Intermittant unexpected loud noise

[dallens]

I'm new at using audacity and have used the software to record some audio language cassette tapes. The recording is fine except there are sudden expected (loud) noises each lasting a fraction of a second. There are about 6 such noises in a 20 minute recording. I'm using windows me. Is there a setting on audacity I should change to stop this ? I'm using a "male to male" connection from a portable cassette player to a line-in port. Thanks

[comcon]

What's your input selection drop-down box set to? And the Recording portion of the Audio I/O tab in Preferences?

One guess is that you're recording the Windows stereo mix - which will record every sound that windows makes - (just what you would hear on your computer speakers) instead of only the line-in port(s)

What do the noises sound like?

[kozikowski]

There's no way you could post a sample, is there?

What happens if you set up for a recording, press Record, and then don't press play on the tape machine? Next test is don't plug anything into the back of the computer and record a bit keeping all other settings the same.

Is the cassette machine battery operated? If not, is it plugged into the same outlet/wall plate as the computer?

Koz