Can't get Audacity v1.2.6 to record from Line In or a mic.

[RockinRoll69]

Hi,

I can't figure out how to get Audacity v1.2.6 to record from Line In or a mic. I've gone through the help file and it says to go to the Mixer Toolbar and select the input source, but there's nothing available. The drop down box is blanked out.

I want to record and old informational/voice only cassette to MP3.

I've tried everything I can think of:

In Control Panel> Sounds & Audio....>Sound Recording> Default > Realteck HD Audio Input, is selected. I tried the other 2 choices, too. Device Manager says everything is working properly.

When I plug in the tape player Realtek asks me if it's a mic, line in or speakers. So, it's seeing the device.

I've swapped out cables. I've tried both input jacks on the front of the computer and the mic jack on the back. Everything I can find in XP says it's hot and should be playing. The inputs are not muted. The volumes are up on mic, line in and the Master (?) volume is up. The tape player's volume is up/maxed.

I imported an MP3 to make sure Audacity installed okay and it played it. I tried an audio CD but no go. Audacity is just not seeing any of the devices.

Am I doing something wrong?

WinXP SP3
The Mobo: Intel Essential Series Desktop D945GCCR, and I'm using on board audio: Realtek HD Audio Sound Manager v?
Just in case it makes any difference:Video card- EVGA GEFORCE 9500GT

Need anymore info?

[steve]

In Control Panel> Sounds & Audio....>Sound Recording> Default > Realteck HD Audio Input,

Yes, set that, then look for the RealTek mixer. There should be an icon near the time/date (usually a brown loudspeaker icon), but this is not always installed so you may need to look for it in the Windows Control Panel. The RealTek mixer sets which audio input is used for recording (and every other sound card setting of which there are very many). Once you have the correct settings in the RealTek mixer and the Windows Control Panel set to use the RealTek as the default recording device, set Audacity to use Microsoft Sound Mapper.

[RockinRoll69]

Thanks for the help!

I've got the Realtek mixer running. Under the mixer tab I've got "Realtek HD Audio Input" selected but all the sliders are dead. The only things it's allowing me to do are rotate the Record knob, and click X's on & off the mute buttons.

I can open the Mixer Tool Box and, just to see if it would make the sliders live, I checked "Enable recording multi-streaming" but it didn't work. The only thing it did was give an option to use the mic (drop down box). I selected it and the sliders were still dead. So, I disabled it.

Note: all the sliders are live in the Playback section of the mixer.

By the way, I did find the version number, etc.: 5.10.00.5172, Direct X9c, Codec:ALC88

Any idea where do go from here?

[steve]

I've got the Realtek mixer running.

Great stuff, we're getting there.

Under the mixer tab I've got "Realtek HD Audio Input" selected but all the sliders are dead.

That's not uncommon, and it's OK.

The only things it's allowing me to do are rotate the Record knob,

That's what you should use to adjust the record level - set it fairly high - you can turn it down later if necessary.

and click X's on & off the mute buttons.

There an important bit.
You are talking about the "Record Settings" screen here?
Is there a slider for "Line"? you may need to scroll to the right (look for something that looks like chevrons "<" and ">" )

I've seen this work in different ways, but usually the idea is that you mute all recording inputs except for the one that you want to use. The rotary knob then adjusts the recording level for the input that is not muted (there is no change to the slider - it remains dead looking - that's "normal").

[RockinRoll69]

You are talking about the "Record Settings" screen here?

Yes. I think...

realtek_mixer.jpg (62.49 KiB) Viewed 1272 times

Is there a slider for "Line"? you may need to scroll to the right (look for something that looks like chevrons "<" and ">" )

As I think you can see, if I uploaded the pic right, there's no sliders available below Mic Volume, Line Volume & Stereo Mix.

I've seen this work in different ways, but usually the idea is that you mute all recording inputs...

Just for the heck of I tried it, but Audacity still didn't see a Line In...

Audacity.jpg (67.73 KiB) Viewed 1268 times

Again, hopefully, I uploaded the pic right. But just under and to the right of the Play, Stop, etc. buttons is the drop down box where Line In, Mic, etc. are selected. Right?

If I'm understanding correctly that's what we're trying to make active/available so I can record. Right?

[steve]

The RealTek mixer settings look correct to me.

If I'm understanding correctly that's what we're trying to make active/available so I can record. Right?

It is convenient if the drop down menu is displayed, but it is not essential. As you've noticed, the RealTek's own mixer application looks incomplete (no sliders) but the chances are that it will function correctly.

Leave the settings in the RealTek mixer like that and check that the RealTek is selected as the default recording device in the Windows Control Panel.
In Audacity Edit menu > Preferences > Audio I/O set the recording and playback device to "Microsoft Sound Mapper" then restart Audacity (possibly not essential, but should ensure that the setting "sticks").

Attach the "Line Out" from your cassette player to the Line-in Socket of your computer. When prompted by RealTek, select "Line In".

Start playing the cassette and click the Record button in Audacity.

[RockinRoll69]

Thank you! Thank you!

I would not have got it working without you. I would've given up.

It turns out the ear jack on the tape player is dead. I "assumed" it was good because it played fine and sounded great through the speakers. I thought that might be the problem a while ago but I didn't have another audio device to test it.

Anyway, I borrowed an MP3 player and Audacity recorded from it with no problem.

Thanks, again!
Rock

[steve]

Sometimes it's the simplest things that trip us up

My next suggestion was going to be to try a different cassette player - What was it that Sherlock Holmes said... "when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth".