HELP PLEASE. MD -> PC transfer via Optical Line In????

[greenlight]

can't work it out.

I bought external soundcard. there's also optical in and optical out besides line in/out( which works ok talking about hooking it all up, using audacity)

I'd love to record through optical. what should I do? so if MD has Line In should I plug in cable on my soundcard to Line In as well, or Line Out?

my listed recording devices (windows vista) are: (what should I set as a default?):

micropfone ( from laptop's internal soundcard)
wave out mix ( from laptop's internal soundcard)
line in (from my usb device - external soundcard)
microphone (usb device)
SPDIF interface (usb device)

what should I set as a default?

my listed playback devices are:

speakers (from laptop's internal soundcard)
SPDIF interface (from laptop's internal soundcard)
speakers (from my usb soundcard)
SPDIF interface (from my usb device)

what should I set as a default here?

what in audacity?

playback:

microsoft sound mapper - out
speakers (conexant high audio)
SPDIF interface (conexant high audio)
speakers (usb device)
SPDIF interface (usb device)

recording:

microsoft sound mapper - input
line (usb device)
wave out mix (conexant high audio)
microphone (conexant high audio)
SPDIF interface (usb device)
microphone (usb device)

what to set up in audacity then?

I've try to install drivers I got with it on CD, but computer couldn't install (succesfully) them for some funny reason. when I plugged that external sounblaster into my computer's usb vista installed some drivers straight away. and it's working. but in device manager saying USB audio device and not Creative Sounblaster. I hope it's not that what causing problem. thanks for any advice!

I've posted this thread also into Recording Techniques section, but then realized that this might be bit more visited section. sorry.

[greenlight]

is it actually possible to record from MD (in audacity) with Line In optical on MD? shouldn't MD have Line Out optical?

[waxcylinder]

Greenlight,

Yes, I did this with my MDs. I use an external soundcard Edirol UA-1EX - this connects to the MD's SPDIF output with an optical "cable" via a 3.5mm optical jack that goes into the Edirol. The Edirol conects to the PC via it's USB plug. It worked a treat.

I think you will find that the digital "out" on your soundcard is designed for use in situations wher you want to recod from compter to MD or DAT digitally.

WC