Trying to record from line-in

I'm trying to record an audio tape to my computer.

I have a stereo with a tape deck, with a stereo audio cable running from it to the blue line-in jack in my soundcard (an SB Live!). In Windows' sound properties, I've selected "Line In" as the recording source, but when I start up CoolEdit and try to record the tape as it's playing, nothing is recorded. I've used my own common sense and then followed directions online to set this up properly, so I'm not exactly sure why it's not recording right.

(Everything else works fine-- I usually have the stereo hooked up to the line-out so they act as my computer speakers, and I'm able to record "what u hear" in the sound properties, like off a website or whatnot.)

Any ideas?

m19

 

Have you set your cool edit to line in also. make sure there is nothing muted.I don't use cool edit so I can't give you to much info. on that, but I use Audacity(free) and works great. If you want to use audacity I can walk you through just about anything you want to do with this program.
Chuck

 

Thanks. I'm downloading Audacity now; figured it can't hurt to try.

CoolEdit96 doesn't have a specific line-in setting that I'm aware of; you just set the source and it records-- in this case, my soundcard. Nothing's muted in sound properties, either. Anywho, I've got Audacity installed now and am looking through it. As you offered, can you give me a quick 1-2-3 on how to record line-in with it? If that doesn't work, I'm probably looking at a dead line-in jack or something.

(EDIT-) I set up Audacity's options to my soundcard. I see it's already set to "line-in" for record options. I've got the tape playing but when I hit record, nothing's recorded. But instead of a flatline (ie no audio recorded at all), there's VERY slight tremors in it-- like it might be picking something up, but I can't hear anything when it plays back.

m19

 

Set your audacity to line in,start the tape , there is a drop down box by the mike (top Mid.)click on monitor input with your tape playing you should see the input volume in red . To the left are the play,record,pause,stop.Press record , record for a bit then stop and play to try it out.
post and let me know

 

Nope, didn't work. Nothing's being recorded.

m19

 

You can set the autacity to what u hear and record anything you hear on your pc

 

Can you hear the tape on your pc

 

I've done that before, but it's only worked for internal stuff like sounds on websites or things actually playing on the computer. Since this is an external source (the tape deck) and not actually playing on the computer, I'm not sure that would work. At least, I've tried and it didn't work.

Do you think maybe the line-in jack is bad?

I have the tape deck playing the tape, so I can hear the tape from the deck's speakers... The only way it's connected to my computer is the line-in, so I wouldn't be able to hear it "from" the computer. Am I missing something? (If I have headphones in the line-out I don't hear the tape playing through them, no, if that's what you mean.)

m19

 

If you go to control pan,is there a icon that reads audio HQ.If so click on it then speakers , in the record box (left)make sure this is on line in

 

It's not Audio HQ, but in "Sounds and Audio" the record is set to line-in, yes. This is why I'm confused-- everything is set right so it should be working, but it sure isn't.

m19

 

Are you sure you have the right plug to go into the sound card. I just hooked mine up .

 

My SB Live! has four plugs, of which my understanding is thus:

blue - line-in
red - microphone
green - line-out
black - rear speakers

It's in the blue jack, but I've tried all the others as well just to be thorough, still no recording.

m19

 

Yes it goes to the blue(line in) You should hear it on your pc. OK from your tape deck how are you coming out of it .

 

The basic setup is simple, like this:

Stereo (w/ tape deck)
|
Stereo audio cord (red/white plugs in the stereo, minijack into the computer)
|
SB Live!'s line-in

The end. Because my stereo/tape deck already has speakers, I can hear when the tape's playing through the stereo. If I hook up headphones to the soundcard's line out, I can hear everything normal like mp3s, wav files, etc. but not the tape playing. You're saying I should be able to hear it with headphones/speakers hooked up the line-out?

m19

 

(If I have headphones in the line-out I don't hear the tape playing through them, no, if that's what you mean.)
Are you sure you have the right plug1/8'' going into the blue The jack it self. Make sure it looks like the other ones

 

Yes you should hear the tape coming out of your pc

 

Yeah, pretty sure. I have an older Live!, but they look like this. In the picture, the card's line-in jack is light blue-- mine's regular blue, but they're in the exact same order. It's the right jack, I'm positive.

"You should hear the tape coming out of your PC"

Headphones or speakers plugged into the line-out, basically so sound comes out, is what you're calling "coming out of the PC". Like I said I don't hear a thing out of them from the tape with the line-out enabled. So no, I can't hear it.

I'm starting to thinking it really is just a bad line-in jack. The card's several years old so it's a distinct possibility. Is there any other way to test that the line-in is actually working?

m19

 

Can you hook the head phones to the same output on the stereo that your using to go to the pc?U should hear the tape

 

Can I hook the headphones into the stereo, you mean? Sure I can, and it works fine. But the sound's coming from the stereo then, not the PC-- so I'm hearing that before it even gets to the computer, which makes it moot.

m19

 

Don't get mad but is the volume turned up on lie in and again not muted. they like to mute them selfs when your changing things?

 

I'm not mad, just answering questions as clearly as possible.

Nothing's muted, and all the volume sliders are at max.

m19

 

Didn't want you to get mad about me asking if vol. was turned up.Do you have a setting in SB for speaker like desktop/headphones/4 speakers . if so try setting to desktop. It might be your sound card but I think were just missing something simple

 

It's set to desktop already.

m19

 

Ok if you right click on volume desktop icon is every thing set right there?

 

I'm sorry I'm out of ideas If ya get it going let me know I'm lost
Chuck

 

I sure will, and thank you for trying your best-- I really do appreciate it.

m19

 

Morgan if your trying to record from the tapedeck using the headphone jack to the line in you cant,you will have to connect it to the headphone connector on the soundcard

The symptoms you are describing " instead of a flatline (ie no audio recorded at all), there's VERY slight tremors in it-- like it might be picking something up,"

Is exactly what happens when you connect a headphone output to the line in,if you connect your tape recorder headphone to the microphone input on your soundcard you should be able to record just fine

 

I have the same probs with SB Live card...at home.

SB Live wont work with Sonar, as Sonar doesnt recognise it.

It works with Sound Forge, but only if I go through the Mic input.

I use a different sound card in the studio though, a EMU 4400 or something like that.

SB live is ONLY FOR GAMES and so I found out.

I dont know about Creative Audigy though.

I used cool edit a long time ago with a Darla Sound card...it never worked with the SB Live. :/

 

I'm not using the headphone jack. Trust me, after all this tinkering, I can tell you for sure that I'm not that stupid.

Well there you go... I checked some sites and can get an Audigy for pretty cheap, so I think I'm just going to pick up one of those to replace the aging Live! anyway. If it solves this problem, bonus. If not, at least I'll have a newer soundcard. I've tried everything under the sun-- it should work, but it's not, which leads me to believe the jack or card itself is bad.

m19

 

I apologize I missed the post where you said you connected

But the solution is the same,you can only ever connect a line input into a line output,the two stereo red white plugs are not a line output this is crucial if your stereo hasnt got a line output which is exactly the same size connector as the computer minijack it doesnt have one

Here is a little reading on line input\output

http://homerecording.com/sound_card_basics.html

Note

 

Huh? I read what you wrote and what the page said, but I'm not really sure what you're trying to say. The pages that I've looked up have said that a red/white stereo cable out of a tape deck or stereo, tapering down to a miniplug, then into the input should be recordable. The page you linked to is interesting, but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to be getting out of it. Can you perhaps dumbify whatever point it is you're trying to get across?

m19

 

I'm saying unless your stereo has a line output that is exactly the same as a headphone output you cannot connect it to the line in on the soundcard ie it says line-output right next to a 3.5mm hole

The only way you can connect those jacks to the computer is through the mic input on the souncard,this is hit and miss, and isnt anywhere near the quality of the line standard

If you decide to try this way first use basic sound recorder in windows to eliminate software problems,enter volume controls,options,properties,adjust volume for recording make sure only microphone is selected,turn the volume on your tapedeck all the way down,now test by playing something while recording it with sound recorder gradually turning the volume up

Does that help

 

use the mic input on sound card with one of these http://www.nextag.com/Planet-Waves-Male-1-500803770/prices-html

or find one at radioshack that has rca ends to male 1/8 sterio(to input on sound card) or use rca to mono 1/8 adapter to mic input.

 

So this page is lying? I've seen several sites that have similar solutions, all using a regular old red/white stereo cable into the line-in, nevermind that it seems like other posters in this same thread have had success doing it this way. Not being able to use a red/white stereo cable just doesn't make sense, when I can do every other function using the same setup.

I'm not trying to be difficult, but it just seems... odd... that that would be the case.

m19

 

No I'm wrong,ofcourse the rca line out jacks can be used,I apologise AGAIN,I'm sorry I'm tryna watch boxing

Just wondering have you checked audio recording properties to check that your line in is selected for recording and also your soundcard

Sorry for the earlier posts I hope I havnt frustrated you

 

That's ok, no problem. Yeah, I've checked just about everything under the sun-- I really do think it's a broken card/jack problem: anything else just doesn't make sense.

m19