LP recording tips with Griffin iMic, Article Options

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Comments about:

LP recording tips with Griffin iMic

[RazielPanic]

Don't set the EQ levels 'to taste'. there is a complex and specific encoding imposed on records known as the RIAA Curve (see http://www.tanker.se/lidstrom/riaa.htm for details) which this software is capable of decoding properly. Let it.

[lee_story]

The greatest problem I encounter in recording from vinyl is getting rid of clicks caused by scratches, even in very lightly-played LPs. They often seem much more prominent once the recording is transferred to hard disk or CD, and manually removing them in Peak, Spark, or DP can be many hours of work. "Final Vinyl" isn't helpful there. DP4 doesn't include one, either. The cheapest way to get a de-clicker for OSX (that I know of) is to buy Toast Titanium. (It's in "Spin Doctor".) Pro-quality ones run US $500 up! I'm a bit surprised that no audio developer seems to have done a simple VST or AU plugin.

This post has been edited by lee_story: Tue 6 Jul 2004, 15:40

[_iMike_]

According to the Read Me file that comes with Final Vinyl, the RIAA curve is applied to the recording when the "connected to turntable" button in the EQ window is selected. This assumes that your turntable is indeed connected directly to the iMic.

[garzita]

I am sorry but I tried iMic 2 times, I got it and got nothing but snap, crackle and pop in the mix. I exchanged for a new one and same thing. I ended up giving it away!

I then tried an Edirol USB Audio interface and same thing, so I want and got a new digital mixer that I used as a Pre Amp and still I got those annoying sounds in the background.

After posting my problems in other websites I got the response I was looking for:

* USB Audio interfaces are useless, firewire is the way to go!

well, thanx for the heads up Griffin Tech!!!

This post has been edited by garzita: Sun 1 Aug 2004, 10:13

[_guest_Matty_]

I have had so many damn problems with this device. The only software that seems to recognise it is griffin produced. I have tried it with Cubase SX, protools free and garage band. None recognised it as an input source, all programs would just reverted to the built in mic. Even though it was selected as the input source in the Sound Control Panel and was showing levels. Don't know what application this device has anymore. Even using final vinyl I couldn't get a good non-crackled-to-hell recording. And l also tried swapping it for another imic thinking it was faulty, but the two were identical.

[Presto]

After posting my problems in other websites I got the response I was looking for:

* USB Audio interfaces are useless, firewire is the way to go!

Although I never got anything done with my imic, I'm quite satisfied with my Mbox. So I would totally disagree with the analysis you quote.

I also must confess I didn't try for long with the imic before discarding it. You can't expect it to act as a preamp or anything else that it wasn't built to do.

Thanks for the article. Its nice to hear what it can do.

[lee_story]

I must say I'm surprised at all the frustration with the iMic, and suspect that it's really frustration with various Mac configuration problems. I have a old Mac running 10.2.8 with a Sonnet G4/450 card, and use both the iMic and a PCI Audiophile 2496 card. At 16-bit/44.1K, the input quality is indistinguishable for all practical purposes. (Of course the 2496 is more flexible, has S/PDIF in and out, 24-bit sampling, etc.) The iMic actually seems _less_ sensitive to electrical noise than the 2496---which is to be expected, since the latter is a card on the PCI bus. I usually use the iMic further isolated from the machine by a Griffin USB Audio Hub (I suspect that any powered hub would do), but it also works okay straight in to my USB card. I've used it with DP4, Peak LE and DV, Spark, and various other programs. THey've all recognized it just fine. The only poor product I've seen from Griffin is their "Final Vinyl" program, and even that works. (It doesn't seem to be actively marketed any more.)
I have nothing to do with Griffin, but do think that their product is getting a bad rap here.

[Nathanael]

Must pick up the kids, but had to get a quick word in agreeing with Newbie. Using a G3 iMac on OS10.3 I have had great results with the iMic and Peak LE. It did prefer being plugged directly into the computer rather than through my Belkin USB hub. More anon.

[Audra]

Hi, I'm a newbie. I'm trying to run imic on a G3 PowerBook running system 9.2.2. I can't get the sound control panel to recognize the imic.

Any suggestions?

Also, what's a good freeware or shareware program to use for recording and playing with the imic?

Thanx in advance.

Audra

[_Ryan Puckett_]

With OS X and Griffin iMic I get cracks and pops also (it worked sometimes in OS 9). Finally on Griffin's site, buried, they claim that it is an OS X problem they can do nothing about. They are waiting for apple to fix it. I don't know what to do. I'm considering buying a G4 "digital audio" Sawtooth machine but it doesn't have the sound input jack. therefore i wil have to go USB or get a sound card. From what I'm reading, there is noise on the PCI bus (sound card) too. Oh...what to do?

subliminal@ameritech.net

[dereek]

I must say that my iMic works perfect in Cubase SE under Panther (at least as for such a low priced device), no distortion of any kind.
I use to record my guitar via multieffect and synth analog output. It works OK with both sensitivities selected. I suppose some day I will switch to sth. more serious with midi onboard and FW preferably but before I'll make a good choice...
And just the final conclusion, I wanted to buy Steinberg System 2 set (seemed quite good VFM) and tested in the shop for few hours and you know what? iMic showed a big advantage over Steinberg hardware- it worked.

[shawf]

I've just read the forum on the Griffin iMic and i must say that i found it to be a very good product that works just fine.
I am using it with Final Vinyl, Garage Band And Sound Studio. I have tried different config's and they all worked, eg when connecting to my G4 iBook into SS, GB, FV, I sometimes connect TT-iMic-G4, I also connect using TT-Kaoss Pad-IMic-G4, I am also running a G5 iMac with the same config's with the same results it all works just fine.

May I suggest that you connect the TT earth wire to the iMic RCA plug, as leaving this connection float may cause that nasty 50 Hz test tone.

I would also suggest you check you I/O setup on your machines, as sometimes they can get a bit confusing.

I hope this has been of some use.

Final word there is nothing wrong with USB devices.

As for the OS I have been using the iMic from 10.3.3-10.3.9 with no problems.

Take care
Frank

[CmdrLaForge]

Hi guys,

I have big problems with the iMic as well. Use iBook G4 running Tiger. In Garageband only heavy heavy noise and clicks. It is unusable. First i thought it must be defect so I exchanged it.

New one - same problems.

I asked Griffin for help. Still waiting for an answer.

Cheers
LaForge

[Willie_Williams]

Forgive the heresy, but is there a way to make Griffin iMic work with an XP PC? The product material does say:

"Thank you for purchasing Griffin Technology's iMic. We've got
great news for you... You're ready to go! Your new iMic doesn't
need ANY additional system software to work, regardless of
what operating system you're using.

Just plug iMic directly into any available USB port on the outside
of your computer and you're ready to go."

But maybe by "regardless of what operating system you're using" they mean "what Mac OS".

I realize this is probably the wrong group to ask, but has any of you captured vinyl to digital on a Windows system?

Thanks,

- Willie

[Willie_Williams]

I followed the instructions at http://www.griffintechnology.com/support/i...MIC-PC-014.html, and when I recorded a minute of a vinyl record, the green line did show some activity.

However, when I played this snippet, though there were blips on the green line as it played, no sound issued from my computer speakers.

When I play the .wav file, or an .mp3 file I converted it to, Windows Media and MusicMatch show waveform activity, but still no sound issues. The .wav file is 1.2MB (for a minute of recording).

This is on an XP PC with the iMic device plugged directly into the USB port. (That is, no pre-amp.)


Any suggestions as to what I might try? (However, even if I get this "Sound Recorder" technique to work, that's insufficient as I'm restricted to one minute sniippets. So I'm really looking for a Windows version of the "Final Vinyl" program once I get past this current problem.)

[beatrice262]

Hello friend, I had the same trouble with the griffin i-mic-I found that the little black switch on the i-mic itself was pushed the wrong way. Theres a mic side and a speaker side. Although the directions said I should be switched to the mic side when I switched to the speaker side the music boomed from my computer's speakers.

Good luck.