Can Audacity be used with Windows 98???
Forum rules
Audacity 1.2.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.1.x version.
The final version of Audacity for Windows 98/ME is the legacy 2.0.0 version.
Audacity 1.2.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.1.x version.
The final version of Audacity for Windows 98/ME is the legacy 2.0.0 version.
Can Audacity be used with Windows 98???
I have an older, basic computer that would be perfect for me to make CD's and MP3 files from my vinyl records, but it has Windows 98. I loaded Audacity, but I presume there are some configurations that I am lacking such as the USB Codec. I would be very grateful if someone could walk me through it. Thanks.
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kozikowski
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Re: Can Audacity be used with Windows 98???
Given the enormous number of people having speed and quality problems with much larger computers, I don't think USB is the way to go. However, assuming your computer is a Deskside and your turntable is an ION, you can probably do a fairly respectable job transferring the songs analog.
Stereo RCA to 1/8" (3.5mm) audio cable. Part # 42-2550
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... age=search
RCA "barrel" (female to female coupler). Part # 274-1553
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... 2102696&cp
Use that cable and two little adapters to plug the turntable into the Line-In of the Deskside PC. Use the sound control panel to turn up the volume on the Recording Line-In (not the Playback) and launch Audacity.
This will depend a lot on the quality of the sound card. Most of the newer ones should work just fine. SoundBlaster had a run of early sound cards where they were still learning how to do sound. Those didn't work so well.
Koz
Stereo RCA to 1/8" (3.5mm) audio cable. Part # 42-2550
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... age=search
RCA "barrel" (female to female coupler). Part # 274-1553
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index ... 2102696&cp
Use that cable and two little adapters to plug the turntable into the Line-In of the Deskside PC. Use the sound control panel to turn up the volume on the Recording Line-In (not the Playback) and launch Audacity.
This will depend a lot on the quality of the sound card. Most of the newer ones should work just fine. SoundBlaster had a run of early sound cards where they were still learning how to do sound. Those didn't work so well.
Koz
Re: Can Audacity be used with Windows 98???
Perhaps I was not very clear. The Compaq desktop computer with Windows98 has several USB ports. I just bought an Audio Technica USB turntable which actually works pretty well with my daughter's Dell Vista Laptop. When I try to record on the desktop, there appears to be some background noise picked up, but no music from the turntable. The turntable also came with Pyro Cakewalk, but this software requires an internet connection, and right now, the desktop is not hooked up to my router. I believe there is some initial setup with Audio in the Control Panel. Thank you.
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kozikowski
- Forum Staff
- Posts: 68941
- Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:57 pm
- Operating System: macOS 10.13 High Sierra
Re: Can Audacity be used with Windows 98???
Does the turntable show up as a valid device in Windows Device Manager when it's all plugged together?
People seem to have terrible success with those USB turntables. Your 50% success rate seems to be about right. If there seems to be nothing wrong with the setups but it still doesn't work, remember the analog method. I didn't just make up those numbers out of thin air. There are a number of people whole computers just flat out will not recognize a USB turntable properly and nothing we do short of not using the USB service changes that.
Koz
People seem to have terrible success with those USB turntables. Your 50% success rate seems to be about right. If there seems to be nothing wrong with the setups but it still doesn't work, remember the analog method. I didn't just make up those numbers out of thin air. There are a number of people whole computers just flat out will not recognize a USB turntable properly and nothing we do short of not using the USB service changes that.
Koz
Re: Can Audacity be used with Windows 98???
Koz,
I don't think a huge number of people are having trouble with their USB TTs. We hear about it all the time, but we only ever hear from people who are having trouble. They do seem to be selling a ton of those things, so I'm sure most people never have a problem.
Daddydoc,
Most likely it seems you haven't selected the turntable as the input source in Audacity. Open Audacity and go to the edit -> preferences -> audio i/o menu. Is the turntable selected as the input source?
While you're there, make sure the sound card is selected as the output device. USB turntables have a nasty habit of setting themselves as the default audio output, despite having no speakers. You may also have to poke around in Windows audio setup software, but it's been so long since I've used Win98 that I can't remember exactly what you need to look for.
I don't think a huge number of people are having trouble with their USB TTs. We hear about it all the time, but we only ever hear from people who are having trouble. They do seem to be selling a ton of those things, so I'm sure most people never have a problem.
Daddydoc,
Most likely it seems you haven't selected the turntable as the input source in Audacity. Open Audacity and go to the edit -> preferences -> audio i/o menu. Is the turntable selected as the input source?
While you're there, make sure the sound card is selected as the output device. USB turntables have a nasty habit of setting themselves as the default audio output, despite having no speakers. You may also have to poke around in Windows audio setup software, but it's been so long since I've used Win98 that I can't remember exactly what you need to look for.