midgesmasher wrote:
I am having a lot of distortion when I play CDs recorded using WavePad .wav files. I'm sure the turntable and amp are putting out good sound quality. Could the input volume be too high? I also get skips in the recording file, as if the signal from the amp is over loading the sound card's capacity to process the signal. I can hear the skips when I monitor the input signal during recording but the distortion isn't apparent until after I have burned the CD and play it on my CD player.
Any suggestions? TIA
midgesmasher
Setting the proper level is a very important factor in the recording process, and is the first thing that you should be paying attention to. Yes, it is quite probable that your input level is too high. Furthermore, I would suggest that, instead of using WavePad for recording (WavePad is basically an _editor_), you use Golden Records, whose specific purpose is to record to your PC from records, although I use it very effectively for recording a high-level signal from my FM tuner. Suffice it to say that I have gone to great lengths to adjust the input signal to my sound card to the proper level to avoid overloading, while at the same time having the level high enough to obtain an excellent signal-to-noise ratio.
I believe that you can benefit from an excellent (and also completely free, as in free!) sound level meter that was specifically designed for broadcasting signal-level monitoring. It is used by the BBC in England, and is available at http://www.darkwood.demon.co.uk/PC/pcFSet1.html. Download version 1.6, read the instructions, and use it along with WavePad (if you insist upon using this _editing_ program for recording). This meter is easy to use, provides an excellent insight into the level-setting process, is very-well thought out, and the price is right! So run, do not walk, to that website.
I don't know about those skips, but if you are severely overloading the sound card with a high-level signal, who knows what might happen?
I would urge you to download the free demo version of Golden Records to get an idea of an alternate (really, a _primary_) piece of software for doing what it is that you are doing. You might even like it! I do.
Musikone