No Sound Input Detected...

[adom23]

I am playing sound into my PC from a standard phono mixer output (through a phono to stereo mini plug cable) into the line-in socket on my PC and the software is not detecting any input at all when I select 'start monitoring' no matter what the volume level selected on the mixer. Why?

I have followed the instructions and selected the 'line-in' option on Audacity and set it to stereo (and mono) without success. The phono to mini plug cable works perfectly for any other task and both output channels I have used on the mixer are also in perfect working order.

Can someone suggest what the problem/solution is?

[kozikowski]

I am playing sound into my PC from a standard phono mixer output (through a phono to stereo mini plug cable) into the line-in socket on my PC and the software is not detecting any input at all when I select 'start monitoring' no matter what the volume level selected on the mixer.

You don't go into specifics and that's dangerous with turntable systems. Which turntable and/or mixer have you got -- specific model numbers are good.

What kind of computer do you have? Large deskside computers and Macs tend to have high level Stereo Line-In and many if not most Windows Laptops don't. The illustration is of a "normal" Windows laptop PC with a Mic-In connection which doesn't cross well with high level stereo signals.

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/ ... pSound.jpg

Audacity is a complete slave to what the computer is doing. You need to select your proper audio input and connections in the Windows Control Panel before you run Audacity.

Koz

[adom23]

I was using a CDJ 1000 MKIII with a Gemini PS-626i mixer. There are 3 output channels on the mixer and I tried all of them. After that didn't work I also hooked the phono output of my home stereo into the line-in socket of my PCto see if that might show an input. It did not. My PC is an MSI GX600 laptop. Do you think the problem lies here?

Prior to opening the software I did indeed select the correct audio input and connections in the sound part of my windows control panel.

I seem to have done all the fairly obvious stuff. Am I missing something?

[kozikowski]

OK. We progress.

The mixer Master Output would be the show going to the rock-crusher amplifiers driving the weapon's grade speakers in the club. The Recorder Output is usually the "dry" show missing the output equalizer and sometimes the master fader. Both should be active if you have a show running on the board and can hear the show in your headphones.

It's possible on a disco mixer to run the headphones in "preview" which lets you cue up the next song while the current one is playing. Make sure your headphones are listening to The Show or Master Output. You wouldn't be the first person happily listening to the music and there's no show going out to the dance floor.

The laptop instructions are a pain. I was not able to find a good clear set of instructions that didn't involve giving my email address to somebody. Do you have the instructions on a CD that came with the computer?

There is one intermediate test you can do. Start Audacity recording, unplug the sound cables from the mixer and touch the RCA Connector pins one after the other like this...

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

We are intentionally creating buzz and hum as a test. Does one of the two Audacity sound channels wake up and bounce?

Koz

[adom23]

Thanks for coming back to me again Koz.

I've tried the 'tap test' on the phono connector pins already - no joy. I've been a professional DJ for more than a decade and I'm familiar with my home set up so I think we can most likely rule out problems with the mixer and cabling. I've tried a 2nd system I have with no effect either. I'm certain there is a signal being sent into the line-in socket on my PC. The problem must be with the PC hardware, drivers or with the software itself.

I didn't get a printed intruction manual or CD when I bought the PC nor does there appear to be an online resource I can access. Only the more recent MSI PCs carry instructions on the MSI site.

Is there a way we can localise the problem in the absence of this info?

[steve]

Which version of Windows?

[adom23]

Vista

[adom23]

Can anyone else add anything further?

[steve]

It is common on Vista for on-board sound cards to have their own control panel (near the Time/Date). If yours does, then try using the sound card control panel to set the default recording input, then restart Audacity and in "Edit menu > Preferences > Devices" set the record input to the line-in of your sound card.