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Computer Audio Expert Needed

Rob Lister

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Apr 1, 2004
Messages
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Background:
* I bought my son an electric guitar and amp for Christmas
* I also bought a computer-based tutorial for him because I've forgotten most of what I never really knew in the first place

I wanted to connect the guitar to the computer sound card so that my son could more easily follow the lessons. I also wanted him to be able to record his own playing.

Good intentions, no?

I went to Radio Shack and bought a standard six-foot audio patch cable with 1/4" mono jacks on both ends. I also bought a 1/4" to 1/8" jack adapter and, since I was there, I bought a 1/8"-1/8" mono-to-stereo adapter.

All's well so far.

When I plug it (all) in to the line-input jack on the sound card it works GREAT! (smooth...clear...pure) but the sound recorder program (standard with MS XP) can't hear it.

When I plug it in to the mic input jack it sounds like crap (scratchy...distorted...irritating) but at least I can record it.

Any advice?
 
Have you checked whether the "Select" check box from the Volume Control [Options -> Properties -> Adjust volume for recording] is checked on Microphone and not on Line In ?
 
El Greco said:
Have you checked whether the "Select" check box from the Volume Control [Options -> Properties -> Adjust volume for recording] is checked on Microphone and not on Line In ?
Click to expand...

Yes. Both are enabled. It appears that the 'sound recorder' utility only accepts 'mic' input.

Do you know of another program/utility that accepts both?
 
Rob Lister said:
Yes. Both are enabled.
Click to expand...

Hmmm... it's not possible for both of them to be enabled.... If you check one box the previous one automatically unchecks... Maybe you're looking at the "Play Control" and not the "Record Control" window ? You can change from Play Control to Record Control from the Options menu.
 
El Greco said:
Hmmm... it's not possible for both of them to be enabled.... If you check one box the previous one automatically unchecks... Maybe you're looking at the "Play Control" and not the "Record Control" window ? You can change from Play Control to Record Control from the Options menu.
Click to expand...

Hmmm^2. It is possible for me or I don't know what or where you are clicking. I see no options menu.

I'm using

Microsoft Sound Recorder
Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158 : Service Pack 2)
PCM 22.050 kHz, 8 bit, mono

Microsoft Volume Control
Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803 : Service Pack 2)
 
I agree. Make sure its the recording settings and not the playback settings.

Not only is it not possible to have two selected at once, its not very easy for software to make an independent choice as to what to record from (for example, DirectSound (as of now) has no working methods for changing recording source) - similarly, the windows API extensions for wave recording also do not have a method that controls the mixer recording source.
 
rockoon said:
I agree. Make sure its the recording settings and not the playback settings.

Not only is it not possible to have two selected at once, its not very easy for software to make an independent choice as to what to record from (for example, DirectSound (as of now) has no working methods for changing recording source) - similarly, the windows API extensions for wave recording also do not have a method that controls the mixer recording source.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I'm using the same software as you and El Greco.

Anyway, I disabled (muted) the "mic input" but the sound recorder still did not pick up the "line input".

What programs are the two of you using? The answer to that seems to be the answer to my original question as well.
 
The "Volume Control" is the application that appears when you double click the little speaker icon on the notification area (rightmost area) of the taskbar. Somewhere near the clock. I guess it's the "Volume Control" that you mention too (I have the same version 5.1 and XP SP2 too). It HAS to have an Options and a Help menu at the top of the window. From Options you click on Properties etc.

From this program you can mute or enable various playback and recording sources. The native "sound recorder" of Windows (or any other recording app) is irrelevant.

From your description it seems that you are actually at the "Play Control" screen (the title of the window must read "Play Control". You need to change to "record Control".
 
El Greco said:
From your description it seems that you are actually at the "Play Control" screen (the title of the window must read "Play Control". You need to change to "record Control".
Click to expand...

That did it. Thank you much!
 
You may find a limitation in the length of time you can record using the windows sound recorder. In which case you may want to download Audacity and have a multitrack recorder and editor for free. It is open source and available for multiple platforms. I have used it on XP and recorded hours at a time.

Here is the link to the projects website.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

I haven't tried the guitar port but it does sound like a cool tool and the price is quite reasonable.
 
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