Numark TTUSB + Audacity + MacBook Pro laptop OS X 5.5

[krissserz]

Hello,

I have a Numark TTUSB turntable + Audacity + MacBook Pro laptop Mac OS X 5.5.

Everytime I record into Audacity via the USB connection, the sound distorts heavily after a while.

Can anyone help me?

Thanks!

[steve]

In the search box (top right corner of this page) type the words
ion usb
then press the search button.

21 pages of results, mostly discussing this problem.

[krissserz]

Thanks, BUT:

Seems like the solution is to go analog.

But the whole purpose of buying the TTUSB turntable is to record via USB. I have another turntable, so knowing this, I would've kept my money!

So please, I would like to know a solution to record via USB into Audacity (or into another program) without the crazy distortion.

Thanks again.

[steve]

The problem appears to be with the USB interface in the turntable.
If it is less than a year old you could try having it replaced, or money back under the warranty.

Not all of these units have the problem, and often they will work with one computer but not another. The issue seems to be that the interface is very borderline when it comes to stability. A good friend of mine has one of these turntables and has had no problem at all with it, but as you see from other posts, not everyone has been so lucky.

[waxcylinder]

I agree with Steve, I would try and get you money back. I started off buying an ION iTTUSB (same company as Numark) to do my LP transciptions. I gave up after while - actullay the setup worked and recorded fine - but the TT gave far too much wow&flutter. I resurrected my old Technics/SME deck and arm and my pre-amp out of the attic (and treated it to a new catridge plus a home overhaul) - but I also bought an external USB soundcard (an Edirol UA-1EX) which cost less than half the price of the ION TT. This setup works fine for me and produces excellent results.

WC

[krissserz]

Thanks guys, this is really appreciated.

Seems to me like it could be a Mac Os X 10.5.5 thing (or a Intel processor thing? : my MacBook Pro is an Intel based computer), because my Numark TTUSB works fine with my PPC G5 Tower running on Mac Os X 10.4.11!

I have a Saffire Firewire external audio interface. So I guess that I either:

01_ Get my money back;
02_ Exchange the turntable with another one;
03_ Hook-up my TTUSB into my Saffire via the line RCA jacks, and connect the audio interface into my computer via the Firewire.

Right?

I wrote to Numark. Let's see what they'll tell me.

Much appreciated. Thanks again.

[waxcylinder]

Qn: is your original TT better than the Numark one - and do you have a preamp with phono input (necessary for the RIAA equalizsation)? If so, then I would go for option 1 if possible.

Option 2 may give tou the same problems as you have now

Option 3 - as you yourself pointed out earlier this wastes some of the Numark's functionality - namely the Analog-to-Digital-Converter (you will still be using the pre-amp that is buried in the Numark).

Another thought: have you tried using diferent USB input ports on your MAC? Since you say the TT works fine when pluged into your PC, I would then suspect the USB services on your MAC.

WC

[krissserz]

Unfortunately, my original turntable isn't better than my Numark TTUSB.

I haven't tried another USB input on my laptop yet (both of my computers are MACs: the tower is a PPC, and the laptop is intel based and has a newer operating system). I'll do that later on today. Thanks!

I just got an answer from Numark: "The issue you are having has to do with the MacOSX USB audio drivers. The only fix is to downgrade the drivers. Attached to this email is the Downgrade USB drivers and a PDF of a step by step tutorial on how to resolve the issue."

So looks like I have to DOWNGRADE my USB drivers! I can't believe that! I bought a brand new computer (MACs don't come cheap!), and I have to downgrade it because of a cheap turntable!

I am stunned!

[steve]

Please do let us know how you get on.

[krissserz]

On the box of the TTUSB, it says: "Mac OS 9 or higher, one available USB 1.1 port or higher".

I refuse to downgrade my 3000$ computer because of this 150$ turntable. I'm writing them again.