recording vinyl

Ken Ken · Post by **Ken Ken** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:02 pm

Can anyone tell me why that when I record the output from my mixer into soundforge or ableton via my sound card (focusrite sapphire) the left channel always records slightly higher than the right when I look at the waveform...?

nbinder · Post by **nbinder** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:04 pm

Either you have different input levels set for the left/right channel, or the output of the two channels from your mixer isn't equally balanced.

Ken Ken · Post by **Ken Ken** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:07 pm

but some records record fine (i.e level) and some dont...? surely the output from the mixer is balanced as standard..?

Patch · Post by **Patch** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:08 pm

If you scratch a lot, one side of your needle will wear more than the other. That will cause the difference in levelswhen you record...

laird · Post by **laird** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:12 pm

higher... or louder?

My first guess is you have a pan pot turned somewhere on your mixer, or a gain knob/slider turned up a little higher than it should be.

laird · Post by **laird** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:13 pm

second guess is you should track down the source. Reverse the inputs from your record player and see if that switches the problem.

Ken Ken · Post by **Ken Ken** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:14 pm

I dont scratch. I have a xone 92 and you can even see the slight difference on the LED on the mixer Left channel is slightly higher than the right. Anyone else get this..?

nbinder · Post by **nbinder** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:17 pm

If you can already see that on the mixer, the audio interface/computer seems to be fine.

The output levels of a turntable depend on the needle and how it is mounted. You should - as already advised - check a new one and if that doesn't help check how it is mounted.

Ken Ken · Post by **Ken Ken** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:20 pm

laird wrote:higher... or louder?

My first guess is you have a pan pot turned somewhere on your mixer, or a gain knob/slider turned up a little higher than it should be.

there is no pan on a xone 92. Im guessing that if you push channel 3 fader up to peak at say -2db then both the left and right channels should record equally...? when i record into soundforge the left channel records slightly louder than the right.

Ken Ken · Post by **Ken Ken** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:21 pm

nbinder wrote:If you can already see that on the mixer, the audio interface/computer seems to be fine.

The output levels of a turntable depend on the needle and how it is mounted. You should - as already advised - check a new one and if that doesn't help check how it is mounted.

brand new needles...im sure I read somewhere that vinyl is recorded or pressed like that...?

nbinder · Post by **nbinder** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:22 pm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramophone_record

scroll down to "stereo sound"

crumhorn · Post by **crumhorn** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:54 pm

Could be caused by incorrect adjustment of the anti skate force on the turntable

Ken Ken · Post by **Ken Ken** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:58 pm

what should it be set at...?

GUY SMILEY · Post by **GUY SMILEY** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:04 pm

don't forget that classic

'Dodgy Lead'

crumhorn · Post by **crumhorn** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 10:31 am

Ken Ken wrote:what should it be set at...?

Setting up anti skate is a bit of a black art. It's just something I remember form when everyone was obsessed with Hi-Fi back in the '80s. It's related to the tracking weight and also to the length of the tone arm. You'd probably need to google for details. On posh turntables it's set by the little dangling weight that hangs over a little bar. I think it's often calibrated with a scale to match the tracking weight, but it's 20 odd (very odd!) years since the last time I set up a turntable.

But I notice that you said only some records have the problem, so logically it might be the records themselves that are recorded with unequal levels.