, comments ad suggestions are welcomed. (I'm recording a disc as I type this, working good).

[steve]

Is it possible that a cable might be at fault even though I am not touching any of the connections?

That's not impossible.
If any of your leads are old, check that the connections are clean, shiny, generally in good condition and securely connected.Just a very small amount of corrosion can cause intermittent faults that are hard to track down.