Hopeless sound quality

[thegreatestgame]

Hey guys, i'm trying to get into mixing trance tunes (first short term goal is to get my boss to approve of a mix!) and in doing so i've created my first mix...which is ok...its just...well...shite sounding.

I have an idj2 connected to my PC's sound card with l/r rca cables plugged into the respective ports. I pump audacity to record. Then convert to mp3 with LAME.

Now thats the background and right now you're probably like....yeh no wonder this dude is having issues. Well since you know where i'm having the issue, please advise :D

My guess is that I definately need to drop some $cayyyysh$ on a decent card/cables. Or a recorder. Or find a shop that sells mad skillz.

Cheeeerz

[louislogic]

one thing to note is that the mic channel is noisy on those (idj2's), so make sure its switched off.

also make sure you're going from rec out which will be a line signal.

unfortunately, using your PC's sound card (especially if it is a laptop) you are going to suffer from noise problems. but if you have a decent sound card (audigy etc) it should sound OK. and it sounds like you do - if your PC soudn card has RCA's it should be a level above the PC sound cards that rely on a line in for recording.

a small USB in/out sound card will cost you about 40-50, try behringer, that is what I ahve used in the past to record.

when you record, before you do your set make sure that the levels are as loud as possible without distorting. in audacity the beats should be well defined in the waveform. also make sure you are recording in 44.1 stereo

besides the recording end, it could also be your DJing. make sure you aren't mixing with the gains on the mixer too loud, or with too much basslines running etc. you didnt say how it sound crap though, so i'm not sure exactly where your problem is.

[thegreatestgame]

Thanks for the detailed reply louislogic. When I say crap, the bassline distorts the sound, and generally sounds like im holding a mic about 5 feet away from the speakers that are putting out the sound. Plus, get this, if I flick a notch from side a to side b quickly enough (so it hits the physical barrier of the plastic) you can hear it. And you can hear it when I talk. So yeh....not sure what that is but being the time that it is i'll wait until tomorrow to test rec out

[ferretrock]

^Bassline distorting = peaking at some point (gains too high). Picking up you talking = microphonic components = poor electronic insulation in the wiring = buy better recording gear.

[strawn]

I have an idj2

Well there's your problem...

[callan_01]

Check your audacity settings. Go to preferences > Inputs/Outputs. Check the recording input is not set to 'built-in microphone' You want to select your sound card.

:)

[seth111]

Yea sounds like your actually using the actual computer microphone, you need to change your input settings so that your recording program is using the line in of your soundcard. The only other problem i can think of is that your mixing trance lol, i'll let myself out :P

[JRSM]

If you haven't done this already, I don't know whats wrong...

If you have your 'record out' plugged from the mixer into the pink hole (mic), its wrong. Use the blue hole (line-in). I use an RCA to 3.5mm adaptor and plug it straight into the PC using a stock standard everyday soundcard. Sounds fine too. When you open Audacity, somewhere top right is a drop menu for source - choose line in. Shouldnt really be able to hear the "flick a notch from side a to side b quickly enough (so it hits the physical barrier of the plastic) you can hear it. And you can hear it when you talk."

Other than that, main thing i can think of is that you set your volume lower when you are recording so that the light blue waveform in audacity only jjuusstt hits the top/bottom. really avoid seeing too much dark blue. you'd be surprised how clear it will sound when the waveform doesn't 'touch' the top/bottom, ie signal is quite low.

[JRSM]

Check your audacity settings. Go to preferences > Inputs/Outputs. Check the recording input is not set to 'built-in microphone' You want to select your sound card.

:)


or... if you ARE using mic in, make sure the +20dB switch is turned off on your computer sound settings... First
-> Start Menu
-> Control Panel
-> Sound and Audio Devices
-> Advanced (under Volume)
or just double click the little speaker icon at the bottom right of your screen

Then...
-> Options
-> Properties
-> Adjust volume for RECORDING box (then ok)
-> ADVANCED under "Microphone" column
-> MICROPHONE +20dB BOOST make sure this is unchecked...

[ferretrock]

Didn't even occur to me that a computer might have a built in mic... my ignorance.

[louislogic]

http://www.storedj.com.au/products/product.php?id=888

http://www.storedj.com.au/products/images/products/888.jpg

works OK for 65$ clams if u get stuck

[DaBro]

If you are using a laptop make sure it isn't plugged into the power when u r recording. That was major fail for me until i figured out where the elctrically, interferency noise was coming from!

:slap:

[seth111]

^ Not all laptops are like that.

[Dj Shuflz]

i spoke to sum1 at StoreDJ and ur right like some laptops are worse than others, but if u leave it unplugged ur laptops processing power is comprimised and battery life can be aprob for recording long sets, Anybody know how much the iKey sells for it seems really gud sorry i dont have a link im in a hurry.

its a recording unit that can record in mp3 and wav formats nice and compact and can then be uploaded via usb str8 onto comp or ipod even, and id imagine ud avoid any real feedback with this thing coz it runs on batteries. =) let me know wot u guys think.

[GrEnNo]

dont think you can get the i-key in OZ yet but they are averaging around 260 bucks, not including shipping

[acoustinaut]

dont think you can get the i-key in OZ yet but they are averaging around 260 bucks, not including shipping

at the expense of jumping into another retarded ITM discussion...

the iKey is not new, they were available here over a year or two ago... a quick google suggests that no local online-stores currently stock them anymore... most probably because they were fairly expensive (considering the application) and didn't sell very well at the time

I have had a play with one for work and was not overly impressed to be honest, the build is fairly cheap considering the price... but at the time it was released it was unique...