No line/mic In on laptop, so can't record in Audacity

Hello all,

Normally, I’m using Audacity on my desktop for music production. But sometimes I have to resort to Audacity (2.05, from the Software Manager) on my KDE Mint laptop. The problem is that it doesn’t have Line/Mic In.

I tried to work around this with a 3D USB to Audio Model PD552 Line In adapter (see below)
Selection_052.png
that ought to operate through one of three USB ports on board. Only it doesn’t.

The system recognizes the adapter. But Audacity not, so I suppose some settings should be changed. I have no idea where to start though, so some advice would be welcome.

Thanks very much in advance.

tnob

What exactly are you trying to record? That PD552 is a microphone input, not a line-in input. It’s only suitable for low level signals from a computer microphone, not for strong line-level input.

Audacity does not automatically recognise external inputs plugged in after Audacity was launched.

Try restarting Audacity or using Transport > Rescan Audio Devices.


Gale

Hi Gale,

Thank you for replying.

Gale wrote:

What exactly are you trying to record? That PD552 is a microphone input, not a line-in input. It’s only suitable for low level signals from a computer microphone, not for strong line-level input.

On my Lenovo desktop, digitalizing my audio cassette archive (four-track as well as plain stereo) has been going well. A RCA-to-minijack audio cable between cassette player and desktop preamp - and Bob’s your uncle! Without a hitch. But with a couple of hundred more tapes awaiting similar ‘treatment’, I thought of my laptop as a way of ramping up capacity. That, however, hasn’t washed as smoothly yet, obviously…

Gale wrote:

Try restarting Audacity or using Transport > Rescan Audio Devices.

Attempted that several times. Transport >Rescan Audio Devices, that is. Nothing at all happening.

Anything else I might try…? Or some alternative for this PD552, perhaps?

tnob

As I said, the PD552 is a microphone input. So it is not suitable for recording cassette tapes, even if it worked.

You can try these alternatives http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Recommended_sound_devices#USB_Interfaces.

The UCA 202 usually works on Linux.


Gale