Lp Into Cd With Spin Doctor

[hjv]

Has anyone used a USB turntable to transfer old LP records to CDs?

I am trying to transfer LP (vinyl) to CDs using Spin Doctor (that came with Toast 9 Titanium) using a USB turntable connected directly to my Apple PowerBook G4. It records alright BUT I cannot access the "gain" controls (sliding bar, it is greyed out) to adjust the volume at which the music is being recorded. It causes the volume to be at times in the "red bars", thus getting some distortion (at times).

Is there any way I can lower the recording volume without having to connect the turntable to the "line in" (headphone jack)? I still want to use the USB feature!

I have searched anywhere I can think of for information on how to address this issue to no avail. Any suggestions, please?

Edited September 16, 2008 by hjv

[tsantee]

I vaguely recall a discussion about USB turntables awhile ago. I can use Spin Doctor to control the gain when connected with a USB Griffin iMic. Can you control the gain in Audio Midi Setup in your Utilities folder?

[hjv]

I vaguely recall a discussion about USB turntables awhile ago. I can use Spin Doctor to control the gain when connected with a USB Griffin iMic. Can you control the gain in Audio Midi Setup in your Utilities folder?

 

No, I can't.

If you can use Spin Doctor to control the gain when connected with a USB Griffin iMic, shouldn't I be able to do it when connected with a USB turntable? After all, both are USB devices and should be recognized the same, shouldn't they?

Could this suggest I have a bugged software?

Thanks for helping, though.

[tsantee]

No, I can't.

If you can use Spin Doctor to control the gain when connected with a USB Griffin iMic, shouldn't I be able to do it when connected with a USB turntable? After all, both are USB devices and should be recognized the same, shouldn't they?

Could this suggest I have a bugged software?

Thanks for helping, though.

If Audio Midi Setup can't control the input level then neither can Spin Doctor. It seems to me that the problem is in the driver the Mac is using to recognize your USB turntable. I'm pretty sure the iMic came with driver software.

 

You might try posting in a forum at discussions.apple.com to ask if others have experience controlling input levels from USB turntables. I'm surprised the turntable doesn't have some output control of its own.

 

I don't know if any of the few regular Toast users who post here have USB turntables so you can get a response from someone who isn't just guessing like me.

[tsantee]

I may have found a solution. Choose CD Spin Doctor Capture Support as the input option. If you don't see that option you need to install it via the CD Spin Doctor menu item. Now open whatever application you use to listen to your USB turntable on the Mac, such as QuickTime Player. Adjust the volume setting within that application to control the level that appears in Spin Doctor.

[hjv]

I may have found a solution. Choose CD Spin Doctor Capture Support as the input option. If you don't see that option you need to install it via the CD Spin Doctor menu item. Now open whatever application you use to listen to your USB turntable on the Mac, such as QuickTime Player. Adjust the volume setting within that application to control the level that appears in Spin Doctor."

I installed the CD spin Doctor Capture Support but didn't work.

Also, I am not using any kind of software to listen to the records being played in the turntable, I listen to them through the speakers of the computer as I try to record them. If I want to listen to them by themselves the turntable is connected directly to a receiver which in place has a set of speakers.

 

You might try posting in a forum at discussions.apple.com to ask if others have experience controlling input levels from USB turntables. I'm surprised the turntable doesn't have some output control of its own.

After almost throwing the turntable out the window, I found a tiny button on the bottom of it that is labeled "gain". It was set to its maximum level, no wonder the spikes into the red. I have played with it and lowered the volume hoping this will solve the problem. A poor design and definitively no reference to it on the sparse literature that came with it (BTW it is an "ion USB turntable"). Now the bars only go into the amber zone. It is amazing how such a tiny button can cause such big headaches in addition to my ignorance.

 

Thank you very, very much for your help. Now the fun begins trying to transfer my vinyl collection to CDs. I hope it will be easier than its start.

 

HJ

Edited September 16, 2008 by hjv