Recording Problems from Audio tape to Audacity

[Baaul]

Just Installed ver. 1.3.13(beta) in PC , OS- Windows XP. I read all instructions to record audio from a tape (using walkman) and configured Audacity as instructed. Audacity is set to stereo/ soundcard: built in (realtek).A jack has been used to connect from (Headphone socket of) walkman to PC (linein socket) But I cant hear any sound. So nothing can be recorded. How can I attend the problem ?

[steve]

With the tape playing and Audacity "recording", is there any movement on the (red) recording meter?
Does a new track appear in Audacity?
Do you see a squiggly blue line appear in that track, or a horizontal flat blue line?
Are you sure the volume is turned up on the Walkman?
In the "Transport" menu, is "Software Playthrough" enabled?

[Baaul]

I changed the walkman and used a cassette player. Now its working but the recording quality is poor, noisy and low. How can I overcome ?

[waxcylinder]

Have you cleaned your tape heads and the transport mechanism (the pinch roller and capstan. It may help to de-Gauss (de-magnetize) your heads if you have a tool for doing that.

Check the cables that you are using to connect the tapedeck to the computer and clean the plugs - use a little alcohol (Vodka is good for this) and wipe dry with paper towel.

When I did my tape transfers I had my cassette deck professionally serviced before I worked on the transcriptions - it cost a bit, but I considered it money well spent.

WC

[Baaul]

Thank you for clear suggestion.
It helped a lot.

[Miriam]

I have the same problem (from a tape recorded integrated in a box/cd set) Also have the new, beta, version of audacity.

To answer these questions:

With the tape playing and Audacity "recording", is there any movement on the (red) recording meter?
Yes
Does a new track appear in Audacity?
Eh... every time I click the record button it makes a audiotrack.
Do you see a squiggly blue line appear in that track, or a horizontal flat blue line?
Horizontal blue flat line.
Are you sure the volume is turned up on the Walkman?
Yes
In the "Transport" menu, is "Software Playthrough" enabled?
I tried both ways. No change.

Thanks a lot... I honestly read the relevant manuals that I could find, and then I searched the forum for answers and this topic came up and there was sadly no answer.

[steve]

Hi Miriam, we're going to have to go through more questions to build up a picture of why this isn't working for you.
How is your Walkman attached to the computer?
Have you been able to record anything else with Audacity?
Open Audacity and go to "Edit menu > Preferences > Devices", what options are selected?

After attempting to record from the Walkman, apply the "Amplify" effect (Effect menu) with the default settings. What do you see, and if you then play the recorded track, what do you hear?

Do you know what sort of sound card you have?
Which version of Windows are you using?

[Miriam]

How is your Walkman attached to the computer?

It's not a walkman, but a cd/tape/radioplayer witt sound boxes. It's attached with a stereo miniplug. It's a plug I usually use to Export music from my computer to the radio/boxset, in order to play music. I just plugged it in the imput hole of the pc. (Sorry not a native speaker, I don't always know the right words).

Have you been able to record anything else with Audacity?
No. But so far I've only tried the cd player of the same device.

Open Audacity and go to "Edit menu > Preferences > Devices", what options are selected?

The right line in (same as windows sound menu) is clicked, stereo.

After attempting to record from the Walkman, apply the "Amplify" effect (Effect menu) with the default settings. What do you see, and if you then play the recorded track, what do you hear?

I don't see an option to amplify.

Do you know what sort of sound card you have?

No... Sadly can't find the details.

Which version of Windows are you using?

Windows Vista.

Ps. I think by now that maybe it's not getting sound actually. I'll upload a picture of the windows screen. I think it's relevant because it says it's connected and working. But also, it automatically mutes unless I click otherwise. If I then close the 'sound' propertie window, it mutes again. I have no options to 'apply'. So ya that might be relevant? Thanks a lot for your help.

[steve]

It's a plug I usually use to Export music from my computer to the radio/boxset, in order to play music. I just plugged it in the imput hole of the pc.

Is your computer a laptop, netbook or full size computer?
How many "holes" are there on the computer that the plug will fit?
Do the "holes" (input sockets) have any markings on them, or are they colour coded? (If it's a laptop computer, the markings may be very faint so you will need to look carefully).

Which socket (hole) is the lead connected to on the cd/tape/radioplayer?

[Miriam]

It's a full size computer with 6 sockets. (well it's actually one of the 'small' computers, but it has all fullsize functions as far as I know. It's an acer aspire L3600). I've usually got the plug in the mint green socket to play music, now in the blue one. It also has black pink orange and grey sockets. They also have markings but those I can optimistically describe as vague.