Is this a mixer, deck, or needle problem?

[firestar]

First of all, listen to the mp3..

http://www.djfirestar.com/mixes/problem.mp3

So the first track sounds great in my opinion, that's not the problem. it's the second track I mix into that's the problem.. Now I know it's not the record, but the recording comes out thin, tinny and weak sounding.. all the levels are normal on the mixer.. the needles are basically brand new too (m44-7's), everything is plugged in properly.. I'm recording straight out of the amp, not the mixer.. It would probably sound better if I cranked the mids, but I shouldn't have to do that with every track. so here's a few things I think it might be..

- One of the channels on the mixer isn't working properly..
- The needle is fucked..

I would say it's a levels thing is BOTH channels sounded like that, but the first record is fine..

Any ideas?

[angst]

Try these things:

1) switch needles between decks (might have a bad connection with the tonearm or a loose wire on the headshell or the stylus isn't pushed in all the way)
2) make sure you mixer's eqs are flat and no kills are being accidentally pushed (provided that your mixer has kills)
3)mess with the balance from right to left channel to make sure you're getting an equal signal outa both channels
4) check to make sure your RCAs connecting your decks to the mixer aren't loose
5) wiggle the upfaders and crossfader to see if there's a short or a worn out fader
6) take 2 of these

[firestar]

Switched needles - nothing..

Changed mixer channels (it's a 4 channel mixer) - nothing..

I'm beginning to believe it a bad connection in the turntable somewhere..

fuck.

[Chewy]

well switch between tables... play the first track on the other table and the second track on the first table and see what table is messed up... also try recording out of your mixer.. maybe someting is cracked out in your amp...


its sounds like a problem i had a while back.. but what ever it was fixed itself automatically or when i bought new needles

[firestar]

Yeah it doesn't matter what record i'm playing, one deck sounds shitty and thin and the other doesn't.. SO next I try and record from the mixer instead of the amp.. and it hardly even records anything on the 'bad' side, but the good side comes in loud and clear still.. wtf, now i'm thinking it's a mixer problem?

And it can't be the needles because i switched them and it did not make a difference, one deck sounds thin.. bad connection where the needle meets the tone arm maybe?

[Chewy]

maybe pour some water on the tonearm connection

[PhATflO]

lick the connecter end of the needle.

[angst]

Originally Posted by PhATflO

lick the connecter end of the needle.

Absolutely, DO NOT lick the connector end of the needle. It could fuck up your tone arm. Sounds to me like it's either a bad connection with your turntable RCAs (they may need to be resoldered) or a bad connection between the needle and the tonearm. Trying cleaning the tonearm connections with isopropyl alcohol or Caig DeoxIT (recommended).

[nabs]

there is sometimes a switch at the back of the mixer, that says Phono/Line on some mixers. and when using a turntable, it must be at Phono. Maybe you flipped it without knowing, check it out, that can cause the sound to sound like that.

[Chewy]

also try pouring water on the amplifyer while you are sitting on it

[Matty Cue]

If you clean your connection point on the tone arm and you still have the problem I would have the rca's replaced. It sounds like a problem I had a month ago. I replaced them and It's all good.