Recording audio on laptop

[RabbieBurns]

My laptop on has a headphone socket and a microphone input. My old laptop had a line in as well. When I'm trying to record audio on my new laptop, the levels are all wrong and it sounds rubbish as I'm having to use a microphone input.

 

Is there anything I can do to resolve this, apart from using an external soundcard?

[laserblazer]

What is the source audio player? Are you using the speaker output?

[Domino]

if you go into sounds and audio devices, can you see under the audio tab, recording, volume if there's an option to select line in rather than microphone?

 

depends on the soundcard model....

[Andrew_C]

Is there anything I can do to resolve this, apart from using an external soundcard?

Not unless you are using a mic, and are happy with pretty poor sound.

[mac_shinobi]

if you go into sounds and audio devices, can you see under the audio tab, recording, volume if there's an option to select line in rather than microphone?

 

depends on the soundcard model....

 

I would use audacity and use the line in option and just use a double ended 3.5mm audio cable.

[RabbieBurns]

Source audio is the line out from my mixer. Using cool edit pro.

 

Soundcard options only have mic http://www.peninsulafm.com/sc.PNG

 

Think im gonna need to invest in an external SC to be honest.

[GrumbleDook]

Griffin iMic is my personal favourite tool for this. You just have to make sure the USB port is not right next to the power jack as there is a rare occurrence of interference (and according to Sod's Law, it will happen when it is most disastrous!) Edited February 14, 2009 by GrumbleDook

[DrPerceptron]

My laptop on has a headphone socket and a microphone input. My old laptop had a line in as well. When I'm trying to record audio on my new laptop, the levels are all wrong and it sounds rubbish as I'm having to use a microphone input.

 

Is there anything I can do to resolve this, apart from using an external soundcard?

 

Can Audacity not rip sound straight from your sound card?

 

I've had a laptop I could do this on before, I know it can be done on a lot of creative desktop sound cards too...

 

The Latitude D505 and D820 I've used at work are both happy to take a stereo 3.5mm jack-jack lead between headphones and Microphone and record sound good enough for what I've used it for...

[RabbieBurns]

The "stereo mix" is the option to record what the soundcard is playing.

 

I can record using the microphone input but it is not of a quality I would want to use.

 

Ill just buy an external usb or firewire soundcard. I dont think they are very expensive?

 

That iMac thing looks to Mac like for my liking ;p

[mac_shinobi]

That iMac thing looks to Mac like for my liking ;p

 

made me laugh - now I will

[Andrew_C]

USB run from £25 - £600. I've moved from USB to Firewire as I was hitting problems with USB sharing its speed with other essential peripherals as my set-up has to multitask. Probably not an issue for you.

=&pg=1"]

Dolphin have a fair range, I use M-Audio, and Tascam.

[GrumbleDook]

The "stereo mix" is the option to record what the soundcard is playing.

 

I can record using the microphone input but it is not of a quality I would want to use.

 

Ill just buy an external usb or firewire soundcard. I dont think they are very expensive?

 

That iMac thing looks to Mac like for my liking ;p

It was a typo ... I meant iMic ... basically a USB external sound card.

[RabbieBurns]

It was a typo ... I meant iMic ... basically a USB external sound card.

 

Yeh, I looked it up. Still looked to white and fancy for me

[Domino]

these Tapco Link USB (GAK)

 

are really good for the money, robust, nice results etc.

 

However if you've a firewire card it would be tonnes better to go with a firewire one

[Andrew_C]

However if you've a firewire card it would be tonnes better to go with a firewire one

Unless you have a lot of USB peripherals, I don't see why. USB2 is on paper faster than FireWire.

[RabbieBurns]

From what Ive read fire wire is only beneficial if you're using multiple inputs etc. I'm just gonna be taking one stereo input, and when Ill be using it the only other USB ill have will be a mouse.

 

Tempted to go for a Creative but been told boycott them so Ill have a good look about tomorrow and do some proper research, and Ill cheek out that one too Domino.

 

Cheers for the suggestions.