Mic stuck on & can't record via Line In

nick roto · 06 Aug 2011

I have been trying to record an old vinyl track to my PC but am finding it hard to understand how to with Win 7. In the course of my attempts I used Windows Troubleshooter which has resulted in a problem so I need to undo the changes it made. Then I need assistance with how to record via LINE IN.

1. Since using Windows Troubleshooting (Hardware&Sound|Recording Audio) my MS Lifecam VX5000 has taken over, its mic is now permanently on so that I either have to unplug the camera when not actually using it (for Skype) or turn off the speakers. How can I restore the settings to how they were i.e. so that the mic is only on when the camera is in use?

2. I want to record some music from old LP records to add to some video recordings I've made. Until now (on my old XP setup using exactly the same hardware) I have used the mic (not the camera mic) to pick up sound from my music-system speakers but would like to do it direct via the sound card. My first problem is sorting out the input.
I have a pre-amp between my record deck and music system's Aux input and have tried plugging the pre-amp directly into the PC's Line In socket instead but can't seem to pick up the sound via IDT Audio Control Panel. The Panel adds a "?" to its diagramatic display on Line In but I can't see how to configure it. The Panel should be obvious but I can't follow what's needed nor find any user guide, even via Google.

fireberd · 06 Aug 2011

First, you need a "recording" program so you can record the Line In audio to the Pc's hard drive. The free (and very popular) Audacity program will do that. There is a Windows sound recorder but I don't recommend that. Audacity even has some capability to remove noise, pops, clicks, etc from the old vinyl.

When playing a vinyl (e.g. 33 1/3 LP) you can't connect the turntable direct, you need a preamp that has an RIAA equalizer option (e.g. phono input on the preamp). If you have a preamp that does not have the RIAA, the recordings will sound bad.

As far as the input settings, go to the Control Panel/Hardware and Sound and finally the Sound Panel. Click the Recording Tab and it should list your devices such as Line In, Mic, and if you are lucky "System Mixer". If you have the System Mixer it should cover any input and if you are hearing the Line In input on the PC's speakers then you can use the System Mixer as the default recording device (set it as the default recording device). If you do not have the System Mixer, you should set the Line In as the default recording device.

Whichever device you will be using (System Mixer or Line In) needs to be set as the input device in Audacity. You can then record your vinyl and save it as wav files on the hard drive. Save them as wav, not MP3 as a wav file is full fidelity, MP3 files are "something" less than full fidelity.

Bascially, this is the same as recording in XP, just may be different terminology or different display of the sound in the Control Panel.

Audacity: Free Audio Editor and Recorder

nick roto · 07 Aug 2011

Thanks Fireberd,

I don't have "System Mixer" but something called "Stereo Mix" which I have set as the default. This seems to be working, at least I can here my vinyl track played via the computer's speakers, so I can proceed now to check the levels so sound is not distorted and get Audacity.

However, the mic on the Lifecam is still enabled when I don't want it. I can use the Sound control panel to reduce the input volume to zero but I actually want restored to how it was i.e. it would pick up sound when I use Skype but not otherwise. Any idea what changed when I used Troubleshooter?

fireberd · 07 Aug 2011

The lifecam must be a video cam connected to the PC and those can interfere with other audio functions. Disable it in the Device Manager or just unhook it and that should take care of it until you want to use it and then enable it.

Stereo Mix is the same as system mixer. Some newer systems call it Stereo Mix.