Audacity 'error opening sound device' (cassette player)

Audacity 3 Help Forum
1

Hi,

I am trying to digitise some audio cassette data. My cassette player is showing on the recording device menu, but I get an error message when trying to record. I am using a 3 band male to male cable attached to a USBc cable. I have tried changing the host, but the error message still appears.

Any advice greatly appreciated, thanks.

2

If you are on Windows, try Listen To This Device to make sure Windows is getting a signal.

Check your Permissions/Privacy Settings to make sure Audacity is allowed to use the device.

…Of course that’s not just a “cable” it’s got built-in analog-to-digital converter. Basically a soundcard chip, or the recording-half of a soundchip.

3

Could you please post details of the cassette player model and the device you’re using? Also, knowing what operating system you have would be useful too. See if you can record using another program. I sometimes use Ocenaudio to record and Audacity to edit. That will eliminate another factor.
Mark B

4

If you are doing this on a Windows computer, try running the Sound app and testing there. If it works on that program you will know the problem is with a setting in Audacity.

To start the Sound app, press ⊞+R and open mmsys.cpl after typing it in.

5

Hi, thanks for your help. I am not getting a signal on Windows.

6

Hi, sure, Sony TCM 465V cassette recorder. Have also tried a Prinz TR15 cassette recorder, my laptop was reading it as an output rather than an input. Sony recorder is registering as an input, so slight progress, but Audacity will not recognise the recorder. Thanks for helping.

7

Audacity gets the audio from Windows and the drivers. Windows has to get the sound first.

…Virtually all of these little USB audio devices are “Class Compliant” to work with the drivers that come with Windows, macOS & Linux so the driver shouldn’t be a problem.

Headphones work on the cassette players so there’s a signal coming out, right?

Maybe something’s wrong with that cable. The Behringer UCA202 is a popular USB audio interface with line level inputs (also compatible with headphone outputs with the right adapter/cable). It’s inexpensive for an audio interface, but probably costs more than what you have, and we don’t know if that’s the problem…

8

Thanks.

Yes, headphones work on the cassette player.

My colleague will try on their laptop.