Looking for advice as to how I can continue to transfer music from tape/vinyl in Windows 11 / laptop in Sound Forge?
Would I need to purchase an external Sound Card to enable this?...as I have since found that the originating sound is no longer detected in the recording mode using my line-in 3.5mm jack/cable from my amp/Hi Fi.
Seasons greetings @Steve-Weeks, Check your Windows sound settings for the correct default input. Then in SF's "Options> Preferences> Audio" menu, designate the source there,. Set your record levels at the source or in windows sound settings with the SF record level volume meter in "View> Record options".
Many PC laptops these days, only have an unbalanced external microphone level input via a 3.5mm TRRS mini-plug @ -50dB). Line level +4dB or -10dB) signals can need to be attenuated externally. For digitizing vinyl, an RIAA preamp/interface may be needed.
Hi
. . . . Would I need to purchase an external Sound Card to enable this? . . . .
Not necessarally, depending on the laptop make/model the single 3.5mm jack may be a combo input, for a microphone the plug has to be a TRRS, ie tip-ring-ring-sleeve, and for Line in a standard TRS tip, ring, sleeve plug is used.
In Windows 11 settings try changing the Recording input to the Stereo Mixer and select this in SF for the record input.
Also ensure that you have Windows system sounds turned off, otherwie you may get notification pings and other system sounds recorded.
HTH
John EB
Hi John,
The Windows 11 view I see is as below :
Not sure where the recording input / stereo mixer is that you refer to in your reply?
Thanks.
Choosing the 'Stereo Mixer' (typical of Realtec sound cards) as the input, is usually to 'record what you hear'.. for instance, an audio stream from the internet.
If your turntable has a USB interface, Choose that. If it's an analog input, that would likely be Ext Mic or Line.
In the screenshot you posted I think the critical factor is that the "Input" section shows "No input devices found". Unless and until your computer "finds" at least one device, nothing will be recorded.
Open Control Panel, go to "Sound" (click on it) go to the Recording tab and see what, if any, devices are shown there as installed on your computer. Then tell us what is listed.
Jeff
Forum Moderator
Hi
In addition to my previous comment:
Most laptops have a single TRRS (tip, 2rings and sleeve) compatible socket for headphone and microphone, this is the same as mobile phones.
Using the Stereo mixer option as a recording source, in Windows Sound settings, is a possibility providing the laptop input can handle the voltage level from a true 'Line-out' and the cable is wired correctly, using a standard TRS (tip, ring,sleeve) plug will not do.
Most cannot handle the signal level, they normally expect a microphone to be connected, the output from the amp is likely to overload and possibly damage the laptop if the amp output is not a true 'Line-out'.
There is the additional problem in that the TRRS mini jack connections for the input are mono, and though the signal may be fed to both L and R channels in the mixer, it is still mono.
The best option is an external USB audio device that has stereo Line-in input capability, check out M-Audio, FocusRite and other well known brands, avoid the cheap junk that is available from many sources on the Internet.
John EB
Forum Moderator
Hi John,
Thanks for your reply here, having now found the recording settings, this is what shows :
I am using a Maplin dedicated quality stereo cable which connects to the amp via a left/right channel adapter/plug directly into the Headphones socket of the amp (2 gold plated connectors) for the line-out where there is a red plug at the other end, previously plugged into the line-in socket on my original sound card inputs on the older tower PC.
Would this convert the stereo signal OK into the laptop for Sound Forge?
Thank you for the screenshot.
As you will see, it clearly shows that all your possible inputs are either "Disabled" or "Not plugged in"!
Please re-read John's post directly above yours about the problem of connecting your amplifier to your laptop. My personal feeling is that what you are attempting to do will either, not work at all (assuming you use the External Microphone option) or, its input will be considerably overloaded and produce very high levels of distortion. "Stereo Mix" is unlikely to help either since it records what you are playing/listening to on your laptop but if it is already highly distorted, highly distorted audio is what will be recorded!
The advice to purchase an external USB audio interface is the best option for you, in my opinion.
HTH
Jeff
HI
. . . . using a Maplin dedicated quality stereo cable which connects to the amp via a left/right channel adapter/plug directly into the Headphones socket of the amp. . . .
I strongly advise you not to attempt to use this with the laptop, recording from a Headphones output could be fatal to the laptop inputs. Headphone peak voltages being higher than that of a standard Line out by a factor of 2x or this is aggravated by impedance mismatches which add further issues.
Additionally recording from the headphone socket gives higher noise levels than a true Line out would, the lower you set the headphone output, to avoid overloading, the Signal to Noise ratio decreases resulting in the recording having higher noise levels.
If the amp does not have true Line Out sockets then another factor for capturing vinyl arises.
Depending on the turntable, an appropriate pre-amp may be required to connect to an external audio device or the external USB Device should have tone cartidge appropriate inputs.
John EB