Audacity Forum

Hi, I have just started using Audacity. I have Yamaha KX580 tape deck phono sockets connected to my new HP laptop via mic. I have been able to adjust the levels and get a great quality recording for about 2 seconds, then it sounds like someone has switched on a dirty great compressor - the signal level drops and the sound becomes quieter and dirtier - I have now spent hours trying to resolve. Have also tried headphones socket out from tape deck as this has a level control, but always the same thing - great sound for about 2 seconds only.
Any help much appreciated.
Thanks,
Tomo

The problem is your sound card input.

The input has either Automatic Gain Control, Noise reduction, or some other similar effect enabled. It may or may not be possible to switch that off - see your computer documentation (or just look for an icon near the system clock). It is usually possible to switch the effect off.

More importantly, you will be massively overloading the input because it is designed for a microphone which has a signal level around 1000x lower than the output from a tape deck (line level). Also, on-board sound cards on laptops are notorious for poor recording quality. You would do well to save up for an external sound card - one of the most inexpensive is the Behringer UCA 202 (I have one and it's brilliant, and only around $30) - other makes/models with more features are also available.

Hi Steve,
Thanks for your reply.....it made me go back and uncheck a couple of the options in the mic panel and now all is well. This laptop has Altec Lansing speakers and some fancy sound system so its not too bad now that the control is sorted out.
Tomo