'play' and 'return to start' functions disabled

[vijogo22]

Vista Windows, Audacity Stable. I am trying to upload a recording from a digital recorder to my laptop via a cable from the earbud port to the mic port on the laptop. I succeeded but when I attempted to press the function buttons to 'return to start' or 'play',? Assuming there is a solution the message stated that these functions were disabled. What causes this? Assuming there is a solution, I then want to convert the file to MP3 format to make it available to others. Are there any tricks I need to know? Thanks. Victor

[kozikowski]

You can get that if you never pressed STOP at the end.

I'm surprised it worked. The headphone out is high level stereo and most laptop Mic-In connections are very very sensitive mono. Even if you forced it to work, you're likely to get low volume, or high volume and crunchy, crackly sound.

And mono.

koz

[vijogo22]

Thanks. That solved the 'Skip to start' and 'Play' problems, but I still do not know how to convert the file to MP3 format. Please help. BTW, the recording is clear as a bell with the cable from the stereo jack to the mic jack!

[kozikowski]

<<<the recording is clear as a bell with the cable from the stereo jack to the mic jack!>>>

You win. Most people don't. Is the show in stereo? If you blow up the two blue waves several times, are they identical in their up and down motion hills and valleys. Do you have two blue waves?

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/Audacity1_playback.jpg

<<<I still do not know how to convert the file to MP3 format.>>>

Be clear on which Windows you have and which version of Audacity. Download and install the appropriate lame software package. This will allow exporting the show as MP3.

http://audacityteam.org/help/faq?s=inst ... m=lame-mp3

Koz