it's definitely worth a try with the preamp, it may have a lower output. radio shack might have an attenuator that's appropriate and less costly than a mixer which would be terrible overkill. if you do wind up building an attenuator start with 10k ohm resistors, that should drop it about 3 db, from their you can try smaller resistors in parallel to get higher attenuation/smaller signal. you can use 1/4 watt or whatever, and the values aren't critical. you could even just solder another resistor in parallel to the original parelel resistor if you need to cut it down more. good luck.
Tom Baker wrote: > > Phil, > > Once again I appreciate your help. > > I can take the sound out of the amplifier's headphone output, or out of its > speaker output, but both of those sources introduce hums into the > recordings, so I'm stuck with the only other output on the box, which is > the output-to-tape. That one doesn't hum. But that port, as I've complained > about so often, sends out a signal that's so loud it maxes out the > software's input control and clips the music. Since there doesn't seem to > be any software that can throttle it down to the proper level, the solution > is going to have to be from hardware, and if an analog attenuator (whatever > that is) would do it, then that would be great. > > Before I put you to the trouble of building one for me, however, or me > digging out a soldering iron myself, let me look into some other possible > solutions. For one: a pre-amp that I originally bought to try to strengthen > the weak input I was getting from microphones into the iMic might actually > be put to better use to replace the turntable's old amplifier (it didn't > work on the microphones anyway). The pamphlet that this pre-amp came with > says that that's what it was really intended for: to go in between a > turntable and something else (in this case, the iMic/Mac). This pre-amp is > just a little black box with two inputs (L and R) on one side for the > turntable and two outputs (ditto) out to the whatever. The reason I can't > try it out right now is that the two-pronged plug (L and R) from the > turntable to the old amplifier is too narrow to fit into both the inputs on > the pre-amp box, so adapters will be required. I'll go to a Radio Shack > tomorow and get whatever it takes to get the turntable's plug into the > pre-amp. The only thing that worries me about this setup is that, once > again, I'll be sending the signal from the turntable into the Mac through a > device that has no volume control, just like the output-to-tape port on the > old amplifier. If it turns out to be too strong a signal again, I've gained > nothing, and lost the time and the price of the adapters. > > But, I have the pre-amp sitting here, and some spare time tomorrow, and I > might as well try it. I ought to be due a success after all these failures, > and maybe this will be it (knocking on wood). > > Thanks again, > > Tom > > At 10:14 PM -0700 3/27/02, Philip Stortz wrote: > >you probably need an analog attenuator between the imic and the amp, or > >try the headphone output on an amp so you can adjust the level with the > >volume control. if you know anyone who does electronics it's easy to > >make one, email me off list for a schematic, or if you really want one > >and can't find someone to build it i might be able to, for a reasonable > >(probably cheap) fee or trade. my time is tight usually, but i do > >enjoy helping people (and showing off of course). to build an > >attenuator you put a resistor in series with the amps output and another > >in parallel (line to ground/shield) on the imic side, that's the quick > >and dirty way but usually works great. > > > >Tom Baker wrote: > >> > >> Thanks again Troy. I downloaded Coaster, but it won't work with Sound > >> Studio, and when it's working by itself, it still can't lower the input > >> from my turntable's amplifier enough to prevent clipping. With Coaster's > >> input sliders (L and R) pulled all the way to the bottom of their scales, > >> the input continues to run way up into the red, just as it does in Sound > >> Studio. I guess the output from this old amplifier's output-to-tape port is > >> just too strong. > >-------------- > > -- > G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... > > Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | > -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | > > Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> > > G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> > Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> > > Using a Macintosh? Get free email and more at Applelinks! > <http://www.applelinks.com> -- A man may conduct himself well in both adversity and good fortune, but if you want to test his character, give him power. �ABRAHAM LINCOLN -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Macintosh? Get free email and more at Applelinks! <http://www.applelinks.com>
