Clipping/ Distortion

[dochiphop]

Steve, your forum wont allow .wma files so I cant post a clip from windows sound recorder.... unless you have a way I can attach a wma file here. Also there is no other option to save it as a different format.

[steve]

You could upload it to one of the free file sharing sites such as http://www.sendspace.com/ and then post a link.
Alternatively, Import the file into Audacity and then export a few seconds in WAV format (doing this will not change the audio).

[dochiphop]

here you go Steve...

[steve]

As you can see here (zoomed in), the audio is still clipping:

fullwindow000.png (49.91 KiB) Viewed 1561 times

This confirms that the problem has nothing to do with Audacity.

It is the same record I have played and recorded with the old computer and this same very equipment (turntable, cartridge, and needle) and it sounds fine.

I can't explain that.
Was the turntable connected to your old computer in the same way (that is, you were using the USB connection and not an analogue connection to your computer sound card?)

[dochiphop]

yes my turntable was connected to my computer the same way. I had it connected via rca outs to a pre amp then from pre amp to my computer via usb.

I have also tried connecting my turntable straight to my computer via usb and not using the pre amp and I have the same problem. How frustrating this is!! Anyway, thanks so much for your persistence and help.

[steve]

I had it connected via rca outs to a pre amp then from pre amp to my computer via usb.

You connected the pre-amp to the computer via USB?
I think this is the first time that you have mentioned this.

What sort of pre-amp?
Is the turntable set for "phono" or "line level" output through the RCA connections?
What about the pre-amp? Does that have "phono" or "line level" inputs?

[dochiphop]

I did state this in one of my earliest posts on this topic.

The pre amp is a Behringer UCA 202

The turntable is set for line output currently but i have switched it back and forth as I have been trouble shooting this.

The pre amp does not have any input options as you asked.

[steve]

I did state this in one of my earliest posts on this topic.

So you did.

OK, here's a test to try - this is for trouble shooting purposes only - this is not the way to get a good recording:

Set the turntable to "phono" output and record via the RCA outputs plugged into the UCA 202.
Make a short test recording with everything else set up as it was for your last Audacity test recording (all the levels set low).

What I would expect is that the recording will be quite weedy and tinny but the important part of the test is whether the audio is clipped at all.

[dochiphop]

I tried that but still no sound at all. I know this problem is I am having now ( no sound at all) is just a setting somewhere in windows 7 (I have been playing with those since this all began).

[steve]

Get it working with the Turntable set to "Line", then when you've done that, change the turntable to "phono" and make another recording. The "phono" recording may be extremely quiet and may not be audible unless you turn it up or apply the Amplify effect.