Flat red line

Audacity Help Forum Windows
1

I am using Windows 10 and Audacity 2.1.2 and have added all of the additional drivers. I have followed the Manual and FAQ to try to solve my issue with no result. I have looked at many of the tutorials. I am recording from a Technics turntable and a Denon amp with cables coming out of the tape out ports and into the microphone jack on the computer. I can see acceptable sound levels at the top chart checking recording levels BUT when I try to record, I still get a straight line.
Can you help, please.
Jerry Knapp

2

I can see acceptable sound levels at the top chart checking recording levels BUT when I try to record, I still get a straight line.

That’s strange… Plus, usually the waveform is blue (even if it’s flat-line silence) unless you have clipping (overload distortion), and then it’s red. Is it a thin-line line or a red 'block"? When you play it back, do you get silence or loud distortion?

But, let’s back-up a bit…

I am recording from a Technics turntable and a Denon amp with cables coming out of the tape out ports and into the microphone jack on the computer.

A microphone input is too sensitive for line/tape level signals, plus the mic input is usually mono. If you have a desktop/tower computer with a regular soundcard, use the line-input. If you have a laptop with only a microphone input, you’ll get better quality recordings with an external USB audio interface that has line inputs.

3

That is undesirable as we point out in the documentation (and as DVDDoug has just pointed out).

You should consider buying a USB device with a proper stereo Line-In. Please see http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Sound_Devices_and_Interfaces#USB_Interfaces for some examples.

To start with the basics, make sure you have enabled the external microphone in Windows Sound, restart Audacity, then choose the external microphone as recording device in Device Toolbar.

It should be impossible to see what you describe (a flat red line, as opposed to a flat blue one). Did you obtain Audacity from http://www.audacityteam.org/download/windows ?


Gale

4

Thank you for your comments. I was following the directions of Turntable lab and their Beginners guide. Obviously, you are much smarter than me and I may have to leave this to my grandchildren. It would seem that there are many different opinions. My best to all.