Clipping/ Distortion

[dochiphop]

here you go Steve....this was recorded with the TT switched to phono as you requested.

[steve]

Well the sound quality is not very good, even after applying RIAA equalization, but it's not clipped, so we seem to have narrowed down the clipping problem to the ADC (Analogue Digital Converter) or the phono pre-amp. What seems to be happening is that after being amplified through the built-in phono pre-amp, the signal is either already clipped (by the pre-amp) or overloading the UCA 202, even when the pre-amp is turned down to minimum. My guess is that it's overloading the UCA 202 (I have a UCA 202 and I know that they don't have much headroom).

I'm guessing that this is a particularly loud recording, possibly a DJ 12" mix. Am I right?
So we've had a recording from the line-level output into the UCA 202 and that was clipped. Have we had a recording using the turntable USB connection (with everything turned down to minimum)?

[dochiphop]

This is not a DJ 12" mix but I am recording straight from a 12" record.

I did take the pre amp out of the equation and connect the TT straight to the computer by usb and had the same problem. I don't think I recorded or uploaded it for you though.

[steve]

How common is the problem? Does the clipping occur just on a few records, or is it the same for all of your records?
Ever done any electronic DIY? Can you handle a soldering iron?

[dochiphop]

updating the driver for the pre amp seemed to fix the problem...the best I can tell so far. Steve, thanks for all your time and advice.

[steve]

updating the driver for the pre amp seemed to fix the problem

Cool
Out of interest, which "pre amp" did you update the drivers for?
It may be helpful for others if you could say where you got the updated drivers from and how you applied the update.

[dochiphop]

I have a Behringer uca202 pre amp. I just went the the manufacturer website and got the link there and followed the instructions. Then in Audacity I had to change the "line in" or input device to "behringer USB". That was it.

[steve]

Strange, I've always used the generic Windows USB audio driver with my UCA202 and I thought that the driver from the Behringer site was just the ASIO driver (which Audacity does not use), however I notice that their site now says "Supporting ASIO and WDM driver models" so perhaps they've tweaked the WDM drivers. I'll have to give it a go and see if I can notice any difference. Thanks for the details