Help! I wish to record the static from a FM radio headphone jack. I wish to record the static for a sampling project. Please give me advice on how to record the static noises. I heard I could use a male to male cable. I also heard I could use a 3.5mm to 2X RCA cable. Any information would be helpful.
If it’s an actual FM radio, I would play it into your laptop built-in microphone in a quiet room. That’s by far the simplest way to record real life. You may need to turn off Windows Enhanced Services.
http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_recording_troubleshooting.html#enhancements
Inter-station FM is essentially Pink Noise (ffffffff) and that’s one of the Audacity Generate > Noise options. No microphone or radio needed.
If it’s actually required that you record your FM radio headphone output, it’s a good bet you’ll need a stereo Line-In connection and that usually means a USB audio device such as a UCA-202. Sub your radio with my mixer.
Combine that with an adapter cable.
And you’re good to go with any recording program, not just Audacity.
Koz
Or check out some of the samples at Freesound.org https://www.freesound.org/search/?q=radio+static
(Free) email registration is required for downloading the samples.
(Be sure to read the terms of use)
First, do what Koz suggests and try Audacity’s noise generators.
I heard I could use a male to male cable.
Yes. If you have a desktop or tower computer, the line-input on a regular soundcard is a good match for a headphone output. The microphone input should work OK as long as you keep the radio volume low.
I also heard I could use a 3.5mm to 2X RCA cable.
Regular computer soundcards don’t have RCA jacks so I’m not sure what that’s for… If you have a stereo receiver, you can use the RCA Tape Outputs with an adapter cable into line-in (or mic in) on your soundcard.