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input for recording
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 1:01 am
by shua
I am using Audacity 1.2.6 on Windows Vista, having downloaded it from the Audacity website. I am trying to record from a cassette tape player using the microphone input jack on my laptop. But on the mixer toolbar, the input source is not active, I cannot choose an input source and when I click the record button on audacity nothing is being recorded. How do I activate the input source? Please help!
Re: input for recording
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 10:08 am
by kozikowski
You set the input with the Windows Control Panels.
Windows Control Panel
http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... trol_Panel
... but that will bring you to problem two. Cassette machines produce a powerful, high-level, stereo signal suitable for jacking into a sound system. The Mic-In of your laptop is expecting a low-level, delicate, easily damaged mono microphone signal. They don't cross well.
Many people trying to do this opt for one of the USB sound devices we reviewed...
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=9477
Koz
Re: input for recording
Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2009 2:05 pm
by steve
It is recommended that you use the 1.3 version of Audacity on Vista (Vista had not been invented when Audacity 1.2.6 was written).
If you wait 'till the beginning of January Audacity 1.3.11 should be available (which fixes a known bug in Audacity 1.3.10).
Re: input for recording
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:11 pm
by Buttonz
Well, now I'm curious. This audacity program is developped amongst others to be able to digitalise vinyl LP's and cassesttes etcetera. I tried it too with the 1.2.6 version (for beginners such as me). Didn't work, the soundpower being much to strong. And changing the meter level had no effect whatsoever. Now I read in this forum that for cassettes (and no doubt for LP's through a normal stereo amplifier) version 1.2.6 is no real option and we should use 1.3.10 (for experienced users). We installed it and indeed now there seems to be a possibility to record albums, putting the recording meter level at 1 (on the scale of 10). Is that right, am I - inexperienced as I am - doing the right thing? Or is there a smarter solution?
I have to actually try recording a complete album later on, but in the meantime my day (2 days in fact) has been spoiled by looking for a solution which does not exist? That's weird!
O, by the way: I use a double jackwire connected to a device that replaces the missing line-in option on my laptop. This device feeds into a USB-hole.