Recording music tapes to my computer

[Guest]

I have been successfully copying music tapes to my HP Media Center computer,
using a cable from the tape player headphones socket to the blue 'LINE-IN'
connection on the back of my HP Media Center.

I use Goldwave to record the music and had no problems for the first 50 or
so tapes, recording the tunes (as recorded) in stereo. I burned CDs without
problem, and they play back ok in stereo on the computer and other equipment.
(I clear all recordings once the CD has been written to clear space for
future stuff).

In the last few days I have encountered a problem whereby the recording to
the computer appears to be happening in mono instead of stereo. It's not the
tape or tape player because the sound on that still comes from both speakers.

I have also plugged headphones into the speaker connection on the computer
and the output to the headphones/speakers is way down on one side.

Is my problem with the LINE-IN connection, a sound setting (although I don't
remember changing any settings), maybe sound card related, or what?

Any ideas gratefully received to help this older person copy the remaining
25ish tapes to complete the job!!

Mike S.

 

[theplectrum]

I have been successfully copying music tapes to my HP Media Center
computer,
using a cable from the tape player headphones socket to the blue 'LINE-IN'
connection on the back of my HP Media Center.

I use Goldwave to record the music and had no problems for the first 50 or
so tapes, recording the tunes (as recorded) in stereo. I burned CDs
without
problem, and they play back ok in stereo on the computer and other
equipment.
(I clear all recordings once the CD has been written to clear space for
future stuff).

In the last few days I have encountered a problem whereby the recording to
the computer appears to be happening in mono instead of stereo. It's not
the
tape or tape player because the sound on that still comes from both
speakers.

I have also plugged headphones into the speaker connection on the computer
and the output to the headphones/speakers is way down on one side.

Is my problem with the LINE-IN connection, a sound setting (although I
don't
remember changing any settings), maybe sound card related, or what?

Any ideas gratefully received to help this older person copy the remaining
25ish tapes to complete the job!!

Mike S.

Ah, Goldwave, j'adore !

Double click on the loudspeaker icone in the Systray > Options > Properties

Recording > OK > Is one of the panning sliders competely to the left or

the right ? If so, move it back to the middle and that should fix things.

If not, you may have a "bad" connection with the lead you're using, replace
it and try again.

Also, try downloading Audacity (freeware). If the same thing happens with
this software then you have a bad connection somewhere. Or your tapes are
monaural ..... !

Re post if the problem persists.

BTW, did you install any new sound software prior to this happening ? Run
your antivirus.

Cheers,
Jerry

 

[Guest]

Jerry, j'adore!!! (in a manly way of course)

I had considered the soundsliders may have somehow moved and had already
checked them - they were fine and having re-checked today, no change.

I also considered a bad connection, and had tried disconnecting and
reconnecting the leads, but had not tried simply reversing them between the
two bits of equipment. On this new day I have done just that, and bingo I am
back in business.

Thanks for your help and ideas, which generated this so simple test I should
have tried. Bad connection sorted (or if it repeats I'll know what is wrong).

PS. As a first time user in the newsgroups, my wife and I noticed you are
very active in advising solutions to all sorts of problems, and she suggested
we addressed our problem directly to 'Jerry' - maybe we should have done so.
Thanks again.