Problem with sound quality when recording to laptop

[RichardBest]

Hi,

I am a new user to Audacity, I am attempting to record vinyl mixes, I have attached my windows laptop through a mixer to the mic input on the laptop, I can see it recording on the Audacity graphic equalizer, but when I play it back it is very distorted. I can record from audio cassette from a tape deck to my desktop PC using the same lead without any issue.

Can anyone help?

Thanks in advance

[kozikowski]

That would be this one:

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/DesktopLine-In.jpg

The desktop machine likely has a Stereo Line-In and the Windows Laptop doesn't. For that we have the UCA-202 USB adapter.

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/UCA202.jpg

Many Windows Laptops have a sensitive, mono Mic-In only. Unless you actually have a microphone, the connection will overload and cause great distortion.

Some laptops have provision to switch one input and some actually have a Stereo Line-In. We have one Laptop with a complete slate of connections. Consult your instructions.

Koz

[RichardBest]

Thank you Koz