Input level

[gurky]

I am trying out using Audacity on my Thinkpad laptop running under Linux.
I plugged a sound source into the correct socket and started Audacity, but
it did not register any sound.

I assume I have to tell it where to look for it - how do I do that? I tried the
little menu on the input bars, but nothing works.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[steve]

running under Linux.

Which Linux distribution?

I plugged a sound source into the correct socket

What sound source and what socket?

I assume I have to tell it where to look for it - how do I do that?

In Audacity, use the recording input setting in the device toolbar.
Depending on your set-up you may need to also configure the sound system.

[gurky]

Thanks all. I will check for the device toolbar. The Linux version is Suse 12.2, and
the sound source is the headphone output of a cassette recorder. There is a small
red socket on the side of the laptop and that's where I plugged the cable in.

[steve]

There is a small red socket on the side of the laptop and that's where I plugged the cable in.

On a lot of laptops the only audio input is a microphone socket.
Microphone inputs are unsuitable for anything other than connecting a microphone because they are too sensitive and usually mono. When you get this working, if the sound is very loud and distorted then you will probably need to get a USB audio interface that has stereo, line level inputs. I use a Behringer UCA 202 because it is cheap with very good sound quality. There are many alternative products.