Mac os 10.6.3 sound problems on usb input

[weeshus]

I have used Audacity on a pc running windows xp for some time with no problems and excellent results. I have recently bought a Macbook and wish to use it for copying my vinyl library to CD and to iTunes.

My turntable is a Numark TTUSB and in windows the Audio properties are configured USB codec for recording and Soundmax (the soundcard on m HP laptop) for playback. The "edit/preferences" set up in audacity is USB codec for recording and Soundmax for playback. Software playthrough is enabled. All works well.

On using the Mac I insert usb lead into usb port, power p the turntable and open Audacity. When I specify USB codec for recording I am told that the device has no volume input. I mirror the USB Codec for recording on the Audacity Preferences and when I press record I get the most awful noise through the head phones and no discernable recording input.

If I use the RCA phone output lead supplied (via a 2 female phono > 1 3.5mm jack) I can record with no problem but the audio levels are very low. I can use amplify to boost the audio levels, but the results are nowhere near as good as with the PC.

And there was I thinking that Macs were the preferred options for media recording! Can anyone please advise me? I have tried soundflower, but I don't think I knew what I was doing!

Thanks in advance

Weeshus

[billw58]

First, let's make sure the turntable and MacBook are talking.

Connect the TT with the USB cable, then open Apple Menu > System Preferences > Sound. Click the input tab and select "USB Audio codec" from the input list. Play a record. Does the sound input level meter show sound coming in? It is normal for a USB device to have no input level control by way of the Sound Prefs panel. Does the turntable have an output volume control somewhere on it?

What is "Soundmax" for playback? Can you set your playback to "Built In Audio"? The "awful noise" might be feedback.

Finally, you should be using the latest version of Audacity with system 10.6.3. That would be Audacity 1.3.12 available here: http://audacityteam.org/download/beta_mac

Try these things and let us know the results.

-- Bill

[weeshus]

First, let's make sure the turntable and MacBook are talking.
Play a record. Does the sound input level meter show sound coming in?

Does the turntable have an output volume control somewhere on it?

What is "Soundmax" for playback?

Can you set your playback to "Built In Audio"?

Finally, you should be using the latest version of Audacity with system 10.6.3. That would be Audacity 1.3.12

Try these things and let us know the results.

-- Bill

Thanks Bill, replies to your helpful questions:

Yes it does show input sound, amongst other jumping up and down blue balloons which are there when I click on USB codec!!

No volume control on turntable

Soundmax is the built in audio on my Windows PC (which as I said works fine)

I have set playback to "built in audio" on the Mac

I am using Audacity 1.3.11 at present

By the way, I can switch my RCA output on the turntable from "Phono" to "Line" and when I do I get good volume on record and playback.

I am not sure (will have to playback on my iPod outside to find out) if my inbuilt microphone is recording the fan noise as well as me recording the vinyl!

Regards

Weeshus

[billw58]

Yes it does show input sound, amongst other jumping up and down blue balloons which are there when I click on USB codec!!

OK, so it appears that good sound is getting into the Mac via the USB connection.

A useful little add-on is a free product called "Line In" available from: http://www.rogueamoeba.com/freebies/ . It allows you to hear what's plugged in to any audio input on your Mac. You could use this to test that the audio coming from the TT via the USB connection sounds OK.

Soundmax is the built in audio on my Windows PC (which as I said works fine)

So you're not using Soundmax on the Mac, right?

I have set playback to "built in audio" on the Mac

So, with the "USB Audio Codec" as the input both in System Preferences and Audacity Preferences, plus "Built-in Audio" as the output in both places, does it work?

I am using Audacity 1.3.11 at present

That should be fine.

By the way, I can switch my RCA output on the turntable from "Phono" to "Line" and when I do I get good volume on record and playback.

Yes, you want the TT set to "Line" when using the RCA cables. The only downside is that when running the MacBook on the AC adapter you may encounter power supply noise on the line input.

I am not sure (will have to playback on my iPod outside to find out) if my inbuilt microphone is recording the fan noise as well as me recording the vinyl!

It should be impossible to have both the built-in microphone and the USB connection active simultaneously. Perhaps you inadvertently had the microphone selected when you tried to record - the "awful noise" would be the feedback from the MacBook speakers into the built-in microphone.

Sounds like you're close to getting this solved.

-- Bill

[weeshus]

Thanks for your help Bill, situation now fully resolved as follows:

It is mandatory for me to follow the following sequence.

1 Switch on power to TTUSB

2 Connect TTUSB to mac via usb port

3 Apple Menu/System Preferences / Audio / Input USB Codec - Output Inbuilt (or headphones)

4 Open Audacity

4 In Audacity Prefs make sure that in devices USB Codec is input and inbuilt is output

5 Start to record

Perfect!!

BUT if the above order is not followed or Audacity is "open" then garbage!

No problems, just shows why you have to follow instructions

Regards

Weeshus

[bgravato]

usb devices should always be connected before opening audacity, otherwise audacity will fail to find it.