Basic Hardware Set Up Question

[tnbonner]

I dug out my old recording equipment when I stumbled across this free recording software. However, having trouble getting my mic hooked up.

I don't think Audacity is recognizing the device. I'm running the mic through a two channel preamp. I don't exactly remember how to set it up from when I used to digitally record music.

When I click record in Audacity, I get an error saying "Error while opening input device. check input device settings and project sample rate." When I go to preferences, nothing shows up under the recording device pull down menu.

The audio input wire I have from the preamp to the computer's mic input has two heads on the preamp end of the wire. One is labeled Tip and one is labeled Ring. I don't know which one I'm supposed to have plugged into the preamp's output.

Anyways, I'm not sure what information I need to provide so that someone more knowledgeable can help me out...as you can probably tell, this shit is driving me crazy. I feel like I've tried every which-way combination for the hardware. Thanks in advance. -Tom

[kozikowski]

Let me shotgun this with what we have. Model numbers are good when you mention hardware. That gives us an enormous head start.

The explanation of the Ring and Tip comes from how an 1/8" audio connector carries stereo sound.

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

Your description would put one microphone on "right" and the other on "left."

That's how it works on a Mac. On a PC laptop, the connection is most normally for a mono Microphone, not stereo high level. That's the second illustration on that page. They don't normally cross well.

Koz

[steve]

That's how it works on a Mac. On a PC laptop, the connection is most normally for a mono Microphone, not stereo high level. That's the second illustration on that page.

On PC desktop (any full size PC) usually have both a "microphone input" and a "line input". Since you are going through a microphone pre-amp, you should use the "Line input".

The microphone input on a PC is usually mono and low quality, (OK for "voice over IP" but not good enough for music - think "telephone quality").

The Line input requires a higher signal level, such as is provided by a microphone pre-amp, is stereo and usually much better quality than the microphone input.

When I click record in Audacity, I get an error saying "Error while opening input device. check input device settings and project sample rate." When I go to preferences, nothing shows up under the recording device pull down menu.

Does your sound card work correctly? is it installed correctly?
Check this section of the Audacity wiki: http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... s_Problems