I’m using Audacity 2.2.1 with Windows 10. I’m starting to digitise my varied collection of vinyl, tape, etc. I have Teac 300 separates, and I’m connecting via a USB digitiser.
All my separates (CD, tape, record deck, minidisc) have line connections to the Teac amp/receiver. I have had good results so far recording from vinyl and radio. But when I try from my tape player it dosn’t work. I can hear the sound from the amp speakers, and its’ OK, but I don’t get a proper signal appearing in Audacity: There’s just a low level noise coming in, at a pretty constant level, and I wondered if anyone else had experienced this.
I have tried both pre-recorded tapes and those I recorded myself. I also bypassed the USB box and run the amp line output into the computer (via a mic usb adapter as my direct mic input is faulty).
I can’t understand what’s going on as the set up is the same whether its record deck or tape player, apart from a different line input to the amp. Not really an Audacity issue I suppose, but I could do with some expert input.
I hope not. The current issue of Audacity is 2.1.2.
via a mic usb adapter as my direct mic input is faulty
Neither one should work. Computer Mic-In is expecting an actual computer microphone such as this.
Most Mic-In connections aren’t stereo and most of them will overload when you try to apply a high-volume stereo connection.
Not really an Audacity issue I suppose
No, it’s not. If none of them worked, then you might have a case for an Audacity failure. There’s something about the switching in your music system that isn’t allowing your tape music to go through.
I make very good use of a simple Behringer UCA-202 Stereo USB adapter.
It will accept any stereo connection for conversion to USB form. It doesn’t have any volume controls, so you could get into trouble with a really hot tape or other media. We posted our experiences with other devices.
Connected to what on the analog side of your “digitizer”?
All my separates (CD, tape, record deck, minidisc) have line connections to the Teac amp/receiver. I have had good results so far recording from vinyl and radio. But when I try from my tape player it dosn’t work.
If you are recording from Tape-Out with the tape player connected to Tape-In, that might not work because it would create a feedback loop if you were recording with the tape recorder… So, try plugging the tape player into a different Aux/Line line input, such as where your CD player is normally connected, etc.
My challenge is more basic now and really doesn’t have to do with the tape (I don’t think).
I was recording when I hit a key to pause the recording. Instead of pausing the last sound kept playing even though I then turned the player off.
Now when I try to record the cursor remains at 0 or the place i put it. It will not move. And I now get Latency errors.
I removed Audacity 2.1.0 and reinstalled it; no luck.
I just Uninstalled it and installed 2.1.2; same challenge. I had even deleted the directory.
However no matter what I do it still seems to remember my settings since I changed Latency to 0 0 to see if that would work and after I installed 2.1.2 that was what shown instead of 100 -130.
Do you know ho I can record again?
Is there a way to either delete the settings or make them default settings again?
Reinstalling Audacity doesn’t reset Audacity. Part way through the Audacity Windows install, it will ask you if you want to reset your preferences and settings. Say yes (if that’s what you want).
Thanks for the rapid replies on my original query.
I had better just clarify a few things first. I have Audacity 2.1.1.
My digitiser (which it is since it based around an A/D converter) or USB adaptor, is a Mixmeister. I only tried the mic USB adaptor (yes it is mono) to see if it would shed any light on the problem.
My record deck, cassette tape player/recorder, minidisc, CD, all have separate line connections into the amp. You then select by switch and get a single line out. You also get the speaker output. So you can see that if I select ‘vinyl’ and I hear the sound plus I get a good input into Audacity, and I then select tape and I don’t get a good input into Audacity, but can till hear via the speakers, something odd is happening with the tape input. It’s also OK by the way with input from the radio.
Thanks. If you have any more questions, please start a new topic of your own. This is less confusing both for us trying to answer two different people in the same topic, and for the original poster. Thanks again.
