Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem - sounds like an audio hardware problem
Turns out it was the cables. I ran a line from the headphones jack to the Line In, the sound was back to its higher quality. Not sure why the mike I used to test the system didn't sound as good as it did on other computers. We do have have quite a few devices plugged into this system--2 scanners, an external HD--maybe some interference from them? david David Turk Manager, Preservation Imaging Services Indiana Historical Society Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center 450 W. Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-4592 dt...@indianahistory.org -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:computerguy...@listserv.aol.com] On Behalf Of E. Riley Casey Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 6:03 PM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem - sounds like an audio hardware problem So what? The balanced to unbalanced conversion apparently worked fine for a number of transfers up to now. The next time you have to send your audio 100 meters with the cable next to a power line you can start to sweat your interconnects. Your original description sounds very much like your interconnect has become one legged . Wuzzat you ask ? Two of the three pins on your professional tape machine expect to see some kind of connection - specifically pins 2 3. Pin one is the shield or ground and it's a bit more leisurely in it's connection requirements ( thats part of what a three pin balanced connection is all about ). Normally in the setup you are employing pin 2 would be connected ( eventually through your tortured path of adaptors ) to the tip of the final plug while pin 3 would be connected to the shield of the final plug . This would complete the circuit for the balanced line output and give it something to deliver sound to. It sounds like the connection for pin 2 or 3 has been lost and thus the tape deck with it's transformer balanced output has no place to send it's audio to. I would suggest connecting the adaptor cables to some other device like a stereo system to see if things suddenly improve. It does sound a bit off kilter that your coming out of the line level output of the tape deck and into the mic level input of the computer ( they normally operate at very different levels ) but if as you say it has worked well before and assuming you have made no other changes it should work well again after you sort out problems in the wiring. There are professional audio interfaces that accept line level XLR ( thats those three pronged thingies ) connections and output digitized audio to Firewire or USB connections but your into hundreds or more dollars in investment to replace a $20 solution that should work fine once you have it sorted out. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
After testing a microphone on this and other computers, we've determined the sound quality is definitely much worse on the Audacity computer. Is it possible for a sound card to go bad? david David Turk Manager, Preservation Imaging Services Indiana Historical Society Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center 450 W. Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-4592 dt...@indianahistory.org -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:computerguy...@listserv.aol.com] On Behalf Of Tony B Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 3:23 PM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem Bad cable or connection? You didn't say what it sounds like on the PC. Does a mic plugged in there sound okay? On Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 2:24 PM, David Turk dt...@indianahistory.org wrote: We've been using Audacity for several months now to capture audio from a reel-to-reel, with good results. Today, all we seem to get is a low-level recording with lots of hiss. Listening to the audio through headphones attached to the reel-to-reel sounds fine. I've tried several different setting on both the r-t-r output Audacity preferences, but no luck. I've gone into the PC Control Panel to make sure all the input levels were checked (we're using the microphone jack on the back of the PC). The r-t-r weighs about 40 lb., so before I try using it on another computer, any thoughts? tia. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
Yes. Is it built onto the motherboard? Disable it and buy an add on card. Stewart At 07:37 AM 4/2/2009, you wrote: After testing a microphone on this and other computers, we've determined the sound quality is definitely much worse on the Audacity computer. Is it possible for a sound card to go bad? david David Turk Manager, Preservation Imaging Services Indiana Historical Society Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center 450 W. Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-4592 dt...@indianahistory.org Rev. Stewart A. Marshall mailto:popoz...@earthlink.net Prince of Peace www.princeofpeaceozark.org Ozark, AL SL 82 * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
Yes, but before I replaced it I'd reinstall it's drivers, just to rule out software corruption. On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 8:37 AM, David Turk dt...@indianahistory.org wrote: After testing a microphone on this and other computers, we've determined the sound quality is definitely much worse on the Audacity computer. Is it possible for a sound card to go bad? david David Turk Manager, Preservation Imaging Services Indiana Historical Society Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center 450 W. Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-4592 dt...@indianahistory.org -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:computerguy...@listserv.aol.com] On Behalf Of Tony B Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 3:23 PM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem Bad cable or connection? You didn't say what it sounds like on the PC. Does a mic plugged in there sound okay? On Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 2:24 PM, David Turk dt...@indianahistory.org wrote: We've been using Audacity for several months now to capture audio from a reel-to-reel, with good results. Today, all we seem to get is a low-level recording with lots of hiss. Listening to the audio through headphones attached to the reel-to-reel sounds fine. I've tried several different setting on both the r-t-r output Audacity preferences, but no luck. I've gone into the PC Control Panel to make sure all the input levels were checked (we're using the microphone jack on the back of the PC). The r-t-r weighs about 40 lb., so before I try using it on another computer, any thoughts? tia. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
Before doing that, I would seriously consider using a USB connection device, instead of the sound card. They are not expensive these days and provide better sound quality than the average sound card. Here is an excellent example that works with Audacity: http://www.lptunes.com/product-p/behruca202.htm Mike Rev. Stewart Marshall wrote: Yes. Is it built onto the motherboard? Disable it and buy an add on card. Stewart At 07:37 AM 4/2/2009, you wrote: After testing a microphone on this and other computers, we've determined the sound quality is definitely much worse on the Audacity computer. Is it possible for a sound card to go bad? david David Turk * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
Here's the problem with that. The audio out on this deck is the 3-pronged connectors common with professional microphones. I managed to find 2 cables that have the 3-pronged on one end, RCA connectors on the other. I then used a dual RCA-to-1/8 plug, to go into the computer's microphone or line-in jack. Yes, I know it sounds convoluted, but I get (got) very good quality recordings from this. david David Turk Manager, Preservation Imaging Services Indiana Historical Society Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center 450 W. Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-4592 dt...@indianahistory.org -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:computerguy...@listserv.aol.com] On Behalf Of Mike Sloane Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 9:15 AM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem Before doing that, I would seriously consider using a USB connection device, instead of the sound card. They are not expensive these days and provide better sound quality than the average sound card. Here is an excellent example that works with Audacity: http://www.lptunes.com/product-p/behruca202.htm Mike Rev. Stewart Marshall wrote: Yes. Is it built onto the motherboard? Disable it and buy an add on card. Stewart At 07:37 AM 4/2/2009, you wrote: After testing a microphone on this and other computers, we've determined the sound quality is definitely much worse on the Audacity computer. Is it possible for a sound card to go bad? david David Turk * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
Your XLR-to-RCA cables will work fine with the Behringer (or similar) USB device - they accept RCA inputs. If your cables have female RCA cables, then you can buy inexpensive M-M RCA adapters from RS or similar. Mike David Turk wrote: Here's the problem with that. The audio out on this deck is the 3-pronged connectors common with professional microphones. I managed to find 2 cables that have the 3-pronged on one end, RCA connectors on the other. I then used a dual RCA-to-1/8 plug, to go into the computer's microphone or line-in jack. Yes, I know it sounds convoluted, but I get (got) very good quality recordings from this. david David Turk Manager, Preservation Imaging Services Indiana Historical Society Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center 450 W. Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-4592 dt...@indianahistory.org -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:computerguy...@listserv.aol.com] On Behalf Of Mike Sloane Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 9:15 AM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem Before doing that, I would seriously consider using a USB connection device, instead of the sound card. They are not expensive these days and provide better sound quality than the average sound card. Here is an excellent example that works with Audacity: http://www.lptunes.com/product-p/behruca202.htm Mike Rev. Stewart Marshall wrote: Yes. Is it built onto the motherboard? Disable it and buy an add on card. Stewart At 07:37 AM 4/2/2009, you wrote: After testing a microphone on this and other computers, we've determined the sound quality is definitely much worse on the Audacity computer. Is it possible for a sound card to go bad? david David Turk * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.285 / Virus Database: 270.11.35/2034 - Release Date: 04/01/09 06:06:00 * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
Here's the problem with that. The audio out on this deck is the 3-pronged connectors common with professional microphones. I managed to find 2 cables that have the 3-pronged on one end, RCA connectors on the other. I then used a dual RCA-to-1/8 plug, to go into the computer's microphone or line-in jack. Yes, I know it sounds convoluted, but I get (got) very good quality recordings from this. The 3-pronged XLR is a balanced line (gets you enhanced noise immunity). Jury-rigging it to an unbalanced RCA loses that benefit. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
You know how it is--sometimes, you have to work with what you have. David Turk Manager, Preservation Imaging Services Indiana Historical Society Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center 450 W. Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-4592 dt...@indianahistory.org -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:computerguy...@listserv.aol.com] On Behalf Of Tom Piwowar Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 2:27 PM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem Here's the problem with that. The audio out on this deck is the 3-pronged connectors common with professional microphones. I managed to find 2 cables that have the 3-pronged on one end, RCA connectors on the other. I then used a dual RCA-to-1/8 plug, to go into the computer's microphone or line-in jack. Yes, I know it sounds convoluted, but I get (got) very good quality recordings from this. The 3-pronged XLR is a balanced line (gets you enhanced noise immunity). Jury-rigging it to an unbalanced RCA loses that benefit. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
While technically this is correct, this is more of a problem over long runs in areas of interference. I've seen this configuration in many AV studios where it didn't present a problem. You just had to be aware that if a problem presented itself, to remember to look there first. Still, those connections/adapters shouldn't be ignored in the troubleshooting process. The 3-pronged XLR is a balanced line (gets you enhanced noise immunity). Jury-rigging it to an unbalanced RCA loses that benefit. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
You know how it is--sometimes, you have to work with what you have. Rumsfeld? * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem - sounds like an audio hardware problem
So what? The balanced to unbalanced conversion apparently worked fine for a number of transfers up to now. The next time you have to send your audio 100 meters with the cable next to a power line you can start to sweat your interconnects. Your original description sounds very much like your interconnect has become one legged . Wuzzat you ask ? Two of the three pins on your professional tape machine expect to see some kind of connection - specifically pins 2 3. Pin one is the shield or ground and it's a bit more leisurely in it's connection requirements ( thats part of what a three pin balanced connection is all about ). Normally in the setup you are employing pin 2 would be connected ( eventually through your tortured path of adaptors ) to the tip of the final plug while pin 3 would be connected to the shield of the final plug . This would complete the circuit for the balanced line output and give it something to deliver sound to. It sounds like the connection for pin 2 or 3 has been lost and thus the tape deck with it's transformer balanced output has no place to send it's audio to. I would suggest connecting the adaptor cables to some other device like a stereo system to see if things suddenly improve. It does sound a bit off kilter that your coming out of the line level output of the tape deck and into the mic level input of the computer ( they normally operate at very different levels ) but if as you say it has worked well before and assuming you have made no other changes it should work well again after you sort out problems in the wiring. There are professional audio interfaces that accept line level XLR ( thats those three pronged thingies ) connections and output digitized audio to Firewire or USB connections but your into hundreds or more dollars in investment to replace a $20 solution that should work fine once you have it sorted out. At 2:27 PM -0400 4/2/09, Tom Piwowar wrote: Tom Piwowar t...@tjpa.com Subject: Re: Audacity problem Here's the problem with that. The audio out on this deck is the 3-pronged connectors common with professional microphones. I managed to find 2 cables that have the 3-pronged on one end, RCA connectors on the other. I then used a dual RCA-to-1/8 plug, to go into the computer's microphone or line-in jack. Yes, I know it sounds convoluted, but I get (got) very good quality recordings from this. The 3-pronged XLR is a balanced line (gets you enhanced noise immunity). Jury-rigging it to an unbalanced RCA loses that benefit. -- E. Riley Casey Silver Spring MD 301-608-2180 ph 301-608-0789 fx 301-440-2923 shoe phone Entertainment Sound Production ( http://www.ESPsound.com ) * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem - sounds like an audio hardware problem
Ya, I routinely re-wire our wireless microphone cords from 3 conductors (proprietary socket) to 2 (mini plug). They're only 2 feet long so it really doesn't affect performance. 2009/4/2 E. Riley Casey rileyca...@espsound.com: So what? The balanced to unbalanced conversion apparently worked fine for a number of transfers up to now. The next time you have to send your audio 100 meters with the cable next to a power line you can start to sweat your interconnects. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem - sounds like an audio hardware pr
After testing a microphone on this and other computers, we've determined the sound quality is definitely much worse on the Audacity computer. Is it possible for a sound card to go bad? Of course. And sound cards are no longer the preferred way to get sound into computers. Better to simplify and get digital input via USB. So what? The balanced to unbalanced conversion apparently worked fine for a number of transfers up to now. The next time you have to send your audio 100 meters with the cable next to a power line you can start to sweat your interconnects. If is not too hoity-toity for you Marshall makes an in-line preamp with XLR on one end and USB on the other. That will convert your balanced line direct to digital. That's the sweet way to do it. Costs $40. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem - sounds like an audio hardware pr
I don't really see why digital input would be much better, assuming the mic in is working. This is just voice, not the philharmonic. But if the sound card is really bad it could be a workaround. And beware - I once got a USB headset, and the darn thing cut off my speakers! On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 9:19 PM, Tom Piwowar t...@tjpa.com wrote: After testing a microphone on this and other computers, we've determined the sound quality is definitely much worse on the Audacity computer. Is it possible for a sound card to go bad? Of course. And sound cards are no longer the preferred way to get sound into computers. Better to simplify and get digital input via USB. So what? The balanced to unbalanced conversion apparently worked fine for a number of transfers up to now. The next time you have to send your audio 100 meters with the cable next to a power line you can start to sweat your interconnects. If is not too hoity-toity for you Marshall makes an in-line preamp with XLR on one end and USB on the other. That will convert your balanced line direct to digital. That's the sweet way to do it. Costs $40. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
[CGUYS] Audacity problem
We've been using Audacity for several months now to capture audio from a reel-to-reel, with good results. Today, all we seem to get is a low-level recording with lots of hiss. Listening to the audio through headphones attached to the reel-to-reel sounds fine. I've tried several different setting on both the r-t-r output Audacity preferences, but no luck. I've gone into the PC Control Panel to make sure all the input levels were checked (we're using the microphone jack on the back of the PC). The r-t-r weighs about 40 lb., so before I try using it on another computer, any thoughts? tia. david David Turk Manager, Preservation Imaging Services Indiana Historical Society Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center 450 W. Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-4592 dt...@indianahistory.org * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
Bad cable or connection? You didn't say what it sounds like on the PC. Does a mic plugged in there sound okay? On Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 2:24 PM, David Turk dt...@indianahistory.org wrote: We've been using Audacity for several months now to capture audio from a reel-to-reel, with good results. Today, all we seem to get is a low-level recording with lots of hiss. Listening to the audio through headphones attached to the reel-to-reel sounds fine. I've tried several different setting on both the r-t-r output Audacity preferences, but no luck. I've gone into the PC Control Panel to make sure all the input levels were checked (we're using the microphone jack on the back of the PC). The r-t-r weighs about 40 lb., so before I try using it on another computer, any thoughts? tia. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Audacity problem
Switch to the Line In jack on your sound card and see if that helps. David Turk wrote: (we're using the microphone jack on the back of the PC). T david * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
