Audacity Forum

Hi. I purchased a Hype Tape-to-Mp3 Portable player and Converter. I followed the instructions for connecting the device to my computer and downloaded the software. But when I put in a tape and press record in Audacity and play on the tape player, I can see the tape playing, but there's nothing actually being recorded. I know there is music on the tape b/c I've tested it in another tape deck. I selected "software playthrough" in the preferences menu, but it appears more like the music is not making it to the computer. PLEASE HELP. I am not a very tech-savvy person, but I thought this would be simpler. Could I have possibly received a faulty device?

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
MHG

How do you connect the tape recorder to the computer? USB? You have to select the USB device as the recording device in Audacity Preferences -> Devices.

You should connect it to the computer and turn it on before running audacity, so that it is detected by audacity. We can't tell you the exact name that will show in the drop down list in Preferences -> Devices but it should have the word "USB" in it.

You don't need to enable software playthrough to record, only if you want to listen to it while it is recording.

I am having the same problem. I selected the correct device but still am not recording.

smedm1 wrote:I selected the correct device ....

and that was?

Also the same problem. Using Audacity 1.3.13 beta.

Hype connected, hearing music in its headphones output, so music present and playing correctly.

Output device: the correct one. Tested in control panel and playing from other sources. Curiously, now I have a "USB PnP" speakers device that's not working.

Input device: USB PnP Audio device (the only one that has "USB" in its name, and the rest of them are previously existing devices and prefectly identified (Terratec sound card and motherboard-integrated sound card). Anyway, I've tested all and every of them and I can't hear music in the PC.

Software playthrough activated.

Any other idea / suggestion?

Thanks.

Hi pepemanolo1809,
please try to avoid taking shortcuts in your description as the Devil is in the detail.
You have selected the one and only USB option as the Recording device in "Edit menu > Preferences > Devices"?
When you try to record, do you see a wiggly blue waveform appear and see the recording meter moving with the sound?

Ok, steve, sorry.

You can tell me stupid, but it's sooooooooo simple: I can't hear nothing until I start a recording. Then and only then you can hear the input. You can play the Hype, adjust every option, but if you do'nt press "Record", nothing is heard.

I was told that the "Play through software" option was just for this: to hear sound when not recording.

Thanks anyway for the interest in reading my post and problem, and hope my comment help others.

What you need to do is to turn monitoring "on". Do this by clicking once in the input meter (the one with the Mic icon) - clickinh there again will turn monitoring off.

There is a long-standing feature request to make monitoring either always-on, or more obvious as to where to find it along with a status indicator - don't hold you breath ...

WC

pepemanolo1809 wrote: I can't hear nothing until I start a recording. Then and only then you can hear the input. You can play the Hype, adjust every option, but if you do'nt press "Record", nothing is heard.

Then it's not the same problem as the other users on this thread...

pepemanolo1809 wrote:I was told that the "Play through software" option was just for this: to hear sound when not recording.

It's actually the other way... Software playthrough will let you hear what is being recorded while it is being recorded...

Usually what others complain about is that they can listen to what's coming from the external player, before recording and that they stop listening when they start recording. Enabling software playthrough solves that problem. In your case it's the opposite.

If you close audacity and start the player, can you hear anything? Or is it just when you start audacity that you stop hearing what's coming from the player?

You didn't tell us which windows version you have... vista? 7? xp?

bgravato wrote:If you close audacity and start the player, can you hear anything? Or is it just when you start audacity that you stop hearing what's coming from the player?

No, I can't hear anything without Audacity. Not my priority because I only bought the Hype to convert my old original cassettes (most of them are folk and there are no CD versions) into MP3, but now you mention it...

bgravato wrote:You didn't tell us which windows version you have... vista? 7? xp?

Sorry, I forgot to do it.
I'm working with this environment: Custom-made PC (no brand), Quad-core AMD Phenom, 8GB RAM, Windows 7 x64. Terratec Aureon 5.1 soundcard inactive (no drivers for Win7 x64), C-Media CM6501 like motherboard built-in 5.1 soundcard active.

waxcylinder wrote:What you need to do is to turn monitoring "on". Do this by clicking once in the input meter (the one with the Mic icon) - clickinh there again will turn monitoring off.

This solved the problem. Really it's not obvious for beginners as me.

Now all is working under Audacity, only a curiosity about why the Hype and the system aren't "talking" to hear sound outside Audacity (bgravato's first question).

Thanks, guys, for your help.