Left channel only

[lloyderoo]

I am using Vista and have downloaded Audacity 1.2.6. My enabled recording device is Line In Realtek High Definition Audio. Channel is set to stereo. Receiver is connected to computer with RCA to mini stereo plug. When I try recording, it seems to work properly on the top (left) channel. The right channel is flat line. This happens with both vinyl and cassette tape. I am at a loss as to what to do.

[waxcylinder]

OOTB Audacity default is currently set to mono. Go to Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O and set Channels to 2 (stereo)

WC

[lloyderoo]

As I said, the channel is set to "stereo".

[steve]

Is your computer a laptop?
Are you sure that the lead is OK?

If you swap the connections to the tape deck, (left plug to right socket and right plug to left socket) which channel is a flat line?

[kozikowski]

I see you are missing the phrase "This has always worked before." It's never worked right, has it?

Unplug the RCAs from the sound device but leave the cable plugged into the computer. Launch Audacity (either one) and click once inside the red record meters. They will wake up and monitor the sound level without you having to go into record.

Pick up the RCA end of the cable by any plastic parts and graze one finger over the metal tip--the place where the signal normally goes. Do that to both RCAs. They should both result in a jumping sound meter; first left and then right. You are intentionally creating interference just for testing.

I'm betting you don't get "right."

There is a disturbing tendency on the part of the computer makers to corrupt the phrase "Line-In."
It used to mean high level stereo audio input suitable for connection to a cassette machine. Now, I see things like "Connect to the microphone Line-In." It's turned into 'any hole in the side of the computer.'

Most PC laptops have connections for a low level microphone. Those are always mono and appear in Audacity as "Left."

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audioconnecto ... ctors.html

Koz

[kozikowski]

By the way, there is a technique for proving the cable is OK. Unplug everything and plug the 1/8" plug into the computer headphone output. Put your headphones on and see if you can jam the headset 1/8" between the tip and the shield of each RCA. This is a little like the 18 volume publication on how to ride a bicycle, but touch the RCA tip to the headphone tip and the RCA shield to any other part of the headphone tip. It may not be loud enough to curl your hair, but it will be present if the cable is OK. This works for Line-Out, too, it doesn't have to be Headphone Output.

This is a photo opportunity, isn't it?

Koz

[lloyderoo]

Thanks for all your advice. I believe I have solved my problem. Oddly enough, I changed my mini plug in the back of my computer from Line In (blue) to the one marked Microphone (pink) and now it appears to work. Whatever works I guess!! Thanks again.