Can't hear any sound

[wgrant]

Hi guys -

 

On my first quest to record a cassette, I failed. I connected my stereo to my laptop but could not hear the tape playing. I'm sure I have the adapter connected correctly from the stereo to the laptop (see pics). The sound card does work as I can play all my music files and cds. I have no idea why I can't hear anything from the stereo. Does anyone have any thoughts on this or maybe had the same problem? I have a HP Pavilion dv2000. Please feel free to ask any other questions that I might not have answered already.

 

Thanks,

Wy

 

[barryware]

 

I looking at your pic, it appears to me that you may have your patch cable connected to the "IN" of your amp instead of the "OUT"

 

It is hard to tell but the black label above the jacks are marked "IN", under that is the "Phono" connection which would be "phono in", and under that you are using what appears to be "video (audio)" which looks to me like it is in the "IN" category.

 

You need to find an "OUT" jack .

 

Are you using the jacks on the amp (which it looks like) or the tape deck? Use the output of the tapedeck.

 

Is your stereo system a component system (separate pieces) or is in one unit that looks like it has separate components.

 

If it is a one piece system that looks like separate pieces, signal out jacks are rare.

[wgrant]

Sorry, but that's where you have to listen and decide what you want. I prefer to capture everything "straight", with no equalization or cleaning, then I can play with it after that and have the original to go back to.

 

Keep in mind that all cleaning programs, if used too "heavily" can actually create more noise if they decide some of the music is "noise". Equalization and enhancement is entirely up to you and what you want the final product to sound like. Again, I'm usually one to trust the original recording engineer and producer and so I don't enhance or re-equalize, but that's only my preference. If you'll be playing this music in a known environment where you want some equalization, then doing that before putting it to CD may be a feature. Please yourself is the rule here, there is no golden standard better than what you like.

Thanks Dewey for your response. I recorded one song with and without cleaning. I can definitely tell there was a difference in the sound. No noise which is good. However, the volume was low when I played the song back on cd. Was there something I missed along the way?

[wgrant]

I looking at your pic, it appears to me that you may have your patch cable connected to the "IN" of your amp instead of the "OUT"

 

It is hard to tell but the black label above the jacks are marked "IN", under that is the "Phono" connection which would be "phono in", and under that you are using what appears to be "video (audio)" which looks to me like it is in the "IN" category.

 

You need to find an "OUT" jack .

 

Are you using the jacks on the amp (which it looks like) or the tape deck? Use the output of the tapedeck.

 

Is your stereo system a component system (separate pieces) or is in one unit that looks like it has separate components.

 

If it is a one piece system that looks like separate pieces, signal out jacks are rare.

Hi Barry,

Yes you are right. It's one unit that looks like it has separate components. There is no other area in the back of it labeled "OUT". I was assuming that the bottom row was the "OUT" and the top "IN". But after reading what you wrote, it all makes sense now. I think all those jacks are for input. I'll double check when I get home tonight but I'm positive there's nothing labeled as "OUT".

 

If you take a look at the very first picture in my original post you can see the system. I don't think it has an output on the tape deck.

 

Thanks for replying.

Wy

[barryware]

Hi Barry,

Yes you are right. It's one unit that looks like it has separate components. There is no other area in the back of it labeled "OUT". I was assuming that the bottom row was the "OUT" and the top "IN". But after reading what you wrote, it all makes sense now. I think all those jacks are for input. I'll double check when I get home tonight but I'm positive there's nothing labeled as "OUT".

 

If you take a look at the very first picture in my original post you can see the system. I don't think it has an output on the tape deck.

 

Thanks for replying.

Wy

 

Yea.... We have a couple of these types of units around the house. There is no "output"s on them which is a bit of a bummer..

 

If you could dig up an old walkman or something like that, you could accomplish your project.

 

Good luck..

 

B

[wgrant]

Yea.... We have a couple of these types of units around the house. There is no "output"s on them which is a bit of a bummer..

 

If you could dig up an old walkman or something like that, you could accomplish your project.

 

Good luck..

 

B

What kinda of walkman are you talking about? Tape or disc? I do have a disc walkman. I think a friend of mine has a tape walkman. If I get it, how do I go about using it to do what I want?

 

Wy

[barryware]

What kinda of walkman are you talking about? Tape or disc? I do have a disc walkman. I think a friend of mine has a tape walkman. If I get it, how do I go about using it to do what I want?

 

Wy

 

If I recall your original project, you wanted to record a cassette tape to your computer.

 

If I understand correctly, you would need a tape walkman. Play the cassette in the walkman and record it on your computer. You would need a 1/8" stereo patch cable (male to male).

 

Plug the patch cable into the walkmans headphone jack, plug the other end into the mic jack on your laptop. Play the tape on the walkman and record on the laptop.

 

You will have to play with the volume on both the walkman and the mic input. If there is a dynamic boost for the mic in your mixer control, turn it off.

 

Start with the volume level of the tape player about 3/4 full volume and then you may have to play with the volume level of the mic input. If there is distortion or loud buzzing, turn the volume control of the tape player down first, then play with the microphone volume some more.

 

Someone stated that the mic input is mono. It has been my experience that that is an inaccurate statement. The mic jack is stereo. Typically, the less expensive microphones for computer applications are mono with a stereo plug for compatibility but the actual input of the computer is stereo.

 

Have fun...

 

I'm off the crash the server..

[Larry]

If I recall your original project, you wanted to record a cassette tape to your computer.

 

If I understand correctly, you would need a tape walkman. Play the cassette in the walkman and record it on your computer. You would need a 1/8" stereo patch cable (male to male).

 

Plug the patch cable into the walkmans headphone jack, plug the other end into the mic jack on your laptop. Play the tape on the walkman and record on the laptop.

 

You will have to play with the volume on both the walkman and the mic input. If there is a dynamic boost for the mic in your mixer control, turn it off.

 

Start with the volume level of the tape player about 3/4 full volume and then you may have to play with the volume level of the mic input. If there is distortion or loud buzzing, turn the volume control of the tape player down first, then play with the microphone volume some more.

 

Someone stated that the mic input is mono. It has been my experience that that is an inaccurate statement. The mic jack is stereo. Typically, the less expensive microphones for computer applications are mono with a stereo plug for compatibility but the actual input of the computer is stereo.

 

Have fun...

 

I'm off the crash the server..

If the existing equipment has a headphone jack (couldn't tell from the pics), you could do the same thing directly.

[barryware]

If the existing equipment has a headphone jack (couldn't tell from the pics), you could do the same thing directly.

 

 

Yep... There it is.. Second component (not really) from the top, lever left had side, marked "phones".

 

That would be a 1/4" stereo headphone jack. The OP would need a 1/4" to 1/8" stereo patch cable or an adaptor 1/4" male to 1/8" female and then the 1/8" to 1/8" patch cable.

[wgrant]

Yep... There it is.. Second component (not really) from the top, lever left had side, marked "phones".

 

That would be a 1/4" stereo headphone jack. The OP would need a 1/4" to 1/8" stereo patch cable or an adaptor 1/4" male to 1/8" female and then the 1/8" to 1/8" patch cable.

Hmmm..I think I have one cable already. I don't know what size it is but I use it to go from the "line out" of the sound card on my desktop to the "line in" on the sound card of another computer because it doesn't have speakers and that's how I get sound on that one.

 

So I need 2 cables, am I correct?

[barryware]

Hmmm..I think I have one cable already. I don't know what size it is but I use it to go from the "line out" of the sound card on my desktop to the "line in" on the sound card of another computer because it doesn't have speakers and that's how I get sound on that one.

 

So I need 2 cables, am I correct?

 

No... You won't need two cables. However the headphone jack on your stereo looks to be 1/4" (diameter) which is common on equipment of this type. The mic jack on your laptop is 1/8".

 

The cable you have is probably 1/8" on both ends if you used it to connect computer to computer.

 

So you will need some type of adapter to allow the use of your 1/8" patch cable in the 1/4" headphone jack of your stereo.

 

If you or a member of your household has ever purchased a set of headphones for say an MP3 player, they usually come with the exact adapter you will need. Look around. I bet I have 3-4 in a drawer somewhere around the house.

 

I am always buying the wife new headphones. She uses her iPod when she work out. She is always breaking her headphones or they get ruined by sweat getting into the piezo's (spelling?).

[Larry]

Hmmm..I think I have one cable already. I don't know what size it is but I use it to go from the "line out" of the sound card on my desktop to the "line in" on the sound card of another computer because it doesn't have speakers and that's how I get sound on that one.

 

So I need 2 cables, am I correct?

Should just need one. You could get a cable that fits the Phone jack on one end (presumably the 1.4") and the Mic on the other end (presumably the 3.5mm). Or get an adapter for the cable you have, which I'm assuming is the 3.5mm (small) connector, that converts the small connector to a Phone size connector for one end of the cable.

[wgrant]

Should just need one. You could get a cable that fits the Phone jack on one end (presumably the 1.4") and the Mic on the other end (presumably the 3.5mm). Or get an adapter for the cable you have, which I'm assuming is the 3.5mm (small) connector, that converts the small connector to a Phone size connector for one end of the cable.

Ok I'm a little confused now...LOL - This "adapter" you guys speak about, how does it look? I have headphones for the disc walkman but I don't think it came with any other parts. Larry, I'm not sure if I understood the "phone jack/connector" reference you made. Can one of you post a picture of the adapter?

[barryware]

Ok I'm a little confused now...LOL - This "adapter" you guys speak about, how does it look? I have headphones for the disc walkman but I don't think it came with any other parts. Larry, I'm not sure if I understood the "phone jack/connector" reference you made. Can one of you post a picture of the adapter?

 

Use your browser and got to:

 

http://www.keyboardstoday.com/Merchant2/me...p;Store_Code=TN

[Larry]

Ok I'm a little confused now...LOL - This "adapter" you guys speak about, how does it look? I have headphones for the disc walkman but I don't think it came with any other parts. Larry, I'm not sure if I understood the "phone jack/connector" reference you made. Can one of you post a picture of the adapter?

You refered to having a cable, which should look like the white one in the below picture.

 

The adapter you would need would be like the black one (picture gotten from here) to plug on one end of it to plug into the head phone jack on your stereo.

 

I see Barry beat me to it

[wgrant]

You refered to having a cable, which should look like the white one in the below picture.

 

The adapter you would need would be like the black one (picture gotten from here) to plug on one end of it to plug into the head phone jack on your stereo.

 

I see Barry beat me to it

Oh ok - gotcha! I don't think I have one of those adapters around my place but I'll check. I'll still buy it on my way home just in case. Can this be bought at Walmart or Target?

 

Thank you guys so much!!! I'll post back later.

[ogdens]

Oh ok - gotcha! I don't think I have one of those adapters around my place but I'll check. I'll still buy it on my way home just in case. Can this be bought at Walmart or Target?

 

Thank you guys so much!!! I'll post back later.

 

If it was me I would try Radio Shack or Best Buy.

 

Good luck.

[Larry]

Oh ok - gotcha! I don't think I have one of those adapters around my place but I'll check. I'll still buy it on my way home just in case. Can this be bought at Walmart or Target?

 

Thank you guys so much!!! I'll post back later.

Possibly, altho for myself I would not get electonics stuff like this at Walmart. And I agree with ogdens, you be better off getting it at an electronics type store.

 

If it was me I would try Radio Shack or Best Buy.

 

Good luck.

[barryware]

Possibly, altho for myself I would not get electonics stuff like this at Walmart. And I agree with ogdens, you be better off getting it at an electronics type store.

 

I don't consider this stuff as "electronics".

 

Price a set of component video cables at Best Buy or Radio Shack (60 bucks plus for a 6 footer).

 

Then price the same cables at Wal-Mart or Target (19 bucks or so)

 

Cheaper at Wal-mart but the adapter we are talking about is only a few bucks to begin with. They all carry this stuff.

 

What ever is more convenient to get to (no left turns across traffic).

[ogdens]

I don't consider this stuff as "electronics".

 

Price a set of component video cables at Best Buy or Radio Shack (60 bucks plus for a 6 footer).

 

Then price the same cables at Wal-Mart or Target (19 bucks or so)

 

Cheaper at Wal-mart but the adapter we are talking about is only a few bucks to begin with. They all carry this stuff.

 

What ever is more convenient to get to (no left turns across traffic).

 

If Walmart and Target in your area carry it....go for it.

[d_deweywright]

Thanks Dewey for your response. I recorded one song with and without cleaning. I can definitely tell there was a difference in the sound. No noise which is good. However, the volume was low when I played the song back on cd. Was there something I missed along the way?

You initial recording level is important. You want it to be about as loud as you can without clipping. You've probably noticed the recording level indicators on the left side of LP & Tape Assistant? As your recording level gets louder (in your case, you can control it using either the microphone input on your sound cards mixer, or the volume control of your stereo, since you're coming out of the headphone jack) it'll eventually reach a point where it says, "Clip", or something like that. That's too loud. It means you've lost some music and created some noise, even if it's not audible. You want to find a loud passage of music, and set the volume so it's just a little below clipping.

 

Yes, you're CDs may wind up sound quieter than a new CD, but that's because new CDs are being release that have had the music so compressed and limited that it's actually hard to listen to. As an example, below is a blown up section of the latest Earth, Wind and Fire CD. You can easily see where those large, low-frequency waves should have gone on up and off the screen... but they were limited to not be clipped. It sounds horrible. (The clip was displayed using GoldWave.) So, what they've done is make the quiet spots louder, and the loud sections that would have clipped, have been limited. The whole dynamic range of the music has been destroyed, and the promise of dynamic range in the digital world of CDs is being ignored, and even worse, it's not as good as you had with LPs and tapes! So, while your CDs the you create may sound quieter, they may also sound better than new releases.

 

Hope that helps!

[wgrant]

Ok guys - all is set up fine and working so far. Do I leave the defaults settings for the cleaning, enhance, and equalizer or what should I set them as?

[d_deweywright]

Hi guys -

 

On my first quest to record a cassette, I failed. I connected my stereo to my laptop but could not hear the tape playing. I'm sure I have the adapter connected correctly from the stereo to the laptop (see pics). The sound card does work as I can play all my music files and cds. I have no idea why I can't hear anything from the stereo. Does anyone have any thoughts on this or maybe had the same problem? I have a HP Pavilion dv2000. Please feel free to ask any other questions that I might not have answered already.

 

Thanks,

Wy

Thanks for the pictures. If you look at the bottom picture, you'll notice what looks like a plugged hole on the left? I'm guessing that would be the proper place to plug in your stereo because the one you're plugged into is labeled as a microphone input, and the output from your stereo is probably going to overdrive that input and make a bunch of noise. Also, microphone inputs are mono, not stereo.

 

To start though, open your sound card mixer, select "Properties" and then make sure you click on the "Recording" radio button to see the right inputs. If there is a "line-in" option, as I've shown, then your input may work... if it only shows a "Mic" input, then you'll probably need to get something like a USB Audio capture device to do your capture. Make sure a "line-in" is selected for recording, if it's available, then set the volume to some mid-level, and see if that helps. (Make sure it's not muted.)

 

Let us know what you find.

[d_deweywright]

Ok guys - all is set up fine and working so far. Do I leave the defaults settings for the cleaning, enhance, and equalizer or what should I set them as?

Sorry, but that's where you have to listen and decide what you want. I prefer to capture everything "straight", with no equalization or cleaning, then I can play with it after that and have the original to go back to.

 

Keep in mind that all cleaning programs, if used too "heavily" can actually create more noise if they decide some of the music is "noise". Equalization and enhancement is entirely up to you and what you want the final product to sound like. Again, I'm usually one to trust the original recording engineer and producer and so I don't enhance or re-equalize, but that's only my preference. If you'll be playing this music in a known environment where you want some equalization, then doing that before putting it to CD may be a feature. Please yourself is the rule here, there is no golden standard better than what you like.

[wgrant]

Thanks for the pictures. If you look at the bottom picture, you'll notice what looks like a plugged hole on the left? I'm guessing that would be the proper place to plug in your stereo because the one you're plugged into is labeled as a microphone input, and the output from your stereo is probably going to overdrive that input and make a bunch of noise. Also, microphone inputs are mono, not stereo.

 

To start though, open your sound card mixer, select "Properties" and then make sure you click on the "Recording" radio button to see the right inputs. If there is a "line-in" option, as I've shown, then your input may work... if it only shows a "Mic" input, then you'll probably need to get something like a USB Audio capture device to do your capture. Make sure a "line-in" is selected for recording, if it's available, then set the volume to some mid-level, and see if that helps. (Make sure it's not muted.)

 

Let us know what you find.

 

Thanks for the reply D. Unfortunately the hole you're referring to can't be used. Here's a couple more pics of my laptop and the sound card properties. Also, according to the recording setup guide in the LP assistant, the microphone input can be used if there's no Line In input. I know my setup is not like the tape deck setup but it was the closest. You mentioned a usb audio capture device. How does that work?

 

Thanks again,

Wy

 

[tbrewst]

It could be that if you're using the Mic jack for your input that you have it muted in your playback not recording controls.You won't hear anything out of your speakers if the playback control is muted.

You can use the Mic input but you have to be very careful like Dave says not to overdrive it.