Disparity between L & R channel when sampling from vinyl

When I sample from vinyl, I have about 1,5dB difference between the left and right channel. It happens even when I sample from a mono record, so it shouldn't be related to the actual mix. Now obviously 1,5dB is not a lot, but it annoys me nonetheless. I just got a new needle to see if that was it, but no, the difference is still there. Any thoughts? Places to troubleshoot, etc.? (And yes, the pan knob on the mixer is right in the middle). Thanks.

Switch cables in your inputs - Left to Right and Right to Left, if the volume difference changes it's channel it's your system, TT or cables, if it stays in the same channel it's something with your MPC.

some original recordings are just like that... it could also be that your needle is slightly off center or dirty... could be a lotta different things really...

yeah

this can be countered by turning the pan knob on the mixer

jackson wrote:Switch cables in your inputs - Left to Right and Right to Left, if the volume difference changes it's channel it's your system, TT or cables, if it stays in the same channel it's something with your MPC.

this.

always try swapping things round to isolate the problem

try removing the mixer from the signal path - obviously you'll lose the phono preamp effects but if the L and R levels are the same when not using the mixer then the problem's in the mixer not the TT

if the difference is coming from the TT, not the mixer or elsewhere, make sure the cartridge is mounted straight, the tonearm is correctly balanced, try adjusting the anti-skate setting (if your TT has one)

mr_debauch wrote:yeah

Thanks for the ideas, guys.

(Although, crossings, it's not the needle itself nor the pressings, as you can read in my post.)

I chose a mono 45 as my "test record" since I had a sample of that from before the problems started and I could be sure that the pressing wasn't the problem.

Before the problem: 4,7; 4.8 dB
Now, w/ mixer: 4,1; 4,8 dB
Now, w/o mixer: 3,8, 4,8 dB

(FYI, those aren't the max differences, but since the mixer surely boosts/cuts some frequencies I chose a mid-range sound to test with.)

So as far as I can tell it's not the MPC (95% sure), not the mixer (quite sure), but the turntable.

I'll recalibrate the cartridge, tonearm, etc. ASAP, but could it be the RCA cables on my 1200? The TT is about 10 years old, and I haven't really ever cleaned the contacts...

Again, thanks.

sample in mono

might I suggest an S-950

Yep, I have this same problem with my TT500, and it's been like that ever since I got it. It's at different amounts for different needles/tone arms, so I figure it out using a mono record and simply adjust afterwards. As far as I know the amount shouldn't change...

be sure to post if you figure out the problem though b

The cartridge alignment is off or the needle is bad.

Likely the first one. I believe this is a common complaint about straight tone arms, since yours is curved, I figure it's just misaligned.

did you try the ANTI SKATE?

OK. I tried a number of things, and I think I nailed down the problem. I re-aligned the cartridge, recalibrated the tonearm, antiskate; all of that stuff. Alas, nothing. Then it struck me that I have my old cartridge somewhere, and trying that with my new needle might be worth a shot. And it seems that the cartridge is/was indeed the problem. The difference using the same needle and same record dropped from 0,7 dB to 0,2 dB. So all I got to do now is get a new cartridge.