It doesn't record - need help

[waxcylinder]

Probably not Steve - it's running very sweetly and stably right now, but thanks for the thought.

There is a spare XP desktop of similar vintage but more RAM going spare at my wife's office so we may just commission that as the second online home machine and dedicate that smaller one to just Audacity for LP, tape and FM capture via my Edirol soundcard - no internet, nothing.

We can always get Audacity upgrades with sneakernet - and the WAVs I produce will be dealt with similarly on my 8gig USB clip drive.

WC

Update: I've just remembered that the other problem is that Dell have assembled the box with rivets and not screws - so they would have to be drilled out just to take the case off (as I found out last summer when I wanted to gest at the fans to remove dust and cat hair as they were getting noisy - the fans not the cats ...)

WC

[PGA]

...I've just remembered that the other problem is that Dell have assembled the box with rivets and not screws

That's taking DRM to extremes

[davep5]

Thanks Steve,

That gives me a lot to think about. I’ll probably try to upgrade 2 MB if I can do it without spending too much money. I know some people who are pretty knowledgeable about computers who can probably help me concerning the right modules. I could probably have a pretty nice one built for me or like I was thinking, take the easy, safe route and just buy new, but I hate to sink too much money into it, like you say, as technology is moving so fast these days, what’s new today is old tomorrow. I just saw on Wikipedia where Windows 8 is scheduled to be released in late 2012.

For now though, I’m going to try to make due with what I have (this is my third computer…) and I’ll do what you say and not run any other programs while using Audacity.

Oh, something I was wondering about. You said a new computer would probably come with Windows 7 pre-installed. I have the Windows XP Home Edition disc which I bought brand new back in ’02 (I don’t know why), but there’d be no reason to downgrade if I had the newer version would there? I’m thinking it’s probably only good for if I was to build a new computer, that I’d have an operating system to install, but even then, if I was to build, I’d probably want a newer system huh? Not that I’m really thinking about doing that, I was just wondering, that’s all.

Dave

[steve]

I have the Windows XP Home Edition disc which I bought brand new back in ’02 (I don’t know why), but there’d be no reason to downgrade if I had the newer version would there?

I'm probably not the best person to ask. I'm not really a fan of Microsoft products - I much prefer Linux

[PGA]

At lot of Windows users hung on to XP because they didn't like VIsta. When Vista first came out it was buggy compared to the very stable XP software. It also had lots of annoying "nag" screens (for example it would tell you that you needed to give Adminstrator permission to do something, when you said OK it would then throw up another screen asking for the Administrator password, and sometimes would follow that with a "do you really want to do this?" screen. Finally, Vista was a RAM gobbler. Windows 7 has addressed most, if not all, of those hassles. It is stable, it has fewer nags (though some do remain) and its RAM needs are more akin to XP than to Vista. Yes, moving from XP to Vista will be a learning curve -but that's life, isn't it.

[davep5]

Steve,

It really doesn’t matter to me anyway, I’m not really sure when or why I bought it, if in ’02 or when. It’s just been lying around since. I don’t know enough about Windows or Linux to be a fan of one or the other anyhow. I wouldn’t know the difference. I just use Windows because that’s what was in my computer when I bought it. If I bought a computer with something else I’d probably use that. I didn’t really know there were other systems to choose from. Like I’ve been saying, I’m not really knowledgeable about that kind of stuff. Sorry to bother you about it.

Dave

[steve]

and its RAM needs are more akin to XP than to Vista

Hmm, not sure about that.

XP will run quite happily on:
Processor: 500 MB (0.5 GB)
Ram: 512 MB (0.5 GB, though a bit more is better with SP3)
Hard drive: 10 GB

The absolute minimum spec for Windows 7 is:
Processor: 1 GB
Ram: 1 GB
Hard drive: 16 GB
and to get it to runs reasonably happily you should double all of those.

moving from XP to Vista will be a learning curve -but that's life, isn't it.

Which is why I took the opportunity back in the mid 2000's to upgrade to Linux. (this was when XP was reaching the end of its life cycle the first time round - of course the "end of life" for XP was extended, then re-extended, but I've no regrets. XP finally ends on 08/04/2014.)

[davep5]

Steve

I wanted to tell you about a test run I did with Audacity, now that I’m starting to have fun with it. I’m not really sure how we got off the subject of recording and into discussing RAM, and system requirements and into debate between Windows and Linux, not to mention that embarrassing episode between Peter and myself (I was just kidding around in that post to try to lighten a tense situation, I hope I didn’t say anything wrong), and I’m glad you told me about what to watch out for when upgrading my RAM, which I think I will do, like you suggested with two 1 GB RAM modules. I know all that stuff is relevant and I’m just a humble newbie at the Forum here. That’s why I’m continuing with this post, to let you know what happened when I did a test run, if that’s OK. So here goes…

I recorded from my piano and these are the result. Basically the recording went pretty smoothly. It recorded and I was careful to keep the wave within the box which I think I’m supposed to do. I noticed that the size, how fat or thin it is, is adjusted according to the volume control. Is that like going into the red and getting distortion, if your go beyond the limits of the box?

One thing that happened which I was getting concerned about was that I wasn’t getting the sound to come through my speaker, that is until I noticed that I had a faulty wire (I hate when that happens). I had a faulty wire on my tape deck a few days ago which I had to replace. It took me a while to figure out, so I thought, maybe that was the case here also, which it was.

The other thing that happened which I’m concerned about was that it only recorded on the right channel when I ran from my AUX OUT L/L + R and R Jacks in back of my piano to “line in” on my computer, but when I ran from a PHONES Jack on my piano to “line in” on computer it recorded on both channels. The AUX OUT L/L + R and R Jacks is a dual Jack and I tried 3 different combinations, both together as I think it should be, and then each one separately, all with the same results – it only recorded on the right channel of Audacity, so I don’t know. I don’t mind recording from the PHONES Jack, but I think the AUX OUT L/L + R and R Jacks would be the proper connection, which I think is something you mentioned before.

Other than that, I think I’m starting to get the hang of it. I don’t think I would have gotten this far without your help. Thank you. I’m not sure how many times I’ve said it but I really do feel indebted. I am going to read the manuals, tutorials and FAQ’s and I’ll continue to let you know my progress if that’s OK. I don’t want to take up all of your time here so I’ll get going and I’ll talk to you later.

Thanks again
Dave

[steve]

Glad you're starting to have fun with it Dave
Yes, using the Aux connections on the keyboard would be preferable. Are you still getting the problem of only the right channel? If so, how exactly are you connecting the Aux to the computer?

[davep5]

Steve,

Yes, I have tried it several times and am continuing to get the same problem of only the right channel when using the AUX OUT connections on the keyboard, as described in my last post.

Just to let you know, I’ve had the piano since ’95 and I have the manual, or had it as I can’t seem to locate it these past few days, which is odd because I’m really good about keeping manuals for things. I’ll have them for years, as long as I have the equipment.

Fortunately I just recently found the manual online in PDF form and was able to download it and here’s what it says about the out Jacks

In the back of my piano are two out Jacks.

1. AUX OUT R
2. AUX OUT L/L + R

First it speaks of using both Jacks together and says,

“The AUX OUT L/L+R and R jacks deliver the output of the Clavinova for connection to an instrument amplifier, mixing console, PA system, or recording equipment”

And it shows a picture of both being connected to a stereo.

Then it speaks of using only the AUX OUT L/L + R by itself and says,

“If you will be connecting the Clavinova to a monaural sound system, use only the L/L+R jack. When a plug is inserted into the L/L+R jack only, the left and right-channel signals are combined and delivered via the L/L+R jack so you don’t lose any of the Clavinova’s sound.”

I never knew that monaural simply means mono. I’m not really sure what a monaural sound system is that you would connect to.

The chord that I use has a ¼’ pin at one end, like for a guitar which divides into two wires with two smaller RCA jacks at the end, similar to the two wires from a tape deck “out” (or play)

I am also using a two to one connector from the piano to plug into both jacks of the piano at the same time, which I plug the ¼’ pin of the chord into. Then I run it to the “line in” on my computer and connect like I would a tape deck.

So I’m connecting from the AUX OUT L/L+R and R jacks on piano to “line in” on computer.

I’m thinking now though that I am probably using the wrong type of wiring for this and should probably by using a regular instrument cable, the one I use for my guitar – I have a pretty nice “Monster Cable”, as it’s called, to connect from AUX OUT on piano to “line in” on computer, which in that case I’ll have to get a Jack with a 1/4 ” ‘female in’ one side and a 1/8 “ pin on the other to connect to “line in” on my computer. I’ll still use the two to one connector from my piano to hook the cable into both AUX OUT connections on my piano.

Maybe the chord I was using works fine when plugged into the PHONES Jack, but is not the proper one to be used with AUX OUT. I didn’t know that it would make a difference, but if that is the case, and I hope it is, I’ll go pick up the Jack today and try, and then I can let you know the results.

Well, I guess that’s it for now so…

Bye for now,
Dave