Audacity Forum

o.k. - Laptop. Toshiba satellite. W7 64 bit. 4 gigs RAM. Mic is integrated into soundcard, so no stero mix available to record. so, I use a line out of headphones to line in of mic... and record from mic as default device. after 1 min. or so, the audio goes south on me. tested this on another identical laptop, and the same happens. tried different sites and content too... anyone have a fix for this? Thanks.

<<<anyone have a fix for this? >>>

No, but we mostly know why it's happening. You can't actually plug a powerful, line level, stereo signal into a connector that's expecting a tiny, wispy, mono microphone signal. It usually just distorts in addition to being missing the "right" channel.

If it doesn't distort, then the laptop's internal business conferencing and communications system is trying to "correct" your mistake and set volume levels "to help you."

It's not unusual for WIn7 laptops to have all of these features. You can get around the "No Line In" problem with one of the fine USB sound cards we reviewed. I think the grand master is the UCA202.

http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=9477

You can use money-based software to record without the external cable.

http://www.highcriteria.com/

You can also dig in the WIndows Control Panels to find the Auto Level Set system and turn it off, but that still doesn't give you stereo -- or it does, but you actually have two lefts from the original show.

Windows Control Panel
http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... trol_Panel

Koz

thanks very much Koz. Most informative.

One last question.... from a no nothing newbie: so, it would be headphones out to the UCA202's rca inputs and of course the usb back into the laptop? right? then I would need a 1/8 inch headphone jack and rca adaptor too right? And audacity will see this plug and play sound card and it would show up in preferences as a recording option? Thanks for your patience.

s

You're wanting to record sounds that are playing on your computer using a UCA-202?

First thing is to check in the Windows Control panel to see if plugging in the UCA-202 provides a "Stereo Mix" option in the Windows Control Panel. (It probably doesn't, but if it does, then use that and the job is solved).
Assuming that there is still no way to record "Stereo Mix", use a stereo RCA lead to connect the line output from the UCA-202 to the Line input of the UCA-202. If you don't already have a stereo RCA lead (they often get included free with audio equipment), you should be able to buy one easily enough for about a dollar.

To hear what you are recording, plug your headphones into the headphone socket of the UCA-202.
The recording quality should be very good.

I've not got Win 7 to test on, but on all other operating systems My UCA-202 has been detected automatically and just a couple of seconds after plugging in is ready for use.
The UCA-202 should be plugged into the computer before you open Audacity.

thanks steve.... but if I use both the input and ouput on the unit as a loop, how will the sound get to it from the laptop? from the usb? I am lost here.... let me know.

The UCA-202 is an external (USB) sound card. It can be used for recording and/or playback. The UCA-202 communicates with the computer through the USB connection (both directions, in and out) and completely bypasses your sound card (which is good, because the sound quality of the UCA-202 is much better than most PC built in sound cards). You can still use the built in sound card if you want/need to, but most of the time I expect you will use the UCA-202 because it sounds better.

excellent !!!! I will give it a shot.... for $29 bucks, not too much of a risk.... besides, I'll make my 16 year old daughter pay for it... LMAO !!! So, it is USB into the laptop.... Then, hope it sees the unit, select it as the default device....shut the mic off I suppose....(???), and set audacity to use the unit as the recording device? Is that it (sound right?), or do I still need to loop the RCA input and output? Really appreciate your input Steve.... Thanks.

Mike

If you have Audacity set to record from the Behringer, then it should not really matter what the on-board sound card is doing, (because the USB sound card is not connected to the on-board sound card in any way), but you may want to mute or disable the on-board sound card just to avoid confusion.

To record sounds playing on your computer you probably will have to loop the RCA in/outs, but before you do that, just have a look in the "Sounds" section of the Control Panel to see what recording options are available.

In case it's not been covered already, this page shows you how to access the recording/playback settings in the Control Panel. http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel
If you could post some screen shots, (or failing that, just describe) what you get in the Sounds section of the Control Panel with the UCA 202 attached, I'd be interested to see (I don't have Windows 7, so I've only seen what happens on XP, Vista and Linux).

thanks steve. Will do some captures and post. sent for the unit today. will get back to you next week. thanks again for all of your help.

Mike