20 Most Recent ION Audio Vinyl Recording Turntable - Page 2 Questions & Answers

A phono preamp feeding an amplifier is the basic answer. The USB part is irrelevant. Nowadays the preamp could be in the TT itself or in any upstream electronics.

Use search engines for research and learn some. For erxample...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonograph

The signal on LP is also severely changed both on recording (cutting) and proper playback. Look at RIAA equalization.

First check that the Ion is attachedto the computer with the USB cable if the computer doesn't see the Ion in theprevious step. Turn the computer and Ion off, and reboot them both. Try to seethe Ion again. Access the menu item within Windows and confirmthe settings are correct if there's no sound. The Ion doesn't have speakers, sorelies on audio cards and speakers on the computer. From the "Start"button go to the "Control Panel" and open the "Sounds &Audio Devices" area. Make sure the audio input is set to the Ion and audiois output to the sound card. A general error is having the audio input andoutput set incorrectly.

do you have everything configured correctly?

These are pretty cheap units as far as quality and workmanship go.
The ancient fix is to tape a dime to the arm just above the stylus (needle).
If a dime doesn't work, use a penny.

Hello Hans,

This is a plug-and-play USB device so you don't need to install any drivers. Assuming the Software CD was included with the turntable and you've installed it, then you probably need to setup USB playback/recording by selecting the Ion Powerplay as the recording device in the Sound control panel and adjusting the volume/levels.

Open the Windows Control Panel, choose Hardware and Sound, then select Sound. Next, click on the Recording tab at the top of the sound control panel window and make sure the Ion Powerplay is selected as the current recording device. The selected device will have a green tick next to it.






Once you have selected the Ion Powerplay as your recording device, double-click on its icon (ringed in red above) or click it with your right mouse button and choose Properties from the pop-up menu to open the settings. Select the levels tab and adjust the microphone volume and/or boost. Also, make sure it's not set to mute, indicated by a red circle with a line through it on the speaker icon.

Finally, if this doesn't solve the problem, shut down and reboot. You shouldn't need to do this but sometimes it's necessary in Windows for no apparent reason.

This should be all you need to do. Try this then let me know if you need further assistance. You can reply to me by clicking on "Add a Comment" below your question.

Regards,
BElectric

It sounds like this is a software issue. Some makers have only a trial version of recording software. They only allow about 1 minute of recording time. In order to get the full version you have to pay a fee and they provide a registration code which gives you all features.

There are two possible causes, depending on if the deck is belt driven or direct driven. Sorry I don't know which with yours.
If it's a belt drive then the belt has come lose and should be replaced. Or the motor or power supply to the motor is faulty. Make a note of how the belt fits before you replace it.
With a direct drive it's either the motor or power supply to it that's got the fault.

It should appear as an USB audio device, also you can check in device manager, at USB devices.

YOU MUST UNLOCK THE INSIDE AND THE TOP LOCKING RIGHT ... IT IS VERY SMALL TO SEE. IT IS THE ONE HOLDING IT ON TOP.. JUST TAKE IT OF THE CENTER PIECE. IF YOU HAVE TROUBLE..GET THE MANUAL AT WWW.TVPARTSANDMANUALS.COM AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS

I am going to hazard a guess, I have lots of experience with traditional turntables, but not with USB turntables. Here is some theory that may also apply to the USB turnbable. Turntables of old and new that are not USB have a GROUND wire (a single flexible conductor not connected to the plug). The ground wire is supposed to go to the chassis of the amplifier or receiver. If it is not used. There will be a 60Hz hum added to the turntable's signal. It makes the sound garbled and unpleasant. Your turntable may have such a wire. If so, ground the wire to the chassis of the computer. If it doesn't have the wire. check to see if you have all three prongs on your terminal strip(the rounded large prong is the ground). If you don't the chassis of the computer will not be grounded so you may get the hum from that source as well. If the outlet that your outlet strip is plugged into does not have a proper ground, then that could be the source.

Check to make sure that there are no breaks of your ground between the turntable and the wall outlet.
Replace the offending cables or parts until you are sure.
If there is a grounding wire coming out of the turntable, connect it to the chassis of the computer.
Here are some other points that are important
Important: All of the power in your computer and sound system should be connected to the same phase of the breaker panel in your house If it goes into the same wall outlet. that is best.
This ground issue is important in turntables.
This may not be the problem, but it certainly is very possible.
I worked in professional sound system design for recording studios and large venue (concert) sound systems.
Whenever possible, these folks require the power to be from a unified phase and source point. on Otherwise they have serious hum issues.
Have a Happy New Year,
Best, mark

Yes it can. On the head of the arm if you look carefully where the needle (to give it's correct name -stylus) is. What it fits into is a cartridge. If you can see letters or numbers on it that will be the type. If you put that into Google it should find it. You should find if it is possible to buy the stylus with or without the cartridge. Though it's often cheaper to buy both. The cartridge will either be screwed onto the head or just clipped on someway. You will find four wires attached to the cartridge. These will have to be removed if you have to replace the cartridge. Make a note of how each wire attaches to the cartridge. As long as you can get a cartridge to fit the headshell you can use any magnetic cartridge for the job. All you would need to do with a different cartridge is adjust the weight to apply the correct pressure to the stylus.
If the cartridge doesn't have any number etc on it, put the make/model number of the turntable into Google adding cartridge/stylus.

The modern computers are set up like an amp with different speaker sets. Windows allows for this under normal circumstances, but when you plug in this turntable the computer fails to find the correct speakers.
- Goto the windows start button - Control panel - Sound - Playback - you will see a number of speaker options and at least one meter that is moving up and down with the sound which you can't hear at the moment. You can do one of two options to fix this.
1) Easiest option, but may cause trouble should you change or add to your physical speakers in the future. - Double click on the speaker with the moving meter, and disable it. A new speaker is then chosen, and if that isn't the right one then do the same thing until the right speaker combo is selected.
2) The best option, as it won't cause future conflict problems. - Ignore the speaker with the working meter. Go to another speaker and double click on it. - Click advanced Tab - Click Test - If you don't hear anything, then move onto the next speaker. If you do hear a sound, then this is the right speaker configuration for your computer. You may have more than one sound card, and likely more than one input. - Once you find the correct speaker, then go back to the main speaker window and single click the speaker to highlight it. - Near the bottom of the window is a pull down menu to make that speaker your default. Do this, and all sound will work.
I can't help you with the amp question, as my ION recorder doesn't have the red/white output jacks for the stereo amp. The only thing I can suggest is it might be the setting on your amp where you choose your input mode.

Have you checked your sound control panel on your computer? For example I use SoundMAX and it has all sorts of imput selectors, which if not set right will cut off the sound.

First disconect the wires to the cartridge. With you amp on, touch each wire one at a time. You should hear a buzz on two of the wires (one one each channel) and nothing on the other two. If you do hear the buzz on both channels the cartridge has failed or the connection to it is poor. If you are still missing a channel then the problem lies in either what connects the two devices, or the magnetic cartridge pre-amp inside the amp.

The input on your windows is set too high, or the volume on your output device (turntable is too high) either way the signal is too strong.

set either or both lower.

Are you certain that you're recording in MP3 format?That large file size seems much like .wav files than .mp3 thing.


But if that's really .mp3 file,you may need to adjust the bit rate&sampling rate.Typically, 12 kbps and 44.1 KHz would be a good starting point.


And about shrinking files you've already done,try file convert software(s) around the web(try Google it).Too many of them to recommend here.But I personally use Wavepad Sound Editor for record,edit and save files in various format.
http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/index.html

If you can hear the sound playing back from the turntable in your computer you don't need I-Tunes. All you need is a recording software, I recomend Magix Audio Cleaning Lab. It will record the signal from your deck and then you can clean it up remove all the clicks and bad noise and the save it to any file format or make CD's with it.
You can buy it cheap from Amazon.

A needle is a precision part. Look to see if the needle has a conical point descending from the cartridge needle carrier. If not, replace the needle.
*Always protect the needle while you adjust things!
Pressure is essential for the needle to track. Turn the weight down until the needle just floats above the record. Zero the weight by turning just the weight indicator, not the weight. Now turn the weight to add 1.2 to 1.5 grams. (Always use the manufacturer's recommended weight if different!)
A level surface is important. Make sure the turntable is level.
Test the arm bearings:
Adjust the weight until the arm floats. With a feather, gently push the arm towards the center. Now gently push it back. The arm should move smoothly with no hesitation and easily. Reset the weight to 1.5 grams or less.
If your cabinet is moving when you walk around, the records will skip. Find a different place for the turntable or don't walk around. In severe cases, raise the weight to 1.75 to 2 grams, but this wears the needle fast an can cause distortion.

sounds like your drive belt needs replacing.

Hi, when you say horrible, what do you mean?
Is it distorted?
is it too thin and bright?
Is it dull sounding?

Have you got it connected correctly?
What software are you using?

Let me know.

Regards - Anthony