Distortion HELP! -Sound Forge - PC - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:Distortion HELP! Posted by: gw92 Date:1/21/2001 11:27:00 AM Hello, I have a Sony Mini-Disc (MDS-DRE1) that I'm using as an external source to record music to MP3s on my hard drive. The problem I'm having is there's a noticeable amout of background distortion when I playback a recorded track. The distortion is present when I view the record monitor while the MD unit is plugged in. However, the distortion is not evident when playing MDs directly through computer. In looking at the monitor meters, there is a significant drop in distortion when I disconnect rc jacks from MD unit. What could be causing this? I tried- 1. Moving the MD unit away from the CPU (no affect) 2. Removing speaker cable from sound card (no affect) 3. Turning down input volume (same ratio of distortion) 4. Using noise reduction filters (muffles sound too much) The weird thing is, I can set up an external cassette and there is virtually no distortion. The problem with cassettes are they have lower sound quality than mini-dics or cds. Oh, and one more thing, I experimented with recording a CD from my CDROM and the same distortion appears. Anyone have any suggestions? TIA gw
Subject:Re: Distortion HELP! Reply by: DavidW12 Date:1/26/2001 12:34:00 PM I'm not sure I fully understand what you are saying, but here are a few questions: How is the Sony MD's output getting into the computer? Is the output analog or digital from the Sony? If you have a sound card (which I assume), what input are you using to get the Sony signal into the card? You probably have two: microphone in and line in. You know of course to use the line input? The microphone input can't handle the output of the Sony. The peak level to record digital (hard drive or CD) should not exceed -6dbm. If you are trying to use 0dbm as the reference, you will be over deviating the signal and will produce distortion. Since most music is very dynamic level wise, you need to set the peak level at the point in the music where the highest amplitude (loudest part)peaks. In other words, if the loudest thing on the recording is a drum beat, don't let the drum beat exceed -6dbm. If none of this makes sense or has already been taken into consideration with null results, please provide the additional information requested above. Are there any other "inputs" active during playback? Look at your computer's sound mixer. Turn off any sources that you are not using (mute them). G. WIlliams wrote: >> >>Hello, >>I have a Sony Mini-Disc (MDS-DRE1) that I'm using as an >>external source to record music to MP3s on my hard drive. >>The problem I'm having is there's a noticeable amout of >>background distortion when I playback a recorded track. >> >>The distortion is present when I view the record monitor >>while the MD unit is plugged in. However, the distortion is >>not evident when playing MDs directly through computer. In >>looking at the monitor meters, there is a significant drop >>in distortion when I disconnect rc jacks from MD unit. What >>could be causing this? >>I tried- >>1. Moving the MD unit away from the CPU (no affect) >>2. Removing speaker cable from sound card (no affect) >>3. Turning down input volume (same ratio of distortion) >>4. Using noise reduction filters (muffles sound too much) >> >>The weird thing is, I can set up an external cassette and >>there is virtually no distortion. The problem with >>cassettes are they have lower sound quality than mini- dics >>or cds. Oh, and one more thing, I experimented with >>recording a CD from my CDROM and the same distortion >>appears. >>Anyone have any suggestions? >> >>TIA >>gw >>

I'm not sure I fully understand what you are saying, but
here are a few questions:

How is the Sony MD's output getting into the computer? Is
the output analog or digital from the Sony?

If you have a sound card (which I assume), what input are
you using to get the Sony signal into the card? You
probably have two: microphone in and line in. You know of
course to use the line input? The microphone input can't
handle the output of the Sony.

The peak level to record digital (hard drive or CD) should
not exceed -6dbm. If you are trying to use 0dbm as the
reference, you will be over deviating the signal and will
produce distortion. Since most music is very dynamic level
wise, you need to set the peak level at the point in the
music where the highest amplitude (loudest part)peaks. In
other words, if the loudest thing on the recording is a
drum beat, don't let the drum beat exceed -6dbm.

If none of this makes sense or has already been taken into
consideration with null results, please provide the
additional information requested above.

Are there any other "inputs" active during playback? Look
at your computer's sound mixer. Turn off any sources that
you are not using (mute them).

G. WIlliams wrote:
>>
>>Hello,
>>I have a Sony Mini-Disc (MDS-DRE1) that I'm using as an
>>external source to record music to MP3s on my hard drive.
>>The problem I'm having is there's a noticeable amout of
>>background distortion when I playback a recorded track.
>>
>>The distortion is present when I view the record monitor
>>while the MD unit is plugged in. However, the distortion
is
>>not evident when playing MDs directly through computer.
In
>>looking at the monitor meters, there is a significant
drop
>>in distortion when I disconnect rc jacks from MD unit.
What
>>could be causing this?
>>I tried-
>>1. Moving the MD unit away from the CPU (no affect)
>>2. Removing speaker cable from sound card (no affect)
>>3. Turning down input volume (same ratio of distortion)
>>4. Using noise reduction filters (muffles sound too much)
>>
>>The weird thing is, I can set up an external cassette and
>>there is virtually no distortion. The problem with
>>cassettes are they have lower sound quality than mini-
dics
>>or cds. Oh, and one more thing, I experimented with
>>recording a CD from my CDROM and the same distortion
>>appears.
>>Anyone have any suggestions?
>>
>>TIA
>>gw
>>