Low level external noise when recording from usb turntable
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Mac 0S X 10.3 and earlier are no longer supported but you can download legacy versions of Audacity for those systems HERE.
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rbwoodward
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Low level external noise when recording from usb turntable
When I am recording from my usb turntable, I am picking up external, ambient noise in the recording. On playback, the volume of the noise is low, and it can only be heard if the noise is loud or it is in a quiet section of the track. I have a Audio-Technica AT-LP2D turntable running on my iMac (OS 10.4). Any suggestions as to how to eliminate this?
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kozikowski
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Re: Low level external noise when recording from usb turntab
<<<I am picking up external, ambient noise in the recording.>>>
External as in picking up "Wheel Of Fortune" from the TV in the living room?
Somebody else on the forum had that trouble. We don't know why that happened, either.
We suspect whatever software they're using doesn't turn off the built-in microphone--or accidentally turns it on.
Let's try something. Set up to record a record but don't put the needle on. Record six minutes or so (two cuts) and in the middle of it, reach over and gently scratch the built-in microphone. On early iMacs, it was a little hole next to the camera just above the screen. On later iMacs, it's a surgically tiny bunch of holes on the top surface over the camera. Google if you can't find it.
Do the recording meters go nuts when you scratch the microphone?
Stop the recording and go into Apple > System Preferences > Hardware > Sound > Input and see what's selected there.
Koz
External as in picking up "Wheel Of Fortune" from the TV in the living room?
Somebody else on the forum had that trouble. We don't know why that happened, either.
We suspect whatever software they're using doesn't turn off the built-in microphone--or accidentally turns it on.
Let's try something. Set up to record a record but don't put the needle on. Record six minutes or so (two cuts) and in the middle of it, reach over and gently scratch the built-in microphone. On early iMacs, it was a little hole next to the camera just above the screen. On later iMacs, it's a surgically tiny bunch of holes on the top surface over the camera. Google if you can't find it.
Do the recording meters go nuts when you scratch the microphone?
Stop the recording and go into Apple > System Preferences > Hardware > Sound > Input and see what's selected there.
Koz
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rbwoodward
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:04 am
- Operating System: Please select
Re: Low level external noise when recording from usb turntab
Scratching the microphone does not register on the recording meter. Apple > System Preferences > Hardware > Sound > Input ------> USB Audio Codec is highlighted.
I think that the ambient noise is actually being picked up through the stylus. In record mode with the stylus up, loud ambient noise is recorded, faintly of course. This really surprises me-I would not think that the stylus would be so sensitive. I guess that I will not be able to do anything about this, other than to keep the turntable's cover down and just stop talking.
Thanks-rbw
I think that the ambient noise is actually being picked up through the stylus. In record mode with the stylus up, loud ambient noise is recorded, faintly of course. This really surprises me-I would not think that the stylus would be so sensitive. I guess that I will not be able to do anything about this, other than to keep the turntable's cover down and just stop talking.
Thanks-rbw
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waxcylinder
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Re: Low level external noise when recording from usb turntab
Actually if you are picking up what is known as "rumble" and it sounds as though you are from what you describe - then it may actually be better to temporarily remove the cover.
What you should do is to ensure that you have a very stable, solid, level place on which to sit the turntable (and of course minimise all banging about, closing doors etc and all unnnecassry noise).
The best results I ever got from my deck was in a house I had some years ago where there happened to be an inch and a half thick slate shelf firmly fixed to the walls. In the earlier days of hi-fi some folks used to go to the lenghts of padding the inside of their turntable decks with plasticene or putty to increase the mass of the deck in an attempt to reduce rumble to as little as possible - but that's going to extremes ....
WC
What you should do is to ensure that you have a very stable, solid, level place on which to sit the turntable (and of course minimise all banging about, closing doors etc and all unnnecassry noise).
The best results I ever got from my deck was in a house I had some years ago where there happened to be an inch and a half thick slate shelf firmly fixed to the walls. In the earlier days of hi-fi some folks used to go to the lenghts of padding the inside of their turntable decks with plasticene or putty to increase the mass of the deck in an attempt to reduce rumble to as little as possible - but that's going to extremes ....
WC
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kozikowski
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- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:57 pm
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Re: Low level external noise when recording from usb turntab
<<<Actually if you are picking up what is known as "rumble" >>>
Or not. I don't think this problem is normal. The other poster that had this problem gave up, disconnected the USB system and started to use the analog pathway we recommend for Mac users. When she did that, she still had to go into her System Preferences and turn the internal microphone off--rerouting the sound system to Line-In.
And All Her Sound Problems Vanished.
Same turntable, same computer, same audacity, same room, same As The World Turns on the TV, and the same cat.
Koz
Or not. I don't think this problem is normal. The other poster that had this problem gave up, disconnected the USB system and started to use the analog pathway we recommend for Mac users. When she did that, she still had to go into her System Preferences and turn the internal microphone off--rerouting the sound system to Line-In.
And All Her Sound Problems Vanished.
Same turntable, same computer, same audacity, same room, same As The World Turns on the TV, and the same cat.
Koz