I’m attempting to record music from cassette to my laptop, through a mixer, using Audacity. I’ve already set up the system to record in stereo (two channels) but the system is recording the same thing on both channels, even though the original recording has distinctly different parts of the music on each channel. How do I correct this?
You stop plugging the mixer into the Mic-In of your Windows laptop.
Scroll down to “Connections.”
http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/windowsRecording.html
Koz
I’m assuming that, but this is such a common problem, it’s a good bet. Macs have stereo, high-level inputs, but not most Windows laptops. Koz
I’m using an RCA to USB interface. I had the same problem about a year and 1/2 ago when i set up Audacity on my PC (which is no longer working) and I called technical support for help but they are not open on the weekend and I cannot remember what they told me to do to resolve the problem.
In bright red, pink and blue above there is:
If you require help using Audacity, please post on the forum board relevant to your operating system.
Windows
Mac OS X
GNU/Linux and Unix-like
Answering questions of this sort is impossible without knowing a bit about your set up. e.g. are you using Windows 7, Vista, Ubuntu, Tiger, Lion, Open Suse?
I don’t really understand why so many people fail to see the message at the top of the page - does it need to be bigger? Does it need to be in more strongly contrasting colours?
I have been attempting to record music from turntable/cassette using an RCA to USB interface on my laptop. I’ve set up the system to record in stereo (two channels) but it is recording the same thing on both channels even though the original recording has distinctly different parts of the music on each channel. I had this problem about a year and 1/2 ago when I set up Audacity on my PC (which is no longer working). At the time I called technical support and they helped me correct it but I don’t remember what it was they had me do and they are not open on the weekend. My work hours will not allow me to call during the week.
Please help us by saying which version of WIndows you are on.
If you are on Vista or 7 please double-check the blue box in this Frequently Asked Question .
If that does not help, what is the make and model number of the USB interface? What input of the interface are you connecting to?
Gale
Where does the “mixer” come into this? Are the mixer and the USB interface one and the same thing?
No. The turntables, cassette, and mixer are part of a DJ system and are connected to the laptop with an RCA to USB interface that is made to connect an old fashioned analog system up to the USB port on the computer and record the music digitally using Audacity. the PC uses Windows Vista as did the PC where I used to do this successfully.
If this is still a problem, you’ll need to give much more information. Are the turntables and cassette deck connected to the mixer? If so, to what inputs of the mixer and what is the make and model number of the mixer?
If the mixer output goes to the USB interface, what is the mixer output, what is the interface input and what is the make and model number of the interface?
Gale
I have the same problem recording on laptops. I’d checked all the external kit (cassette deck, turntable, mixer, rca plugs/cables, usb cable) and all the Windows and Audacity settings. I tried on 2 laptops and had the same problem on both - only recording the ‘white’ input channel (check by pulling rca plug) and spreading across both Audacity channels. I then tried on a friend’s computer - a tower dektop - and it worked fine. Something to do with usb/sound chipsets I guess.
Try on a desktop PC.
I finally fixed the problem on my laptop. It’s a Windows setting.
With the USB device plugged into the laptop:
On Windows 7, go to Control Panel/Hardware and Sound/Sound. Select ‘Recording’ tab and you’ll see the USB Audio Codec Microphone device.
Click ‘Properties’, select ‘Advanced’ tab, and select a stereo option such as ‘2 channel, 16-bit, 44100 Hz (CD Quality)’. This was defaulted to a ‘1 channel’ option on my computer.