Distorted recordings

[zippee]

Hi, I'm absolutely new to this stuff, so be gentle with me. I'm trying to record LPs onto my hard drive, I have some old ones that will never be re-issued as CDs. I've run my turntable into a Creek OBH-9SE phono preamp, from which I then run its line out into the line in of my sound card (Diamond Sonic Impact). When I just play a record and listen through the PC's speakers, it sounds great! However, when I record and then playback the wave file using any of the sound recorder programs I have, it's distorted and sounds like it's slowed down also.
I've also tried just playing a CD in my HP CD Writer 8100. Same scenario, sounds great when I just play it through the speakers, but the wave file sounds as described above. I've tried managing the mixers (both the Windows mixer and the Diamond mixer that came with my card) and do not have any peaks going into the red, but to no avail.
Any ideas?

Thanks!

[beetlefan]

First, make sure you are recording at least 16-bit, 44.1KHz. This may also be the fault of the soundcard! The crystal may be off or bad. Make sure that any 3d OR OTHER EFFECTS ARE TURNED OFF.

It's usually not a good idea to use a card made for gaming for audio recording.

Try another card if you can

[This message has been edited by beetlefan (edited 07-31-2000).]

[zippee]

Okay, I put an SB Live! Platinum in with the Live Drive, and Voila!!! Great sound on the wave files! I can now record my Crazed Hipsters album onto CD so I can listen to it in my car.

Thanks for the help!