detailed guide on how to record from analog source.

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Here is a very detailed guide on how to record from an analog source to your pc, Whether it be a cassette deck, cd, 33rpm, 78rpm,45rpm, fm, am, radio or what ever.The Software in use will be audacity 1.2.6 (stable release)

First you will need this.
A stereo 3.5mm male plug (looks like a headphone cord but only on both ends)
[img][img]http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/9352/54645450ns2.th.jpg[/img][/img]

You can use pretty much anything that has a headphone jack. So I am going to be recording from the radio. So here is the device where i'll be recording from ( A creative zen v plus)



go to


Next you need to plug one end of the cord into the sound card. Make sure you plug it into the blue plug! (line in)



Next plug one end into the device itself. (the one you'll be recording from.)

[img][img]http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/3950/76639466qm1.jpg[/img][/img]

Now to make sure your line in is selected for play back. To do so
go to control panel click on the sounds and audio devices icon and now click on the audio tab. Now you should see this. Make sure the "line in" recording tab is ticked. please make sure the volume sliders is not too high otherwise you'll get Distortion in playback of your recording!



[img][img]http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/9126/21092735qk5.jpg[/img][/img]

Now make sure your line in is not muted or you won't get any sound.

[img][img]http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/5342/playbackck6.jpg[/img][/img]

Now fire up audacity and you should see this.
Now make sure line in is selected for your recording input.


[img][img]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2639/63672402gc3.jpg[/img][/img]

Hit the record button for a few second than stop if you see a bluewave form success! but if you only see a singles blue line this means your not getting sound. If this is the case check your settings you could have a loose cable ect

[img][img]http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/4052/41843940yx1.jpg[/img][/img]

Now click on file and export as mp3.




And if you see this sucker click no for now.

[img][img]http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/137/10zn5.jpg[/img][/img]lame mpe codec click on this link and it should take you here

and click on download link. [img][img]http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/745/11fp1.jpg[/img][/img]

use a zipping utility (the default windows xp one is fine but if your using pre-xp editions of windows google winrar). just extract lame_enc.dll from the archive ignore the rest. Extract it to C:\Program Files\Audacity




[img][img]http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3419/12gr0.jpg[/img][/img]


Now open audacity if you have not already, Export files as mp3 you should get that error again now click yes. Now browse C:\Program Files\Audacity\ and hopefully lame_enc.dll should be visbable click open.



Now you should see this. now just click ok.

I hope this helps!

if you get stuck here is a video

Feel free to ask me any questions!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuQiXmC2Cjs[/youtube]

I really like audacity and lame.

When recording, you also want to optimize the sound so you don't get clipping.

Mac users can just run a wire from the receiver's output to the computer's input, open Garage Band, press record, convert the file to an mp3, and copy it to iTunes.

I like to automatically set the recording level, then turn the radio volume down a notch. If I keep something, I clean it and maximize the sound level in the editor.

Good points but ogg files work as well in most audio players and is the default import file in audacity . Still i have the mp3 encoders but rarly use them. Recording from a mic it's hard to get the sound recorded at a good level that's were audacity needs a few fixs a better record level meter.

I think on a mac you could leave the song on your computer, connect the digital out to the digital in, and get a perfect copy.

and if you want to just record anything you hear on your computer like videos playing or whatever
go to stereomix instead of line in

of course with no stereomix i find firebug on firefox will allow you to take anything you want
in the case of .flv videos you can get some free download from Cnet and convert it to a something that maybe audacity will extract audio from
i have something else but it looks similar

i love records
i don't like tapes, they were short lived for a reason

If you got a classic component stereo system, you can swap that cable with the mini-plug ends with a stereo "Y" cable with RCA plugs one end like this:


Plug the RCA connectors into the "record out" or "Tape Out" sockets on your stereo receiver. If your cassette deck is already occupying this socket, just unplug it, you won't need record out to the cassette deck for what you are doing. Plug the mini plug into your sound card. Select the signal source on your stereo receiver you want to record from ...turntable, tape, etc... Now, just do everything else as SqrachMasda described