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computer noise while recording
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:21 pm
by csatennis
I frequently get a loud background noise while recording. I have uploaded a file of the noise at
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3193181/audacityTest.wav
Any suggestions about what I can do? I am using a dell inspiron 1525 with vista. I am using Audacity 1.2.6
Re: computer noise while recording
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:42 pm
by steve
Disconnect the power supply and run from batteries.
Also, the recommended version of Audacity for Vista is 1.3.12. I would highly recommend that you upgrade as there are many known problems with the old 1.2.6 version on Vista.
http://audacityteam.org/download/
Re: computer noise while recording
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:17 pm
by csatennis
I've done that and it helped. However, is there any way to cut down on the bass? the bass tracks seem to be coming in too strongly and I am getting bass distortion.
Re: computer noise while recording
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:29 pm
by steve
What are you recording?
How are you recording it?
What equipment are you using?
How is the equipment connected together?
How are you listening to the recording?
Re: computer noise while recording
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:10 pm
by csatennis
q. What are you recording?
A. i am recording Music from a cassette
q. How are you recording it?
A. Not sure of the question
Q. What equipment are you using?
A. Cassette player to Laptop (Toshiba) w. Vista
Q. How is the equipment connected together?
A. RCA port to microphone jack
Q. How are you listening to the recording?
A. Headphones connected to laptop
Re: computer noise while recording
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:31 pm
by steve
csatennis wrote:RCA port to microphone jack
The RCA socket is "line level".
Microphone signals are about 1000x smaller than line level.
Some laptop PCs have dual function sockets that can work as either a microphone input or a stereo line input, but most laptops have only a microphone input. If your laptop has only a microphone input then the signal from the RCA connectors will overload the microphone input causing distortion and bad sound. The only solution to that is to use a different sound card. I use a cheap ($30 US) USB sound card with line level RCA input and output.
Re: computer noise while recording
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:55 pm
by csatennis
I found something at
http://tinyurl.com/69dyqcd
Can you tell me if it has the features I need?
bob
Re: computer noise while recording
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:03 am
by kozikowski
That may be a little overkill. We've been recommending something like this...
http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCA202.aspx
It's pretty plain and simple. Stereo in and Stereo out. The danger of too many features if you spend most of your time managing the features and not managing the music.
Koz
Re: computer noise while recording
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:10 am
by csatennis
I ordered on line today. Thanks for the guidance.