distortion during needledrop...Leopard issue?

[kozikowski]

<<<Should I return my Numark?>>>

It's up to you. Remember, this is a volunteer on a free software forum talking, but the USB interface on these things is causing all sorts of troubles. Is there an analog connection to your turntable? It's a couple of bucks to see how well it works using the analog pathway. A more expensive turntable would track better reducing groove distortion and word is, the wow and flutter measurements are audibly better, too, probably because of better workmanship and a heavier platter. There was a spirited discussion of preamps on here as well.

Here it is:

http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic ... &sk=t&sd=a

Koz

[kozikowski]

Oh, wait. That's this thread. See what happens when everybody piles onto one thread?

I can't handle it. I'm going to bed.

Koz

[Stochasm]

"the USB interface on these things is causing all sorts of troubles"

My son (a programmer) says it is the USB CODEC itself that is the biggest part of the trouble. He reckons it needs to be rewritten.

[kozikowski]

<<<My son (a programmer) says it is the USB CODEC itself that is the biggest part of the trouble. He reckons it needs to be rewritten.>>>

...he said on the all volunteer, free software forum. So he's volunteering, then?

Koz

[Stochasm]

<<<My son (a programmer) says it is the USB CODEC itself that is the biggest part of the trouble. He reckons it needs to be rewritten.>>>

...he said on the all volunteer, free software forum. So he's volunteering, then?

Koz

I'll ask him. He's got his head buried in an artificial intelligence project at the moment, and has to write a paper for publication, but maybe after that...

[silverface]

Another poster noted the same thing I did in another thread.

The problem is with Audacity, not the hardware. EZ Audio Converter works fine - I've done several full album sides with no distortion showing up, while with Audacity it's about 2-3 songs max, then buzzsaw-city...and restarting the program does NOT fix it, only rebooting does.

That's sure sign of a memory problem in the software.


So while I like the features of Audacity, until they decide to get serious and fix the *software* problem and stop having folks suggest line-in workarounds (which sound like crap with cheap Radio Shack RIAA devices) or blaming "cheap" turntables or USB in total, I'll use the other program that seems to have developers who know how to make it work.

[kozikowski]

<<<So while I like the features of Audacity, until they decide to get serious and fix the *software* problem >>>

They did. Stable Version 1.4.x is ready for release. 1.2.x is two versions old and at least one older level of it has known memory leak issues, but I still don't think that's what the problem is.

<<<and stop having folks suggest line-in workarounds>>>

When you've been struggling with your transfers for days and can't get it to work, any workaround seems welcome--especially a cheap one with a 100% success rate (on Macs).

<<<(which sound like crap with cheap Radio Shack RIAA devices)>>>

They're not dreadful. I ordered two new ones and I'll get back to you on the specs. The on-line review I read had them in the middle of the review range, certainly not the worst one and they follow the RIAA curve very well. They're readily available. All of which is irrelevant since most of the USB turntables have Line-Out.

<<<or blaming "cheap" turntables>>>

They're garbage. The turntables are throw-away devices costing as much as one quality phono cartridge from a reputable manufacturer. They have audible wow, flutter, and tracking problems at best and nobody is expecting them to work longer than about a month. Not fuzzy-warm.

<<<or USB in total>>>

USB has a terrible reputation for live transfer of audio or video. It does packet grouping of data and housekeeping tasks and it does them usually at the worst possible time.

<<<I'll use the other program that seems to have developers who know how to make it work.>>>

See: 1.4.x. EZ appears to cost $29 for a full working license, and the spec sheet has it only working with Windows.

There is no "They." Audacity is an all-volunteer effort. How about a little volunteering on the forums now and again?

Koz

[geohat]

Count me as one of the Radio Shack technique believers. I've done numerous albums since setting it up this way. I don't know what quality I'm losing, but the resulting CD's sound fine.

[kozikowski]

<<<the resulting CD's sound fine.>>>

They should. The Line-In of a Mac is a very respectable port with good distortion, noise, and headroom specifications. Given everything else going on, this is not the bottleneck. Also keeping in mind that everything used to be transferred this way and not that long ago.

Koz