recording start of tape

[private78245]

I'm using Beta 1.3 to transfer cassette to cd. I have no problem with the recording EXCEPT it does not record the first few sentences at the front end of the tape. I've tried several cassettes and it is the same with all of them. The words are on cassette but do not record onto audacity. I've tried using Audacity 1.2 and have the same problem. I've also tried running record on Audacity and then switching on the cassette from "pause", still no good. Has anyone else had this problem? Any advice/help would be appreciated. The rest of the recording is ok after the first few sentences so I'm really frustrated.

[kozikowski]

In Audacity 1.3, you could have Transport > Sound Activated Recording turned on by accident.

You should be able to press record in Audacity and have it record dead silence for the half hour it takes you to go eat lunch and then come back and press play on the tape machine and get that, too, beginning to end. That's normal.

If you record for ten seconds without touching the tape machine, do you get a ten second silent track?

Koz

[private78245]

Hi Koz, I press record without the tape running and i get silence and the continual line. Once i switch the tape on it shows on the recording as noise, then as the tape continues without any sounds after a few seconds the sound starts but doesn't show on the recording for some seconds and then as broken up noise. On play back the first part is missing then broken up noise slowly turning into correct sounds. I've tried five different tapes with the same results. any help would be appreciated. Regards Dave

[steve]

Although the symptoms appear to be different, the cause could be the same - see here: Why do my recordings fade out or sound as if they were made in a tunnel?

[private78245]

Hi, thanks for the help. i have switched to my laptop to record and it's perfect. I can only assume that my sound card wasn't up to the task.
Again many thanks for all your help

[waxcylinder]

I can only assume that my sound card wasn't up to the task.

Or your Audacity Preferences settings may be different on both machines

But glad you've got it working.

WC