Input Overload, Slider not available

[Fred7]

Greetings All...First post!
I started off with the older version of Audacity into Windows XP Pro on an Acer Aspire Travelmate 2492WLMi Laptop. I am trying to load into this computer my audiotape library for conversion to CD. My Input Device is a Digitech Audio USB Cassette JW-51-SWG. The computer does not have a 'Line-In' port, only a mike input, so I can only use the USB system.
The first two or three loading attempts on the older system were successful and pleasing. Good audio quality...etc. Then the input became heavy and distorted, with heavy "clipping". I updated to the latest beta, 1.3.12, but the problems remain.
Attempts to adjust the Audio Input Slider bring up the dialogue "Cannot control input level; use system mixer", as the cursor hovers over the slider (but no trouble with the PlayBack Slider). I have tried double-clicking on the volume control in the system tray, using those slliders, and bringing up the RealTek display & adjusting those sliders, but nothing works. I don't know where else to look for a "system mixer".
The most frustrating thing, which inspired this plea, is that, on my most recent attempt to upload, the first track was perfect, even though I don't know what I did to make that happen, but the second track went straight into overload as I watched the monitor, and also 'skipped' a couple of times. I hadn't stopped the tape between tracks, just let it run, and intended to let it go to the end before stopping.
I suspect there is a software problem, but its cause, and how to fix it, is beyond me.
Can anyone help......??

Best regards,

Fred

[steve]

There is an article here that may help - it is about setting up USB turntables, but this part applies equally to USB cassette decks: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/USB_t ... ud_or_soft

[Fred7]

Thank you for that! It just happens that I've already seen that article and tried all of what it suggests, to no avail. I took your suggestion and went back, though, and one thing I noticed is that the mixture toolbar picture shows three control tools - an output slider; an input slider; and a source choice, e.g. mic, audio, but the third one doesn't appear in my Audacity, so I have no choice as to the input source. It's becoming disheartening, and it's beginning to look as though I'll have to go away from Aduacity and try something else. Hopefully someone out there will be able to help before I burn my bridges.
Fred

[Fred7]

p.s. It might be a help if I knew why the Input Slider is greyed out and unusable.

[waxcylinder]

...why the Input Slider is greyed out and unusable.

Because Audacity has handed over control to your USB device and its soundcard. Whether Audacity does this not is entirely dependent on the USB device's soundcard and its associated drivers. Some, but by no means all, of thes USB devices have a hardware gain control (volume knob) to manage the level of the output signal.

WC

[Fred7]

Thank you for a helpful suggestion. Can you tell me how to find my soundcard so I can try to adjust the input volume?

[waxcylinder]

Depending on a the soundcard & driver you may get an icon to access it's driver controls in the System Tray (Bottom right hand corner of your Windows screen). Or you may be able to manage it through the Control Panel > Sounds & Audio Devices.

But you may not - it's different on both my PCs for example.

Is there a hardware gain control (volume control) on your USB device - that's usually a good place to control the signal level, if such a control is provided.

WC

[Fred7]

Thank you for a sound suggestion...(sorry)...I mean very helpful suggestion.