Just trying to do simple recording from cassettes to computer. Used to be able to do it with old computer, but now with Windows 11, I can’t hear anything back on playback and I don’t see hardly anything on the wave meter during recording. I see the recording levels fine. I just use the cassette player that was sent with the software hooked up with usb cable to the computer. Nothing fancy but just simple. What settings do I need to change. Thanks for any help. I am not too techy, just want thing to work easily.
These 2 YouTube videos might help with your use case:
- How to transfer a Cassette Tape to MP3 on your computer using Audacity
- Use Audacity to title and export songs from an audio file using labels and multiple export
Being a fan of Iron Maiden is not necessary 
Thanks but it doesn’t work. I just have the simple cassette walkman type tape player that came with the software. It used to work with my old computer. I don’t understand what is wrong.
Check the recording volume level slider which is now “hidden” under the recording meters (and the playback volume hidden under the playback meters).
And/or try Listen To This Device to make sure Windows is getting a signal.
You can also try plugging headphones into the cassette player to make sure the tape is playing OK, etc. If the analog isn’t working first, the digital won’t work,
I can hear the music in the headphone and I see the recording levels in the recording meter. There is hardly any wave showing at all during recording.
I am not sure what settings need to be adjusted or turned off in the new windows.
Did you try the Normalize (or Amplify) effect as Wreks0 suggested?
Also, make sure Windows “Enhancements” are turned OFF. They can foul-up recording in all kinds of strange ways.
When I bought Audacity, it came with a cassette player like a sony walkman.
Audacity is open source and FREE. You bought the hardware, not the software.
1 Can you be more precise about your “old computer”? And what type? Years back now there was a shift in laptop sound cards which (IIRC) didn’t let external sources pass through to the recording software without other software bits and pieces. It took me a while to find the right set-up.
2 I’m intrigued by “the cassette player that came with the software”. Forgive my ignorance but which software? Audacity? or something else?
3 Sort of of following on from 1, how confident are you that the output from the cassette player is compatible with the new computer’s input? I’m not thinking software compatibility but more the old fashioned issues of line-in, aux, phono etc from the days of analog audio. It might not be a simple as plugging a cable between the two: I also recall having to have some sort of matching device between my vinyl deck and my laptop’s audio input - and that was years ago.
My previous laptop was probably Windows 7. When I bought Audacity, it came with a cassette player like a sony walkman. All I had to do previously, was plug in the usb cable and record.
I can see the levels that it is recording, but the waves are not showing hardly anything at all. I am not sure what settings need to be adjusted or turned off in the new windows.
Has a privacy setting that old windows did not have …
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/turn-on-app-permissions-for-your-microphone-in-windows
As far as Windows is concerned any audio input could be a microphone, even when it’s a cassette.
I had it set up the way you said, but it still does not work properly.
What has worked for me going from an old Windows 10 computer to a new Windows 11 computer, was to attach either external speakers or headphones through the external headphones jack on the PC.
I then set up Audacity with the following:
Audio Host: MME
Recording device: Microphone Array (USB PnP Audio)
Recording channels: 1 (Mono) Recording Channel
Playback Device: Speaker (Realtek High Definition)
Transport: Transport Options: Software Playthrough - ON.
The device I’m using comes up with that setting on the Audacity display. Be sure to have all devices attached to the computer and turned on before starting the Audacity program. It sets up easier if devices are attached before it starts to run.
To make this work. Have the tape player hooked up to the PC and powered on before turning on Audacity program, so that the PC will see the device. (To verify, go to control panel and look for USB PnP array and select if necessary.) Test audio volume coming from the tape player before the player is recorded from.
Make sure all volume levels in Audacity (microphone & speakers) are at the highest levels.
I was using extra outside speakers, but the microphone was the key. NOTICE the waveform and how it fills the track. Always check that to help confirm the audio file is of good quality.
ANYTHING DONE TO THE SOUND LEVEL ON THE KEYBOARD AFFECTS THE RECORDED AUDIO! IF YOU MUTE THE AUDIO YOU ARE HEARING, YOU MUTE THE RECORDING ALSO. IF YOU LOWER THE AUDIO YOU ARE HEARING, YOU LOWER THE RECORDING.
Also Be sure to go into Windows Settings> Manage Sound Devices make sure your output and input devices are set correctly and make sure the master volume is set to 100%.
Hope this helps.
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If you didn’t see my long reply, please look for it as I may have put it to far down the reply list. I purchased a plugNplay digital capture device that will attach to any tape player.
My father must have recorded 10,000 + cassette tapes. Well over 1000 were of his voice reading books onto tapes. After he passed away, I wanted to hear his voice and I have digitized about 500 of the tapes so far. I still have 4 more boxes to go, but I keep wearing out cassette tape players and they are getting harder and harder to find. But it is going very well with Audacity.
Please be sure to play the tape in the cassette player first and set the audio level to a comfortable listening level there first. If it is too loud coming from a tape player, the recording will be over-potted. Too low and you will have to increase the gain in the final option in Audacity. Try to get it right to begin with, then hook up your digitizer and let it play while Audacity runs, with “Transport on”, so that you can monitor the progress.
If you really want to record only 1 of 2 channels, just go on…