Unsuccessful copying of tapes

[Fenella]

Hello everyone

I'm trying to copy my tapes to CD and finding that the sound quality I'm achieving is so bad as to be unlistenable.

I'm a total novice at this to the extent that whilst reading the tutorials, most of the words made no sense to me, so I'm aware that there's probably something I'm doing wrong!

Basically I've attached the headphone socket of my ageing stereo (which I think has a faulty amp) to the microphone socket of my laptop, with a guitar lead. I'm not sure this is correct, but there weren't any other sockets.

The results are really distorted, with slight improvement on adjusting the recording volume on Audacity, although I can't seem to get it low enough to prevent the input level meter from shooting all the way across to the right.

Apologies for any irritation caused by my total lack of competence. But I would love to save my tape collection before it all turns to dust!

[billw58]

Basically I've attached the headphone socket of my ageing stereo (which I think has a faulty amp) to the microphone socket of my laptop, with a guitar lead.

That's the problem. The microphone input expects the tiny signal that a microphone generates. The headphone output on your stereo has a huge signal by comparison.

If your laptop does not have a line input you'll need to invest in an external USB audio interface such as the Behringer UCA-202.

-- Bill

[Fenella]

You are marvellous,thankyou. Is there anything else I need to know or is it as simple as buying one,plugging it in and off I go?

[billw58]

Is there anything else I need to know or is it as simple as buying one,plugging it in and off I go?

Depends on whether your laptop is "plug and play" or "plug and pray". I'm not a Windows guy so I don't know the ins and outs of getting various USB audio adapters to work on Windows, but I hear the UCA-202 is pretty straightforward. Obviously you'll need an adapter cable to go from the headphone out on your amp to the inputs of whatever device you buy.

By the way, does your stereo amp not have "Tape Out" jacks?

-- Bill

[Fenella]

Not that I could find - the only hole of any description is the headphone one. It's a very very old stereo,if that's relevant at all.