Recording BBC Radio programmes

[pswinbank]

WC, in my post on the 1.2 forum I said "First of all, I'm getting a flat "waveform" display when I try to record a programme.
What problem does that indicate please?"
You did not seem to address that query in subsequent exchanges?
Any ideas please?

Peter

[steve]

I'm getting a flat "waveform" display when I try to record a programme.
What problem does that indicate please?"

It indicates that nothing, or almost nothing is being recorded.
The difference between "nothing" and "almost nothing" is significant.

Make one of these "flat line recordings", then apply the "Amplify" effect to it.
What happens?

[pswinbank]

Steve, aha! Some light at the end of the tunnel I think.
Thanks for this input to the problem.

I recorded a minute of a Haydn trio that gave the flat waveform display.
I looked at the "Amplify" effect and it showed "Amplification (dB): 40.4"
I clicked OK. The familiar 'jagged' waveform displayed.
I replayed the recording.
Very 'muzzy' with lots of background noise.
But, I could just about make out the violin lead in the recording?
Nearly there ....?
Any other ideas please?

Peter

I'm getting a flat "waveform" display when I try to record a programme.
What problem does that indicate please?"

It indicates that nothing, or almost nothing is being recorded.
The difference between "nothing" and "almost nothing" is significant.

Make one of these "flat line recordings", then apply the "Amplify" effect to it.
What happens?

[steve]

Are you trying to record the radio program as it plays in your web browser?

Does your sound card have a loudspeaker icon down near the Time/Date on your Desktop? (probably looks like a loudspeaker). If it does:
What sort of sound card is it?
What do you have set as the Recording input in the sound cards Mixer Applet?

I've looked at your earlier posts about this question and I see that waxcylinder has already pointed to to the page on the wiki about using the Windows Control Panel. http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel
Did you have a look at that page?
Were you able to find the Record and Playback settings?
What do you currently have set?
What other options are there?

[pswinbank]

Steve, thanks for these suggestions and advice.
I'll work through each of the points and get back as soon as I can.

Thanks, Peter

[pswinbank]

Steve, <Are you trying to record the radio program as it plays in your web browser?>
I'm using the BBC "Listen now" function to record programmes that have been broadcast in the last 6 days.

<Does your sound card have a loudspeaker icon down near the Time/Date on your Desktop? (probably looks like a loudspeaker). If it does:
What sort of sound card is it?>
Yes it does.
"Realtek High Definition"

<What do you have set as the Recording input in the sound cards Mixer Applet?>
I normally have this set very low, 6% (as displayed when "hovering" the mouse pointer over the loudspeaker icon)
But right clicking the loudspeaker icon and then left clicking "Open Volume Mixer" shows the slider at 100%?

<I've looked at your earlier posts about this question and I see that waxcylinder has already pointed to to the page on the wiki about using the Windows Control Panel. http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel
Did you have a look at that page?>
I did, and I'm still looking at it!
This is pretty heavy technical stuff for me I'm afraid.
But I'll keep reading and trying to understand.... ....

<Were you able to find the Record and Playback settings?>
Is this something I would find in in the Control Panel?
I have "Realtek HD Audio Manager".
Opening this gives me Speaker Configuration/Sound Effect/Room Connection/Dolby.Default format tabs.

<What do you currently have set?>
??

<What other options are there?>
??

I hope this gives you some clues.
Thanks for your patience!

Peter

[steve]

Does the RealTek control panel look something like this:



If it does, ensure that the "Stereo Mix" input (in the lower "Record" half of the picture) is not muted. The Red X below the "CD Volume" and "Line Volume" indicate that they are muted.

The big "Record" knob on the lower left needs to be turned up.

Set the playback levels (top of the picture) to high values (like the "Wave" output in the illustration.


In Audacity, go to "Edit menu > Preferences > Devices".
What options are available there, and what is currently selected?

[pswinbank]

Steve,
<Does the RealTek control panel look something like this: >
No it doesn't.
I don't know how to send you a picture of it, like the one you sent me .......
A computer profile of my Acer Aspire Ethos 8943G laptop (built this year I recall) shows that the Realtek HD Audio Manager is Version 1,0,0,500

<In Audacity, go to "Edit menu > Preferences > Devices".
What options are available there, and what is currently selected?>
It says:

Interface

Host: Windows Direct Sound
Using: PortAudio V19-devel (built Mar 2010 21:03:06

Playback
Device: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)

Recording
Device: Primary Sound Capture Driver
Channels: 2 (Stereo)

I hope this helps.

Peter

[steve]

What operating system are you using?

Recording
Device: Primary Sound Capture Driver

What are the other options?

[pswinbank]

Steve, I'm using Windows 7 Home Premium

The only other option given in the drop-down menu is: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)

Peter