Audacity Forum

I downloaded both audacity 1.2.6 and audacity 1.3.12 and neither one of them have a "line in" under preferences. I need a line in to record cassette tapes to cd. I just bought a complete cassette to cd kit but it won't work without a line in on audacity. Does anyone know what I have to download to get this "line-in" in the preferences?
Please help me as soon as possible. I'm so frustrated and it may not seem a lot to some people but $60 is a lot for us and especially if I can't get it to work.
Thanks
Naomi

Does the computer have a Line-In? Most Windows Laptops don't. Audacity is something of a slave to the computer that's running it.

Windows Desktop machines generally have a Stereo Line-In...

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/DesktopLine-In.jpg

...and so do Macs...

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/MacLine-In.jpg

But a good many Windows Laptops need a little help in the form of an adapter like the UCA202.

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/UCA202.jpg

Some Windows laptops have a Stereo Line-In (sometimes blue). I think we have one at work that does. Some laptops allow you to switch one connection between mono and stereo. Read your instructions.

You can't use the Mic-In even though the plug fits. It's mono, not stereo, and the sound is usually badly damaged by not using a microphone.

Let us know.

Koz

I don't have a laptop.

I recently bought a program called cassette to cd kit. I tried to use it but when I go to audacity they say go to the preferences and change to "line-in"---well there is no line-in option. So I tried downloading the most recent version of audacity and still no line-in. I need someone to tell me in very simple terms which audacity has the line-in option and what to do if it doesn't. I do not have a laptop I have a desktop pc. The last time I posted everyone kept talking about a laptop.
Thanks for the help
Naomi

onehappyneedle wrote:I recently bought a program called cassette to cd kit.

What's in the kit?

onehappyneedle wrote:when I go to audacity they say go to the preferences and change to "line-in"

Who/where does it say that?

onehappyneedle wrote:I do not have a laptop I have a desktop pc. The last time I posted everyone kept talking about a laptop.

We only know what you tell us.
There are important differences between laptops and full size PCs so it's useful that you have said that it's a full size computer.
It will probably also be useful if you say what version of Windows you are using.

Here is a website link for the kit: http://www.cassettetocdkit.com/

Naomi, from looking at that website for your kit I'm struggling to understand why you are mithering with a line-in. The connection graphic shows that you go from cassette => splitter => Audio Cable => Audio Captuer Box => USB lead => USB port on computer

So you should be getting digital audio into your computer via the USB (not analog via the line in)

WC

I apologize I am a novice when it comes to anything like this. I have a compaq presario pc. Windows 7 Now let me start again. I ordered a kit called cassette to cd kit. It includes small converter box with a cord that connects to the computer (USB cord) Then on the opposite side it has a line-in with a cord that plugs into it and then connects to a small tape recorder that came with it. It also has earphones that connect. You can see it at cassettetocdkit.com. It also includes a tutorial cd that I have watched several times and a driver cd for the box. I connected the cords correctly, downloaded the driver for the box. It records into the program audacity which I already had on my computer. But the tutorial says to go to preferences and change the options from microsoft sound mapper to line-in. Well there is no option for line-in so when I go to record it doesn't have sound so I don't get anything recorded from the cassette to put on cd. I hope this helps. I can't believe a company that sells things and then doesn't have a way to talk to them to get any kind of help. Audacity and this new thing are both that way. I have to have simple step by step instructions because I am not a computer whiz.
Please forgive me for being so long winded and if you can help I would really appreciate it.
Thank you
Naomi

If you're using the usb box then you should select the usb device in audacity -> preferences -> devices -> recording

Also, if you're on Windows 7 you should install audacity 1.3.12 and not 1.2.6, like you said on the other thread.

No need to stress, just take a deep breath and relax

This tutorial from the 1.3 manual should help you: http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/Reco ... turntables

Although it says "turntables" the tutorial also applies to recording from tape devices too.

WC

Thank you so much for all your help. I will try again. I will take a deep breath.
Naomi