Recording from tape to computer

shadowdragon

here is the link and instructions for the MP3 encoder

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&item=lame-mp3

Think thats all you need, once you have the recording in audacity, and you have finished cleaning it up ect, choose file -> Export as MP3 and it should convert it to a mp3 file.

If you want to play the CD in a non MP3 enabled CD player some instructions are here

http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=How_to_burn_CDs

derrick

Still getting same message as my reply post #10

shadowdragon

hmmm, well i have just ripped a song from a Cd in .WAV format so I had something to test,

I loaded it into audacity with File -> Open...
Then did File->Export as MP3 (this asked for the LAME DLL which I had unzipped into "My Documents\Lame" folder, which I navigated to and selected it and hit OK)
The mp3 exported to the save location no problems and plays in Windows Media Player and Winamp.

I can only imagine that there are codecs missing from Windows Media player or it hasnt converted correctly.

Also make sure you have the volume on the MIC turned up so that audacity can hear the input. Also theres a drop down box in the top right have you set that to microphone?

derrick

That drop down box,(with the mic symbol), does not give a mic setting only; -
Vertical Stereo, Linear, Monitor Input and Disable.

It may be different to rip using a CD, but I need to get it from a tape recorder onto the computer in the first place.

I maybe having a problem with the zipped LAME DLL, but am sure I am doing it right.

derrick

I also never get those red and green bars as shown on the audacity page

shadowdragon

sorry think its my fault not explaining correctly.

You need to do -

Project ->new audio track, then hitting the record button in audacity and pressing play on the tape deck

Like you said earlier its different.

Again apologies.

derrick

shadowdragon wrote: »

sorry think its my fault not explaining correctly.

You need to do -

Project ->new audio track, then hitting the record button in audacity and pressing play on the tape deck

Like you said earlier its different.

Again apologies.

That may make a difference, however when I do start with this new info, I get a pop up window; -

Audacity Error
Can’t open file ‘C:/Documents and settings/user/Desktop/ICO recording_data/b00047.au (error 3: the system cannot find the path selected.)


The "ICO recording" is what I named the file.

vyseyboy

I suspect the OP is saving the file in audacity's native .aup format. This file won't play in windows media player etc.

Once you have the sound recorded, you need to file > export, then select .wav as the file type.

The line-in on the sound card is usually blue-coloured (if they are colour coded,) and will be right next to the mic input. There's usually only three jacks on a basic sound card. Output to speakers (green,) Line-in (blue) and mic in (pink).

To get the coloured bars for monitoring the levels, you might need to click on the downward pointing arrow beneath where the bar should be (next to the little pic of a microphone) and select "enable meter"

That's a wierd bunch of inputs you're getting in the drop down box for recording, usually they're a lot more descriptive and intuitive, however, if all else fails, you can experiment until you get a successful recording. (You'll normally be able to "see" the waveform as it's being recorded, lots of blue squiggles.)

vyseyboy

Just to re-iterate... it's not important whether you "save" the project, using file>save (unless you plan to do editing work on it later) because this uses audacity's nativce format .aup files and a folder containing raw data.

You just need to export it to wav once you're happy with it.

derrick

Now I seem to be playing the bit I recorded, in Windows media Player, but cannot hear any sound?