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Problems with clipping while uploading

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javertim

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Edited to add: I apologize if this is in the wrong forum ... I do believe it is. Sorry :-(

Hello,

I've been playing around with some different Mic-Minidisc combinations lately, and I've pretty much been favoring the Low Cost Core-Sound Cardioid (with Low Sensitivity) microphone along with my Sony MZ-N707. I've been recording with the manual volume setting at the max as to get the most from the low sensitivity mics. The sound that results is very round, although it does have a little bit of extra hiss, which I assume is because the mics are specialized "low sensitivity" versions (anyone familiar with these) ... But this is nothing that a simple filter cannot fix, for the ease of just plugging a good set of cardioids straight into my mic input with no distortion even at the loudest segments is wonderfully convenient. That's right, I don't have to use a battery box, etc.

Anyway, the real problem I'm having is not with the recorder of the mics themselves ... At least I don't think it is. What I'm doing is recording into my computer via a standard "silver" connecting cable (MD Player headphones > Computer Line In), using Cool Edit's recording feature. The un-adjusted sound that comes in is great -- just as it sounds when played back on the minidisc itself. But when I try to Normalize (or even just raise the overall sound by even 6 dB), I get a bit of clipping / distortion on the peaks. Now, isn't the point of Normalizing to get the maximum amount of sound while stearing clear of clipping? At least that's what I thought ...

Now, time for my specifics: My volume setting for "Computer Line In" (via the standard volume control on my computer) has been set at half to below half for these tests (as I'm trying to figure out what's going on). The first time I tried to Normalize, I had the % set at the standard 100, but even 90% is producing the clipping ... Heck even, as said before, a simple "raise of 6 dB" is producing it. And yet there doesn't seem to be ANY clipping at all on the original MD recording.

So what's going on? Do I need a better connection cable? Better Software (I have Cool Edit v. 2.00)? Any ideas?

Thanks! :-)

P.S.: My sound-source sample was just my television set, but I plan to record louder theatrical shows in the future. However, it must be noted that while recording my television (with volume at full blast), the levels never even made it half-way (still not too savvy with the technical markers, here).

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