Real beginner stuff

[jaja714]

I decided to download Audacity to my laptop and simply hit record while music played from my stereo. I did not change any of the default "out of the box" settings. When I listened to the recording, the output was unbelievably distorted. Each time I tried the test again, I lowered the mic volume and I was never able to get rid of the distortion.

Each recording basically had no distortion for 2 or 3 seconds and then blammo ... everything went underwater.

[kozikowski]

<<<hit record while music played from my stereo. >>>

That's not all you did, right? You plugged your music system into the Mic-In of your laptop. Did I hit it?

You can't do that. The two sound systems aren't compatible with each other. If you have no Stereo Line-In connection on your computer, you may need a bit more hardware. You can invest in a UCA-202 and plug your music system into that. That does work.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... gwodhSmcPw

Koz

[jaja714]

I did nothing you didn't see in my original description. No hidden steps, cables, connections, or anything. I used the on-board mic from the laptop. If I need additional hardware (which would certainly come with it's own software), why would I need this software?

Please ... no replies recommending solutions more expensive than $100. Obviously, I know I can spend hundreds on sounds cards and mics and other stuff but I'm looking for a simple straightforward piece of software that can get a "bare-bones" recording using what I already have.

[steve]

I've a strong hunch about this problem, but could we fill in a couple of gaps:

and simply hit record while music played from my stereo.

You mean like a CD/radio sound system? What sort exactly?
How was this connected to your computer?

My guess > You connected either a "Line out" or "headphone out" from your "stereo system" to the "microphone" input of your laptop.
Unfortunately, microphone inputs are about 1000 x more sensitive that "line" level, and so are very likely to overload real bad.

Koz mentioned a UCA-202 USB sound card. I have one of these, and it's brilliant, but unfortunately not suitable for a true line level input. If you connect the "Aux" or "Line" output from a CD/Tape player directly to the UCA 202 and are not able to adjust the output level from the CD/Tape player, then the input to the UCA 202 is likely to distort (not as badly as a laptop mic input, but still bad enough). I use my UCA 202 with a mixing desk that has an adjustable output level and I've also used it with a mini-disk player that has an adjustable output level. If the output level can be adjusted so as to keep the signal level in a usable range, then these UCA 202's are really good value for money at around $30 and the recording quality is surprisingly good.

[waxcylinder]

I use the Edirol UA-1EX which does a similar excellent job to the UCA 202 - but it does have an a gain control to manage the signal level - that's the key reason that I chose the Edirol over the UCA 202. The downside is that the Edirol is more expensive. The UA-1EX has been superseded by the manufacturer now (but some are still available). See some details of soundcards in this sticky thread: http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=9477

WC

[kozikowski]

<<<Each recording basically had no distortion for 2 or 3 seconds and then blammo ... everything went underwater.>>>

If you were using the built-in microphone on your laptop, you fell into the audio conferencing processing that Windows has. That's almost always the problem when the recording goes well for the first few seconds and then falls apart. You should be able to go into the Windows Control Panels and turn that off.

http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 79&start=0

Koz

[jaja714]

Dude, that was it. Not only should this be a sticky but it should be built into the next release of Audacity.

When Audacity starts and you're using the on-board mic, a dialogue should pop up saying "WARNING mic enhancements are enabled. Do you want to disable them whenever you run Audacity?" You can click on "Yes" or "No" or "Cancel" and the setting should be remembered. There should also be a check box at the bottom of the dialogue saying "Don't ask me this next time".

[steve]

When Audacity starts and you're using the on-board mic, a dialogue should pop up saying "WARNING mic enhancements are enabled. Do you want to disable them whenever you run Audacity?" You can click on "Yes" or "No" or "Cancel" and the setting should be remembered. There should also be a check box at the bottom of the dialogue saying "Don't ask me this next time".

That would be so nice - it would save so many users so much frustration, not to mention the time it would save the "helpers" on the forum. Unfortunately it can't be done in Audacity because the these settings are internal to the sound card and not reported to other applications. Probably the closest that would be possible would be a message saying "WARNING, you are using a computer. Do you want to give up now or spend the next 4 hours wrestling with your sound card settings?"

[jaja714]

Steve ... hilarious ... still laughing!

[kozikowski]

<<<"WARNING, you are using a computer.>>>

"WARNING, you are using a Windows Computer."

I don't recall seeing problems like that on the other two forums...

Koz