Stereo audio recording

Nisseviking · Joined: Aug 04, 2004 Posts: 47

Hi all

I have a Dell laptop Inspiron 1100 running Win XP Home. The Sound recording device is listed as "Sigma Tel Audio".
I want to use this PC to transfer some tapes to MP3 format. I already have the proper software for this ( mp3mymp3 2.0 it's great and it's FREE).
The idea is to connect the tape recorder output to the MIC jack of the PC, and use the recording device to capture the audio.
All works fine although with one major snag: My Sigma Tel Audio only records in mono!
The balance slider for the MIC input is greyed out and won't move, the ones for "Stereo Mix" and "CD Audio" are working OK.

How do I fix this to record in stereo?
Is it possible to install another sound device in a laptop? Suggestion?
Is this a hardware issue with the PC itself?
Has anyone an idea for a workaround?

Appreciate any input

Nisse

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 924

You should be able to answer this one yourself IF you know anything about audio.
Remember, the MIC is mono so your recording will be to. You need a LINE (or some such) input to do stereo.

pasquanel · Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 506 Location: Maine

Your sound card should have a "line in", "line out" and "mic" jack.
Use the line in to record in stereo.

Works for me Wink

davolente · Joined: Oct 04, 2003 Posts: 304 Location: Kent, UK

I wouldn't attempt to feed a line-level signal into the mic input. You will probably get horrendous distortion a well as getting a mono recording, as per. previous post from Baby_Tux. The line input is the correct socket to use. I presume this is a tape or cassette deck you're using, in which case, it should have a line output. Failing that, a headphone output can be used with care, but be careful the signal level doesn't overload the PC input and cause distortion. If it has a built-in amplifier, don't use the loudspeaker outputs. They will be totally mismatched, both in level and impedance.
As regards the recording software, which I'm not familiar with, there may be something in the options that needs altering. Assuming you're actually using the correct input, when you say "mono", do you mean it's just recording one channel only or is it doing both channels but not in stereo? You shouldn't need to install a different sound device. Sounds like a software problem. In all honesty, I wouldn't have thought that My mp3 is really the thing to use, I would be inclined to abandon that and install Audacity.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
I've used it extensively for vinyl transfer and cleaning up elderly recordings. It gives you tons of options for any corrections you might need. Make certain that the Edit -Preferences-Audio I/O are set for your sound device and also for 2-channel stereo, as I seem to remember that when I first installed it, I only had one channel working and the preference was set wrongly to single-channel mono from scratch. Apart from that, it can do all sorts of magical things to clean up problematic recordings and make them sound better.

Nisseviking · Joined: Aug 04, 2004 Posts: 47

Thank you all for taking an interest in my problem.

Baby_Tux and Pasquanel:
This is a laptop and it doesn't have a separate sound card nor does it have a "line in" input. The only choices I have in the sound recording window are:
Stereo Mix, CD Audio and Microphone.

I'm fully aware that a MIC is inherently mono, but since the mic jack takes a standard stereo plug I hoped that there would be two channels "behind the scenes" so to speak. Obviously that's not the case.

So the conclusion is that the hardware is really not fit for the job.

Davolente:
MyMp3 is a great software, I have used it on other PC:s wit great results.
It takes its input from any of the available selections of the audio device.
Line in, Microphone, Stereo Mix, CD player, Loudspeaker, Wave output, you name it.
It recognizes silent parts in the input so it can be used to automatically convert a whole LP or a tape and create separate files for each song.
But with the proper input signal lacking...........................

Anyhow thank you guys for taking your time

Nisse

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 924

When you mentioned NB, I was afraid that would be the case. Why they omit the stereo input is beyond me. But here is a suggestion, if your budget will allow, there are USB "sound cards" (adapters-?) that SHOULD do the trick. Or if you have a tower with the appropriate hardware, just use that.

BTW: The MIC jack MAY be "stereo" to provide power to some MIC's. Be careful what you plug into it. Best to check a MOBO / sound card schematic, IF you can find one for it. - not sure it the COMPANY can give such info or not... Most help desks only know what they read from there "script book"!!! Evil or Very Mad

PhotoCarp · Joined: Sep 06, 2007 Posts: 109

Baby Tux nailed that one. Mic inputs are always mono. Line In will be in stereo. In order to get that you wil need an external sound card. There are USB ones. They start below $20. If you are more concerned about audio quality you may want to go FireWire (IEEE1394).

Nisseviking · Joined: Aug 04, 2004 Posts: 47

Thanks Baby_Tux and PhotoCarp

I didn't know there were USB sound cards. That's probably exactly what I need. I'll start looking for one right away

Nisseviking · Joined: Aug 04, 2004 Posts: 47

Hi again

Maybe I won't have to buy a USB sound card after all (with a bit of luck and help from you guys)
I found out that an old laptop, long since retired, actually has a line in connector.
Sadly enough it runs Win NT 4.0 SP 6 and MP3Mymp3 doesn't run on NT, apparently neither does Audacity.
So does anyone know an audio capture software that runs on NT?

Tips please

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 924

It also MAY be possible to put a OS on there that WILL run the audio programs you have. NT is a ways back for my old geezer memory to recall what was what back then. But I'll look through my stuff & see if there IS something. (unless someone else beats me to it) Not sure but 98 may be the ticket for an OS - XP may be pushing it.

Another thought, IF you can at least get a recording on that old machine as it IS, you can always EDIT it on the OTHER NB.(I am thinking that NT had a recorder of some sort built into it) - Wave format works best, for ME anyway.

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

Nisseviking · Joined: Aug 04, 2004 Posts: 47

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 924

Well, to be honest about it, you PROBABLY will be better off in the long run... - you'd have an up to date system that should do what you want with the least amount of steps & be familiar with. As you said, by the time you mess with the other, you can have the project done.

But on the other hand if you DID go the other route you may learn something along the way. - your call. (I think there is a way to get around that limitation but I don't recall how - maybe someone else does?)

As for the OS, I just though you or someone you know, may already have a copy. Between my friends & I, I think we have every M$ OS made. (or very close to it) (& in MY case, some that AREN'T M$)

BTW: I DID look a bit & to come up with something would require me to come up with a machine & load NT to see what would work. Sorry but I don't have a machine to do so (& possibly not the time either - classes coming up)

Nisseviking · Joined: Aug 04, 2004 Posts: 47

Problem solved!

I just thought I should report back, in case there are others that face the same problem.
I found a program Audio Record Wizard that runs on Win NT and does the job quite well. It even lets you set a level and a duration for "spaces" in the music, and it will parse a whole LP into different songs accordingly.
I save the MP3 files to my XP machine where I can easily do the fine editing using Audacity.

Once again, a big THANKS to all of you for your input

Nisse

Baby_Tux · Joined: Mar 06, 2007 Posts: 924

Great! - I knew there HAD to be SOMETHING... Glad you are now good to go...

Smile