Using Audacity with the Grace Tape2USB - Background Noise

[Thisislandearth]

I purchased the Grace Digital Audio Tape2USB device to convert cassette's to digital files on my laptop. I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit Ultimate Home Edition. The software which is Version 1.3.12 Beta for Windows 7 and the device are working fine, but as I record the tapes onto my laptop with the Tape2USB Device by Grace, it is actually picking up background noise, like the cukoo clock, the tv, the phone, me talking, ect How can I prevent this. I can't find any info on the turorials to avoid this. Also when I playback the recording on my laptop it comes out distorted and loud. And lastly during the recording, the tape plays slow, then speeds up. Can anyone take the time to help me with this?

[bgravato]

Are you sure you're recording from the usb device and not the laptop's built-in mic? Check audacity preferences -> devices -> recording.

You should connect the usb interface before opening audacity.

[Trebor]

... it is actually picking up background noise, like the cukoo clock, the tv, the phone, me talking, ect How can I prevent this.

you need to disable the computer's in-built microphone in windows recording devices to avoid it recording from the USB tape device and the computer mic ...

disable microphone in windows 'recording devices'.png (27.61 KiB) Viewed 3549 times

http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel

Also when I playback the recording on my laptop it comes out distorted and loud.

The Grace tape 2USB device apparently has knob(s) you can turn down if the sound is distorted because it's too loud ...
http://www.gracedigitalaudio.com/UG/GDI-T2USB_UG.pdf
http://www.gracedigitalaudio.com/grace- ... -p-45.html

... the recording, the tape plays slow, then speeds up. Can anyone take the time to help me with this?

Something wrong with the cassette or the cassette player, if you fast forward then rewind the entire cassette before you attempt to transfer it to computer it will even out the tension on the cassette tape and may cure the variable speed problem.

[waxcylinder]

Also, thsi tutorial may help you (it's nominally about USB TTs, but most of it will apply to a USB tape deck too): http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/Reco ... turntables

WC