Subject:Substantial difference between L/R when recording vinyl

Posted by: Vulcan

Date:10/15/2003 3:09:09 AM

I have a very old (24 years) vinylplayer and I have started to encode my old records (bought from mid sixties an onwards). My setup is Player -> Mixer -> Line in. Neither the player nor the mixer have any balance adjustment knobs. The setting on my soundcard is "in the middle", i.e. L/R equal.

When I record there is a substantial difference between L/R channels. The left channel is much ticker (height) and much richer (wide). If the left channel peaks at -1 the right channel peaks at - 10.

The questions I have is why is this and what shall I do to correct it?

Is the difference likely to be due to a) the player, b) the wires from the mixer to line in or c) the original recording? Would it be wise to adjust the soundcard line in slider to the right to get equal recordings or is this a stupid approach?

When I'm done "washing" the files shall I correct the difference between L/R by normalizing each channel separately or shall I normalize both channels eqaul and at the same time? I have tried normalizing separately but there are still differences between ticknes (less) and richness (almost at before normalizing).

Also, does anyone know of an newbi guide on how to process old vinyl records to get the best result?

Any input is highly appreciated.

Hans

Subject:RE: Substantial difference between L/R when recording vinyl

Reply by: captn_spalding

Date:10/15/2003 9:59:38 AM

If you swap the left and right cables from the "player" to the "mixer" does the right channel now sound "ticker and richer"? By "vinyl player" do you mean stand-a-lone turntable or some sort of all-in-one that has a line out that your running into the "mixer"?

..spalding

Subject:RE: Substantial difference between L/R when recording vinyl

Reply by: Vulcan

Date:10/15/2003 1:49:29 PM

Yes, if I switch it´s the opposite, i.e. the right channel is ticker and richer.

The player is a stand-alone turntable.

Hans

Subject:RE: Substantial difference between L/R when recording vinyl

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:10/15/2003 3:13:01 PM

It's probably either a cabling problem or the cartridge is going bad.

If the sound is still acceptable on the quieter channel, you can always select each channel individually and normalize after the recording is done. That will bring both channels up to a similar level. You'll probably have a little more noise on the channel that was quieter, but it may not be too bad.

Subject:RE: Substantial difference between L/R when recording vinyl

Reply by: Vulcan

Date:10/15/2003 3:34:43 PM

Thanks. I hate to admit it but the needle was in a very poor shape (it was actually bent) and the difference was due to earlier abuse. I changed the needle and now it looks and sounds much better.

Hans

Subject:RE: Substantial difference between L/R when recording vinyl

Reply by: johnmeyer

Date:10/16/2003 12:25:41 PM

Good call, Ed.

Subject:RE: Substantial difference between L/R when recording vinyl

Reply by: dansolo

Date:10/18/2003 12:07:41 AM

i do a great deal of vinyl to digital conversion. i can add this to the great responses you have received.

think about the climate you live in, a dry climate will cause the cartrage (and belt) to fail sooner than you would think. the rubber hardens at a faster rate and the upper frequencies are lost. (use a osiliscope to see the difference) depending on the climate, change the cartrage at least every two years especialy if you use it infrequently. an alignment tool is a great source for seeing the angle at the end grove which will, if there is a gross alignment, cause the left channel to appear weak. remember the cartrage uses the sum and difference to figure out the seperation and amplitude of the channels.

if you have a cheap RIAAA equilaziation amp this will show up as funky channel amplitude and a sharp emphasis on the high frequency of one channel. bass should be good througout the record side. listen to a CD of a record if you can and that will have you questioning your turntable, if the remastering was from non RIAA re-eq masters (a common practice in the early days of CD's was to use what they had on hand to master for CD) needless to say re- eqing for a different format sucked.

i have original mono records from the early 60's that , in my opinion sound better than the CD's since produced (except Rhino, they are true artists at re mastering)

experement and enjoy, vinyl is not dead, it just confuses the younger masses.

d

Subject:RE: Substantial difference between L/R when recording vinyl

Reply by: dansolo

Date:10/18/2003 12:08:12 AM

i do a great deal of vinyl to digital conversion. i can add this to the great responses you have received.

think about the climate you live in, a dry climate will cause the cartrage (and belt) to fail sooner than you would think. the rubber hardens at a faster rate and the upper frequencies are lost. (use a osiliscope to see the difference) depending on the climate, change the cartrage at least every two years especialy if you use it infrequently. an alignment tool is a great source for seeing the angle at the end grove which will, if there is a gross alignment, cause the left channel to appear weak. remember the cartrage uses the sum and difference to figure out the seperation and amplitude of the channels.

if you have a cheap RIAAA equilaziation amp this will show up as funky channel amplitude and a sharp emphasis on the high frequency of one channel. bass should be good througout the record side. listen to a CD of a record if you can and that will have you questioning your turntable, if the remastering was from non RIAA re-eq masters (a common practice in the early days of CD's was to use what they had on hand to master for CD) needless to say re- eqing for a different format sucked.

i have original mono records from the early 60's that , in my opinion sound better than the CD's since produced (except Rhino, they are true artists at re mastering)

experement and enjoy, vinyl is not dead, it just confuses the younger masses.

d

Subject:RE: Substantial difference between L/R when recording vinyl

Reply by: kbruff

Date:10/20/2003 12:56:27 PM

if you want a solid turntable -- with

1. built in riaa amp
2. line level output
3. digital output
4. precise motor control
5. line level pass through
6. excellent vibration absorbtion


go and buy the stanton str8 - 150

http://www.stantonmagnetics.com/alpha44/load.asp?page=str8150


it will work fine for these purposes and more

Subject:RE: Substantial difference between L/R when recording vinyl

Reply by: Vulcan

Date:10/20/2003 4:30:11 PM

Thanks for all the help. I guess that I eventually will have to get me a new turntable.

Hans