computer noise while recording

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csatennis
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computer noise while recording

Post by csatennis » Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:21 pm

I frequently get a loud background noise while recording. I have uploaded a file of the noise at
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3193181/audacityTest.wav

Any suggestions about what I can do? I am using a dell inspiron 1525 with vista. I am using Audacity 1.2.6

steve
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Re: computer noise while recording

Post by steve » Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:42 pm

Disconnect the power supply and run from batteries.

Also, the recommended version of Audacity for Vista is 1.3.12. I would highly recommend that you upgrade as there are many known problems with the old 1.2.6 version on Vista. http://audacityteam.org/download/
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csatennis
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Re: computer noise while recording

Post by csatennis » Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:17 pm

I've done that and it helped. However, is there any way to cut down on the bass? the bass tracks seem to be coming in too strongly and I am getting bass distortion.

steve
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Re: computer noise while recording

Post by steve » Sun Jan 23, 2011 4:29 pm

What are you recording?
How are you recording it?
What equipment are you using?
How is the equipment connected together?
How are you listening to the recording?
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csatennis
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Re: computer noise while recording

Post by csatennis » Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:10 pm

q. What are you recording?
A. i am recording Music from a cassette

q. How are you recording it?
A. Not sure of the question

Q. What equipment are you using?
A. Cassette player to Laptop (Toshiba) w. Vista

Q. How is the equipment connected together?
A. RCA port to microphone jack

Q. How are you listening to the recording?
A. Headphones connected to laptop

steve
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Re: computer noise while recording

Post by steve » Sun Jan 23, 2011 11:31 pm

csatennis wrote:RCA port to microphone jack
The RCA socket is "line level".
Microphone signals are about 1000x smaller than line level.
Some laptop PCs have dual function sockets that can work as either a microphone input or a stereo line input, but most laptops have only a microphone input. If your laptop has only a microphone input then the signal from the RCA connectors will overload the microphone input causing distortion and bad sound. The only solution to that is to use a different sound card. I use a cheap ($30 US) USB sound card with line level RCA input and output.
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csatennis
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Re: computer noise while recording

Post by csatennis » Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:55 pm

I found something at

http://tinyurl.com/69dyqcd

Can you tell me if it has the features I need?

bob

kozikowski
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Re: computer noise while recording

Post by kozikowski » Tue Jan 25, 2011 12:03 am

That may be a little overkill. We've been recommending something like this...

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCA202.aspx

It's pretty plain and simple. Stereo in and Stereo out. The danger of too many features if you spend most of your time managing the features and not managing the music.

Koz

csatennis
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Re: computer noise while recording

Post by csatennis » Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:10 am

I ordered on line today. Thanks for the guidance.

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