how do I connect stereo/components to computer

wenbo · Joined: Sep 15, 2003 Posts: 316 Location: Ontario, Canada

I know this is possible but haven't a clue how to do it Very Happy

How do I connect either my stereo system or cassette player or turntable to my computer so I can burn some old tapes and LP's to CD?

Please do be too technical or I'm afraid I won't get it!!!

Thanks folks!

Sp3ctre18 · Joined: May 15, 2008 Posts: 27

believe it or not, it can be very simple.

HOWEVER, not easy to get good results, and in fact, I'm eager to see the replies to this but I'd like to know a better way of doing it.

The easy way I know of, which I think was shown on Call for Help, is to just get an adaptor or cable that had left and right audio on one end, and a single audio plug on the other end that fits into your line-in on the computer.

If you have left and right audio inputs on your computer though, bonus! I could be wrong, but the single audio plug merges two signals and you lose true stereo. I could be wrong though.

Recording is easy too. Now that you have audio in, just use Audacity (a free audio recording and editing program) to record the sound as it plays back.

The problem?

I cannot be sure if this happens to everyone, but at least on my computer, the sound volume was not well tolerated, and I need my source (boombox) to be set at low volume. This meant he static was more noticeable, and sounds loud once you amplify the whole thing in audacity.

I would ASSUME, that having an actual soundcard, and especially a GOOD soundcard, will have a better tolerance volume tolerance, but I am only assuming here.

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2378

I can tell you two devices that don't work:
a) ADS Instant Music and no surprise tech support wasn't at all helpful. It came with some sort of lightweight Nero software which complained about my other Nero burning software on the computer so I had to uninstall that which didn't make me happy. The "manual" said to

Werebo · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 3:58 am Post subject:

Yep, it's easy-peasy Smile

You need a stereo (screened) cable with whatever plugs match your 'Line-Out' o your stereo (often phono-plugs), and (usually) a stereo mini-jack plug (3.5mm) on t'other end. Plug the 2 plugs into your stereo's 'Line-Out' and the mini-jack to your sound-card's 'Line-In' (sometimes called 'Audio-in) socket.

Next, right-click on the speaker icon in the System Tray and select 'Open Volume Controls' from the menu and make sure you have a slider for 'Line (or Audio) In' and it isn't ticked to mute it.

If the slider isn't displayed, select 'Properties' from the 'Options' menu, and tick the appropriate box from the list of inputs listed.

You can also wire the link t'other way round too. A stereo cable from the sound-card's speaker out to your amp's 'Line -In' socket. That way, all your PC sounds will be played through your stereo system. The music will sound so much better and your ears will thank you Wink

You might need to adjust your recording software's recording input source to point to where the audio's coming from. If the option is shown, try 'MS Sound Mapper', failing that, it will depend on your software's list of choices for what inputs it can see.

You'll need to experiment with the various volumes (stereo amp - Microsoft 's audio mixer's input slider and the recording software's recording levels, to find the best settings to reduce signal noise etc., before committing to your final recordings, but once set, they should remain at that level. Minor adjustments when recording, can be made using your music recorder's input controls.

The whole thing is a lot easier to set up, than it is to read this 'How to' post

I hope this helps Wink

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 992 Location: Central FL, USA

I, like so many, have a rack full of old 33 1/3 rpm LP records, that I've not heard in OH so many years. I wanted to play them into my PC, where I could record them onto CD's.

After listening (reading) to many "How To's" I went to Circuit City and bought me a "Audio Technica" turntable that's supposed to match a computers input, with built in Pre-Amp.

Well, with the pre-amp OFF, there's not enough input and with it ON there's too much input. I can't seem to get the levels right. Apparently, it's a fine balancing act.

So I managed to listen to a few records (those old vinyl disks) but the sound was not real good and the whole effort left me less than a happy camper.

That whole project is ON HOLD till I find a reasonably priced Stereo Amp.

The cabling was truly simple, but getting the results I wanted was not.

Doc Cool

Werebo · Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 12:02 pm Post subject:

There are those new USB-decks available now, the record deck plugs straight into the USB port.

At Â£100ish (approx $50) though, the ones I've seen are extremely flimsy and lightweight. Even the turntable is wheel-driven as opposed to belt-driven - lousy quality Rolling Eyes

The advantage of a direct connection to the stereo amp is, whatever is plugged into the amp is recordable - cassette tapes, vinyls, radio, CD's, ol' tin cans with a sewing needle glued on the bottom...... Wink

Sp3ctre18 · Joined: May 15, 2008 Posts: 27

Werebo, yep, those were the detailed instructions to do what I said.

But can you comment on the volume issue? Is it really a volume/signal strenghth tolerance issue, or did I not experiment with the volume levels enough? (Though i know I worked at it a good bit).

Remember, I have integrated audio; no soundcard.

micker377 · Joined: May 27, 2005 Posts: 839

"reasonably priced Stereo Amp."

Mine came from Fry's Electronics - $24.95. Standard turn-table > to pre-amp > to "Y" adapter > audio in. The reason for the "Y" adapter (stereo mini-plug), is so I can use the T-T, and my headphone/earphone headset for normal computer use. Surprisingly, they don't interfere with each other. And yes, I use Audacity for recording.

Werebo

Unfortunately, sorting out the input levels is a bit of a 'hit 'n' miss' affair, involving lots of trial and error Sad

. With my system, the PC is approx 18 ft away from the stereo, so the extra walking helps keep me fit, too

With my set-up, the stereo amp's line-out seems independent of the volume control, which leaves the MS Audio Mixer and software recording levels to play with.

On my rig, the audio-mixer input slider is at approx 1/3rd of a gnat's whisker below 1/4 of the slider travel (this is left there permanently), and the 'Audacity' recording volume is adjusted to suite the recoding itself. This varies from track to track, but as long as it doesn't 'clip' or overload, Audacity's 'Amplify' and 'Normalise' effects can be used to standardise the volume across all the recordings.

When copying tracks off of a CD, I use my trusty ol' 'MusicMatch' Jukebox player (now taken over by Yahoo player, which I don't like). The MusicMatch' recording can be set so that each track is 'levelled' and every track is the same average volume, even across multiple CD's. It's also a lot faster than recording CD's with Audacity, a 50-60 minute CD is recorded to .MP3 (160Kb quality) in approx 3-4 minutes.