It doens't seem to work

[markhbfindlay]

HI,

I have just installed Audacity and connected my amp to my computer via headphone out to line in (software selectable via Realtek Audio). I have tried to create a project and record an LP into it, but while the pink bar moves at the top right, nothing seems to be recording - the blue line doesn't go up and down (time scrolls, but no up and down motion happens). Get to the end of the side, press Stop and replay (amp now switched to Aux in - connected to computer line out) and total silence reigns. What should it look like when it's actually recording/playing back? Why isn't it recording anything?

[steve]

You should see the recording meter jumping up and down, and a wiggly waveform appear rather than a straight blue line.
The most likely cause is that you do not have the correct recording input set in the RealTek control panel, or it is muted.

If you are using Vista, read this: http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... s_Vista_OS

For any Operating system, go to "Edit menu > Preferences > Audio I/O" and check that you have the correct recording and playback devices set. Some users of RealTek sound cards have reported that it only works when "Windows Sound Mapper" is selected. Others need to select the "RealTek" options.

[markhbfindlay]

I did manage to get it sort of working but the sound quality was incredibly poor. The quality of the input from the (old but good) Kenwood amp was atrocious and the laptop kept losing its connection to it. It would only work with the amp at a very high volume (could turn the speakers off, but then cannot monitor what is happening).

Not sure whether it's the cable or the laptop, so tried a different laptop. This runs Vista and I could not audacity to recognise the input at all. I've rather lost the will to live with this thing. The cable's going back to Maplin anyway.

[steve]

The recording inputs of laptop PCs are frequently very poor (designed for internet phone calls rather than music recording). This is why most Audacity users with laptops use USB sound cards (search the forum for "Behringer UCA 202" and for "Edirol").

It would only work with the amp at a very high volume

Sounds like you are not using, or do not have a suitable output from the amp. The usual output is labelled "Rec Out" or "Tape Out".

For Vista, Audacity 1.3 is recommended rather than the old 1.2 version - also, the page that I gave the link to gives guidance on several Vista issues.