Feedback - USB device cannot play or record

Hi there. Purchased a USB cassette player to transfer some items to mp3. In setting up, downloaded Audacity and lame- per directions. Every time I try to press record on the Audacity app, I hear eerie alien like reverberating loud noise and the volume levels on output. I have read through many sections in audacity, tried following along on youtube and frankly I am at a loss.

Using 10.13.6 High Sierra
MacBook Pro (just purchased last week, was not previously using audacity on old MacBook Pro)

Audacity 2.2.2

Thank you in advance.

Those reverberating sounds suggest that you’re recording from the built-in microphone, not the cassette.

Please read this page and tell us if it helps. Note that your USB cassette may show up as “USB PnP Device” or similar.

– Bill