LP to CD Problems

[RobertAnderson]

I am "brand new" (today) to the forum and Roxio and recording.

 

I got the Roxio app bundled with a Plextor PX755UF DVD/CD Writer (excellent). I have successfully downloaded MP3 and converted to .wav files and made good music CDs...BUT...

 

Last night I made my first LP (vinyl) to CD conversion and "not so good"...

 

1) Used an Audio Technica Turntable with built-in Pre-Amp

2) Connected that to the "Line-In" socket on my sound card (not "MIC")

3) Used the "Auto" feature to set volume

4) Got good sound volume BUT...the "instruments" are much louder than the "voices" (using Beatles "Love" album).

 

QUESTIONs

 

1) How do I "monitor" the actual recording to "preview" it and stop if I am not getting good sound?

 

2) How do I control the channels - other than the little L/R blue-bars on the application GUI?

 

3) Am I all screwed up and need to start over?

 

 

Many Thanks for taking time to get me started down the right path

 

Robert

[tbrewst]

Go into the Sound properties in the Control Panel and make sure that the Line-In isn't muted.This would stop you from hearing it.This needs to be on the Playback tab.It should be ok on the recording tab or you wouldn't be able to record.

Don't know what sound card you have but you may be able to do some adjustments with it's mixer (if it has one).

[RobertAnderson]

Go into the Sound properties in the Control Panel and make sure that the Line-In isn't muted.This would stop you from hearing it.This needs to be on the Playback tab.t should be ok on the recording tab or you wouldn't be able to record.

Don't know what sound card you have but you may be able to do some adjustments with it's mixer (if it has one).

 

 

Thank you for the quick response..........do you mean the computer/Windows "Control Panel" ...or...is there a Control Panel in the Roxio Suite?

 

Don't understand this part...."This needs to be on the Playback tab.t should be ok on the recording tab or you wouldn't be able to record."

 

Should I be able to hear the LP playing thru the computer speakers via the application while "recording" it...or...must I wait until it is finished and then "check it out" ??

[tbrewst]

Sorry,let me try again.

 

Go to the Control Panel in Windows,go to Sound and Audio devices (in XP),go to the audio tab,under Sound Playback click on volume.In there make sure that Line-In isn't muted.

As long as this isn't muted and your source is fed into it then you should be able to hear it.We know that Line-in isn't muted under Sound Recording or you wouldn't get a signal when trying to capture.Check that one also though just to make sure.

[RobertAnderson]

Sorry,let me try again.

 

Go to the Control Panel in Windows,go to Sound and Audio devices (in XP),go to the audio tab,under Sound Playback click on volume.In there make sure that Line-In isn't muted.

As long as this isn't muted and your source is fed into it then you should be able to hear it.We know that Line-in isn't muted under Sound Recording or you wouldn't get a signal when trying to capture.Check that one also though just to make sure.

 

 

Now I get it...Thanks...I'll let you know when I get home.

[sknis]

I am "brand new" (today) to the forum and Roxio and recording.

I got the Roxio app bundled with a Plextor PX755UF DVD/CD Writer (excellent). I have successfully downloaded MP3 and converted to .wav files and made good music CDs...BUT...

 

Last night I made my first LP (vinyl) to CD conversion and "not so good"...

 

1) Used an Audio Technica Turntable with built-in Pre-Amp

2) Connected that to the "Line-In" socket on my sound card (not "MIC")

3) Used the "Auto" feature to set volume

4) Got good sound volume BUT...the "instruments" are much louder than the "voices" (using Beatles "Love" album).

 

QUESTIONs

 

1) How do I "monitor" the actual recording to "preview" it and stop if I am not getting good sound?

 

2) How do I control the channels - other than the little L/R blue-bars on the application GUI?

 

3) Am I all screwed up and need to start over?

 

 

Many Thanks for taking time to get me started down the right path

 

Robert

 

Does it sound like the Beatles are singing in a barrel? Possibly too much stereo separation. I had this way back in the EMC 7 times. First did you capture both channels of the music? Y connection from your deck to a stereo plug into your computer.

 

Please let us know if you have an application called Sound Editor in that program you got. It is a stripped down version (teaser) for the full program so it may not be there.

 

If you have Sound Editor, load the music file and then see if you can get any improvement using one of the controls in Sound Effects tab. When you load that music file into Sound Wave, you be able to see if both channels were captured

 

If you do not have the full Sound Editor, download and install the free trial of GoldWave. There are some controls there that will allow you to double the voice. I don't have it on my computer now so I can't tell you exactly what the controls are.

[RobertAnderson]

Does it sound like the Beatles are singing in a barrel? Possibly too much stereo separation. I had this way back in the EMC 7 times. First did you capture both channels of the music? Y connection from your deck to a stereo plug into your computer.

 

Please let us know if you have an application called Sound Editor in that program you got. It is a stripped down version (teaser) for the full program so it may not be there.

 

If you have Sound Editor, load the music file and then see if you can get any improvement using one of the controls in Sound Effects tab. When you load that music file into Sound Wave, you be able to see if both channels were captured

 

If you do not have the full Sound Editor, download and install the free trial of GoldWave. There are some controls there that will allow you to double the voice. I don't have it on my computer now so I can't tell you exactly what the controls are.

 

1) Yes...it does sound like they are singing waaay down at the bottom of a very deep barrel.

 

2) I "think" I captured both channels. The TT has two (L/R) RCA Out plugs which I connected to a device from "Best Buy" that "converts" those plugs to a single 1/8" stereo plug....which I then plugged into the "LINE IN" socket on the sound card.

 

3) I'll check the Sound Editor tonite when I get home...probably this is a "stripped" version since it came free with the Plextor DVD Writer. And if no "Sound Editor" I will try the "Goldwave" trial.

 

4) Should I upgrade to a full "real" version of Roxio? I don't mind paying for it if Roxio is the Best of Class...or dare I ask here, ....is there a better application? I have a lot of vinyl and would like to make some good CDs for work and car.

[sknis]

1) Yes...it does sound like they are singing waaay down at the bottom of a very deep barrel.

 

2) I "think" I captured both channels. The TT has two (L/R) RCA Out plugs which I connected to a device from "Best Buy" that "converts" those plugs to a single 1/8" stereo plug....which I then plugged into the "LINE IN" socket on the sound card.

 

3) I'll check the Sound Editor tonite when I get home...probably this is a "stripped" version since it came free with the Plextor DVD Writer. And if no "Sound Editor" I will try the "Goldwave" trial.

 

4) Should I upgrade to a full "real" version of Roxio? I don't mind paying for it if Roxio is the Best of Class...or dare I ask here, ....is there a better application? I have a lot of vinyl and would like to make some good CDs for work and car.

If you promise that you will never want to create slide shows of still images and movies of all those old videos and that you don't need any back up programs, then perhaps a stand alone audio editor is all you need. Look at these. The cheap one is probably what close to what you have, the Music Lab Premier is more like what is in EMC 10 Suite. When you look at ever thing else you get, perhaps the best buy is EMC V10. I would not consider the Audio Applications in EMC 10 the state of the art but they are very adequate for what you are doing.

 

I don't have any of those barrel singer tracks handy so I can't tell you if Sound Editor's Effects will clean that up.

 

Part of your decision should be based on your computer hardware. It is import to exceed the minimum requirements if you want to do any type of video work.

[RobertAnderson]

Many, many Thanks to all who replied so quickly with so many good ideas. I am going to upghrade the software BUT ....I "think" I discovered the real culprit last night when I tugged on the Line In cable....suddenlly the Beatles were singing their little hearts out.

 

Seems the el-cheapo sound card included with my Dell (ugh!) computer has a loose, bad Line In socket.

 

The local guitar store has an M-Audio "Audiophile 2496 PCI Card" in-stock and that has real RCA L/R inputs and outputs plus a few other digital bits and bobs....just the thing to hook up the preamp/turntable and download to CD all those great 1960's records....especially the ones long over looked because the Fab Four were just so Fab!

 

If all goes well I'll write it all up and post in FAQ to help the next newbie along.

 

Thanks Again for all....to All.....

[tbrewst]

Glad you found the "real" trouble.What you might do is a search of these forums for M-Audio.There have been a few posts from people that had a few problems with that series card and V8.I saw a few threads in V8 when I searched for it.I'm not trying to talk you out of it,just a heads up.

[RobertAnderson]

Glad you found the "real" trouble.What you might do is a search of these forums for M-Audio.There have been a few posts from people that had a few problems with that series card and V8.I saw a few threads in V8 when I searched for it.I'm not trying to talk you out of it,just a heads up.

 

 

Now that you mention it I had not considered that the card worked in 24-bit/96kHz mic/line recording mode.....how would I work around that for converting to digital CD?

[tbrewst]

I didn't read all the posts but see if one has a work around.If not you may consider a different card,maybe a Creative Labs.