Traktor Scratch input sensitivity too high

I use tsp2 2.6.8 with Mk2 vinyl and m447 needles. Both records input sensitivity (the little blue stereo input meter) is too high. It should be around halfway up and mine is clearly 2/3 up (exactly where the manual says CD players inputs should be). Over the course of the night my yellow (main) signal will dip up and down and for split seconds it will go down to zero and the needle will skip. Simoultaneously the blue stereo input will jump to 100% and clip whenever the needle skips. This is during normal playback, and the needle never actually leaves the record, so the needle isn't physically skipping, but traktor recognizes it that way. Definitely seems like maybe the too strong of signal is causing the skipping issue? Also the Bpm of tracks will jump up like 10 Bpm for a split second as well, this happens when the input sensitivity clips. Once again this happens during playback with no relation to bass hits or manipulation of record.