SBLive/ALSA /Line In recording issue

[rueben_sano]

Hi

I posted this on the stable version forum by mistake so I have create a copy in the proper forum.

I am using PCLinux2007 2gig AMD 2800+ nvideo5200 dual monitor. EIDE hard rives. SBLive card AlSA drivers.
Audacity 1.3.3 beta
Portaudio V19
I have an old Yamaha MT120S cassette deck that i wish to use to record some cassettes to a hard drive.
the cable from the Yamaha goes form the stereo out to the line in on the SBLive card
I have turned off the KDE system sounds
based on something i believe i saw in the wiki i set the sampling rate to 48k. didnt change the distortion issue

I am unable to to get a clean recording of these tapes. there is general distortion on all peaks, often but not always clicks appear. none of this on the original tapes.

no matter what controls i 'fiddle' with the sound is distorted.

I have the record and playback device set to ALSA:SB Live (unknown):ADC Capture/Standard PCM Playback (hw:0/0)

I should say that last June using the same tapes and cassette deck and an 800mhz SUSE 10.2 system I was able to get very clean recordings with Audacity.But time marches on <grin> and I upgraded and now am unable to do so again.

I have a number of question
the mixer panel does not allow me to select an input when i use the above device. I assume that there is none to select . but if i hange the device to ALSA:default i can select various input devices in the mixer panel including line input.

the input control does let me adjust the levels l . ie if i put it all the way down no recording takes place although i can still hear the playback
when the input level is all the way down.
(I am not using software playback so this must be a function of the hardware)

my focus is on the proper use of the mixer control and how to interpret the recording meter.
as i stated i can turn the input all the way down and no recording occurs
if i turn it up just a little i see the meter activate the bars are red and redder there is a red line which a generally to the right of the the end of the bars there is a blue line which remains at about 3/4 of the way across the recording indicator. it never moves
the recording level will go tot he blue bar and stop.

my first question is how do i properly adjust the recording level?
as i stated no matter how i manipulate the recording input level the recording is distorted.
turning down the master on the cassette deck does not change this behavior.

If you need more information i would be happy to provide it.

Thank you