I’ve been using Audacity since 2009 first on turntables (two) and a cassette converter (I’m on my 3rd). Audacity suddenly stopped recognizing input mid-tape. Device PnP & Stereo are shown (i.e., plugged converter in before opening AUD) but input level is flat-lined, even with Recording Level set at up to 100%. MacBook Pro (OS 15.0.1) Settings / Sound / Input shows an input signal. I’ve rebooted, reinstalled, tried the turntable and now yet a 3rd cassette converter to no avail. I’ve tried both USB/C input ports on my Mac and two USB-to-USB/C adapter cords, and flipping the C-sides of the cords. No Joy. I’m stymied. Solution?
Is the device one of those $40 cassette-to-USB devices? If so, they are notorious for not working on Macs. Anything that shows up as “PNP USB Audio Device” (or similar - the telltale is “PNP”) is suspect.
Two of three cost just under $40; the 3rd, the Ion, was $105. I’ve a 4th, from Hammacher Schlemmer that records to a thumb drive, which I’ve not yet tried (may be my last resort). 3 of 4 have identical internals! Only the Reshow had a different mechanism.
Anyway, the first was working fine thru dozens of cassettes until it simply stopped. The last batch of songs uploaded to iTunes, none of the info transferred (date, genre, artist, etc.) As the Mac’s Sound/Input meter shows the music is going into the Mac it must be an Audacity software issue. Maybe I should delete the 3.6 version and go to an older AUD? But I think it quit under an older version.
Does Audacity have permission to the use “microphone?”
See Control access to the microphone on Mac - Apple Support (CA)
Mic was in the AUD dropdown but not in Mac Settings. I’ll try that change tonight.
My previous version of AUD would always crash upon opening but then reopen just fine. The new one doesn’t crash, but it doesn’t work at all.
So, if that mic’ change doesn’t work, then I’ll delete AUD and download an older version. Back in 2009-10, each Mac OS update would be incompatible with AUD and by the time AUD released an update then so would Apple and AUD became incompatible yet again.
Finally had a chance to test that change (AUD access to Mic). That fixed it! It now records. However, now it no longer plays back thru the MacBook speakers. I probably can monitor it thru the *Ion headphones but as I do other chores while monitoring transcriptions, that’ll be a pain. Any solution to that? “MacBook Pro Speakers” are selected in the AUD dropdown. The only other choice is Microsoft Teams Audio but that results in an error code and no sound. May yet go back to an older edition of AUD.
And, thank you billw58 for that suggestion.
Click on the Audio Setup button and select Rescan Audio Devices. Then click on it again and see what if offers for Playback Device.
Didn’t work. Closed AUD, restarted MacBook, rescanned Devices, no luck.
So Audio Setup > Playback Device does not offer “internal speakers” (or something similar) as an option?
Just “MacBook Pro Speakers” or “Microsoft Teams Audio”.
Last idea …
Check the playback volume control, which is integrated into the playback meter. It is easy to miss and could have been accidentally set to zero.
Yeah, I checked both the input and playback levels. Input was jumping to zero with one converter. I’ve ordered some $11 speakers from AMZN to plug into the converter to monitor transcriptions (headphones inaudible unless wearing them). When I’ve a little more time, I’ll try (re-)installing an older version of AUD.
Thank you, I appreciate your help. It’s a mystery to me how this becomes so arcane. Analog connections with RCA phono plugs were so simple!
JRB
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