Page 1 of 3

I cannot record? What am i doing wrong?

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 10:07 am
by ShuriiX
Okay, i have an issue; this is my recording setup:
Guitar > Amp > Record out > Line in (on my computer)

Line-in gets recognized by Audacity, however, when i hit record and attempt to play no sound comes though?

I've been suggested other things, so i'll knock out a few answers:

- Yes, i have tried both microphone ports and the line-in.
- I have tried all settings within audacity mixed/rearranged together
- I've turned my volume right up
- I've checked both amp chords

What am i doing wrong?

My main question is: what am i doing wrong?
My secondary question is: do i need a certain sound card in my computer in order to record audio through audacity?

If anyone can help, it would be extremely helpful and make my day great.

On a side note; once i gave up attempting to record because it wasn't working i put my guitar in the fan accidentally. Dammit.

Re: I cannot record? What am i doing wrong?

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 12:42 pm
by kozikowski
You need to not put your guitar in the fan.

You need to select Line-In in the Windows Control Panels and then Audacity.

Koz

Re: I cannot record? What am i doing wrong?

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 10:32 pm
by ShuriiX
kozikowski wrote:You need to not put your guitar in the fan.

You need to select Line-In in the Windows Control Panels and then Audacity.

Koz
In what section of the control panel should i see this?

Devices?

Re: I cannot record? What am i doing wrong?

Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2011 10:35 pm
by ShuriiX
kozikowski wrote:You need to not put your guitar in the fan.

You need to select Line-In in the Windows Control Panels and then Audacity.

Koz
Where abouts would i find line-in in control panel? :)

Re: I cannot record? What am i doing wrong?

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 1:19 am
by Gale Andrews
ShuriiX wrote:Where abouts would i find line-in in control panel? :)
It depends what version of Windows you are on.

It would have saved time if you had posted to the Windows board for the version of Audacity that you have. Generally you should only need to go into the Windows Control Panel on Vista and 7 because those versions of Windows normally hide line-in until you go to the "Recording" tab of "Sound" and enable it.

If Audacity can already "see" line-in and selecting it doesn't record, you should try "selecting" line-in in the XP Control Panel or making it "default" in the Vista/7 Control Panel.

See http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... ssues#xpcp if you are on XP or earlier and http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... es#vistacp if you are on Vista or 7.

If you find you can record but can't hear what you are recording, try unmuting line-in on the playback side of the Windows Control Panel.




Gale

Re: I cannot record? What am i doing wrong?

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:40 am
by ShuriiX
Would it be possible for me to send a youtube link of a video so it's easier to understand?

I've tried as many things as i can think of, and i tried on two separate computers, one with windows 7 and the other with XP, doing the steps provided in your link.

Re: I cannot record? What am i doing wrong?

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 7:14 pm
by Gale Andrews
ShuriiX wrote:Would it be possible for me to send a youtube link of a video so it's easier to understand?

I've tried as many things as i can think of, and i tried on two separate computers, one with windows 7 and the other with XP, doing the steps provided in your link.
Which version of Audacity do you have? You can check at Help > About Audacity. I would suggest you use 1.3.13 for both XP and 7 if you are not already using it. You can download 1.3.13 by clicking this link:
http://audacity.googlecode.com/files/au ... 1.3.13.exe

I think it would be a good idea to either make some screen prints of Audacity and Windows (ALT + PrtScr) or make a YouTube video if that is easier for you.

It would be useful to see:
  • an example of the blue waveform you get when you try to record from line-in (are you just getting silence irrespective of the input level?)
  • An image of the listed devices when you click the output device and input device dropdowns in Device Toolbar
  • An image of the Recording sections of "Sound" and "Sounds and Audio Devices" in 7 and XP respectively.
Also is there any other input you can plug into line-in to verify it - like a boom box or a tape deck?


Gale

Re: I cannot record? What am i doing wrong?

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 1:47 pm
by ShuriiX
Gale Andrews wrote:
ShuriiX wrote:Would it be possible for me to send a youtube link of a video so it's easier to understand?

I've tried as many things as i can think of, and i tried on two separate computers, one with windows 7 and the other with XP, doing the steps provided in your link.
Which version of Audacity do you have? You can check at Help > About Audacity. I would suggest you use 1.3.13 for both XP and 7 if you are not already using it. You can download 1.3.13 by clicking this link:
http://audacity.googlecode.com/files/au ... 1.3.13.exe

I think it would be a good idea to either make some screen prints of Audacity and Windows (ALT + PrtScr) or make a YouTube video if that is easier for you.

It would be useful to see:
  • an example of the blue waveform you get when you try to record from line-in (are you just getting silence irrespective of the input level?)
  • An image of the listed devices when you click the output device and input device dropdowns in Device Toolbar
  • An image of the Recording sections of "Sound" and "Sounds and Audio Devices" in 7 and XP respectively.
Also is there any other input you can plug into line-in to verify it - like a boom box or a tape deck?


Gale
I get no waveform at all; that's the issue i seem to be having unfortunately...
When plugged into the microphone port i get static waveform but nothing from my guitar...

I don't have a boombox or a tapedeck as it turns out, but i'm 100% certain both cables that i'm using work fine, is there anything else i could test line-in on? Because i'm not directly blaming audacity for not working, because in the control panel on the test for sound input i get no response either, i've tested 2 of my 1/4 to 1/8 adapters so it seems unlikely the fault is coming from either of those. The headphone/line out port also works on my amp.

It's leaving my baffled, i will attempt to provide you with a video tomorrow, showing how little of a response i get when attempting to record.

Re: I cannot record? What am i doing wrong?

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 3:34 pm
by Gale Andrews
ShuriiX wrote:Is there anything else i could test line-in on?
You could try running a 1/8 inch stereo to 1/8 inch stereo cable from audio out on the computer (usually green) to line-in.


Gale

Re: I cannot record? What am i doing wrong?

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 3:40 pm
by kozikowski
I know somebody whose "Record Out" doesn't work. You can test the cables by touching them. Set Audacity to recording and touch the hot end of one of your cables instead of plugging it into the amp -- like this, but your cables may be different.

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

You are intentionally creating buzz and hum with the idea of troubleshooting.

If that fails, the cable may be bad.

Koz