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Tre-Dawg
Starting Member
United States
6 posts
Joined: Nov, 2006
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 Posted - 2007/06/21 : 06:06:27
I just got started with DJing. I've been having this distortion problem on my highs, especially female vocals. There is a link to a small clip of Close To You where it is particularly bad down below. I have no idea whats causing it. At first I thought it was that my records were dirty (which didn't help) but even when I clean them perfectly, along with my needles, it still occurs. Then I thought that maybe the needles that I had were the problem so I ordered a set of Stanton Groovemaster.V3s, thinking that maybe really expensive needles would help, and the problem still persists. Aside from the gear mentioned earlier I have 2 Gemini TT-02 turntables (yes they are grounded properly) a gemini MX-02 mixer and I am hooking it up to my computer using an Audigy 2 ZS soundcard. Even when not hooked up to my computer or the mixer the distortion still occurs. I'm beginning to think my turntables may be busted. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=F59C2F776F54A629
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bulby_g
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
7,205 posts
Joined: Apr, 2004
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Posted - 2007/06/21 : 08:57:17
Is it happening to both speakers? Have you tried running something else through them to check it isn't them causing the problem? You could have blown a tweeter or both the tweeters.
It seems very unlikely that it's a problem with the decks because they would have both have to of developed the same fault at the same time which is highly unlikely (even for low end decks)...
Have you got too much weight on the needles? This can cause a distortion on the high ends.
I gather you haven't got the highs on your mixer right up or anything silly like that? If you have cheap speakers this may cause them to distort.
Could also be dodgy/dirty cables but again if both speakers and both decks are having this problem that seems unlikely.
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silver
Admin
Japan
12,577 posts
Joined: Feb, 2001
894 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2007/06/21 : 08:58:11
Do you have your turntables plugged into the phono input or the line in? Turntables need to be plugged into the phono input and grounded correctly with the grounding cable to the mixer.
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Tre-Dawg
Starting Member
United States
6 posts
Joined: Nov, 2006
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Posted - 2007/06/21 : 12:33:34
I have a 5.1 system that the sound is going through and it is happening to all of them as well as my headphones. I can play any sound on my computer fine, MP3s, games, etc. without any problems. I can check to see if lightening the load on the needles helps. I have the highs knob set right in the middle on my mixer. I don't think its the cables, I've tried several different sets and they all produce the same result.
I definetly have them plugged into the phono input, it sounds even worse on line in. They are grounded too. Even when not grounded that only produces a hum on the lows and doesn't affect my highs at all.
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Leto
Advanced Member
United States
2,849 posts
Joined: Jun, 2005
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Posted - 2007/06/21 : 13:07:29
Maybe you need a new cartridge? Try lightening the load, I guess.
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Tre-Dawg
Starting Member
United States
6 posts
Joined: Nov, 2006
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Posted - 2007/06/22 : 01:53:01
I tried lightening the load on the needles and it actually sounded worse the less weight I put on them and actually sound a bit better at full weight. It still does it though, any more ideas?
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silver
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Japan
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Posted - 2007/06/22 : 06:29:19
You plugging them into a regular amp or your computer? Sounds like you have something selected wrong, it's highly unlikely that 2 turntables have the same problem. If you can plug one into another amp, parents or friends or something try and find out if it is an amp problem or not.
Is there a gain selection on the back of the turntable?
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Lilley
Advanced Member
Australia
3,740 posts
Joined: Jul, 2006
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Posted - 2007/06/22 : 06:47:36
are you sure the cables your using are equipped to cope with the ampage your pumping through them? though this normally distorts bass rather than highs.
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nearly in line....
.....strange continuity problems
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bulby_g
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
7,205 posts
Joined: Apr, 2004
430 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2007/06/22 : 08:48:06
Done some research... This may be your problem.
quote:
www.epanorama.net:
Distortion problems on playback
Any sound device distorts when you feed to strong signals to it. Soundcards nowadays typically have many sound generating parts on them (D/A converter for sample playback, syntetizer, etc.) and the sound from all those sources are mixed on the mixer chip.
Mixer chip has gain settings for all of it's inputs and output volume. If you turn up the input gains of the mixer chip too high the mixer can't handle strong signals form that input properly and this causes distortion inside the mixer. If you turn the output volume too high you get the output amplifer easily cause distortion.
http://www.epanorama.net/documents/pc/soundcard_tips.html
That will prob' sort you out...
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Edited by - bulby_g on 2007/06/22 11:29:37 |
Tre-Dawg
Starting Member
United States
6 posts
Joined: Nov, 2006
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Posted - 2007/06/22 : 15:20:55
Even when hooked up to the amp in my living room it still does it. There isn't a gain selector on the turntable. Increasing the load on the needles really helped alot actually so that may have been it, it still happens although a lot less.
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bulby_g
Advanced Member
United Kingdom
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Joined: Apr, 2004
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Posted - 2007/06/22 : 15:32:53
Hmmm, OK.
I'm not familiar with those decks but it may just be that the weights on the tone arm aren't very good (have seen this on a few "value" decks before). Is your needle still lightly rested on the record on full weight or is it pressed quite hard against it? If the problem is coming from the needle not pushing hard enough you could blu-tac a penny onto the needle to give it some extra weight (obviously re-adjust your deck weights accordingly).
It's quite possible that the needle just isn't recieving a proper signal because it doesn't have enough contact with the record...
If you fail to fix the problem I'd speak to the people who supplied you the decks!
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Edited by - bulby_g on 2007/06/22 15:45:59 |
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