Unable to make recording from cassette to computer hard drive

leif-hkansson wrote on 1/4/2021, 7:37 AM

Hi all

I am not able to record from my cassette player to my hard drive which worked fine a few months ago. I´ve connected the cassette player via line out and the Magix box to the line input and also connected the USB cable to the computer. When pressing recording I get the message "Waveform-device Line (Magic Pre Amp can´t open for recording) Unknown external fault. Activate setting WDM under alternative soundcard". I did the latter, but nothing happens. I have also updated the installation but to no avail. Would appreciate some advice?

All the best

Leif

Comments

emmrecs wrote on 1/4/2021, 9:26 AM

@leif-hkansson

What is the Magix box you refer to? AFAIK, ACL has never had nor needed any type of external box for the sort of transfer (audio cassette to computer) that you are wanting to do.

Jeff

Win 10 Pro 64 bit, Intel i7 Quad Core 6700K @ 4GHz, 32 GB RAM, NVidia GTX 1660TI and Intel HD530 Graphics, MOTU 8-Pre f/w audio interface, VPX, MEP, Music Maker, PhotoStory Deluxe, Photo Manager Deluxe, Xara 3D Maker 7, Samplitude Pro X7 Suite, Reaper, Adobe Audition 3, CS6 and CC, 2 x Canon HG10 cameras, 1 x Canon EOS 600D, Akaso EK7000 Pro Action Cam

leif-hkansson wrote on 1/4/2021, 11:20 AM

Apparently the device is called USB pre-amp

leif-hkansson wrote on 1/7/2021, 7:33 AM

@leif-hkansson

What is the Magix box you refer to? AFAIK, ACL has never had nor needed any type of external box for the sort of transfer (audio cassette to computer) that you are wanting to do.

Jeff

Hi

So I try again. I have the Rescue your Vinyl & Tapes 2016 pack including a preamp for connections between laptop and cassette player/record player. I connected the tape deck through line out with a cable to the pre-amp line in. And then connected the pre-amp thorugh the USB cable to the computer. I chose the cassette option in Audio Cleaning Lab 2016, but when I push the rec button I get this message: "Wave form device (line MAGIX phono pre-amp can´t open for recording. Reason: unknown external fault. Active setting WDM under the soundcard alternatives" However, it hasn´t helped doing this. Can you provide a solution, please.

Kindly Leif

johnebaker wrote on 1/8/2021, 10:34 AM

@leif-hkansson

Hi

. . . . I chose the cassette option in Audio Cleaning Lab 2016 . . . .

This is not the correct way to record from the turntable using the USB pre-amp and ACL 2016.

The manual, available under Help, details how to use the pre-amp - see the section Stereo phono pre-amp and the following section LP recordings on your PC or laptop.

John EB

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

leif-hkansson wrote on 1/10/2021, 5:01 AM

Hi

@leif-hkansson

Hi

. . . . I chose the cassette option in Audio Cleaning Lab 2016 . . . .

This is not the correct way to record from the turntable using the USB pre-amp and ACL 2016.

The manual, available under Help, details how to use the pre-amp - see the section Stereo phono pre-amp and the following section LP recordings on your PC or laptop.

John EB

Hi

Thanks, but first of all I try to record from my cassette player. Secondly I watched the tutorial video for this and to my knowledge (as I referred to in my earlier post) I did connect the way it should be according to that. So I still haven´t got anywhere with trying to record. As a matter of fact I used this program a lot before, but haven´t done so in the last year or so until now. So what do I try next?

Kindly Leif

johnebaker wrote on 1/10/2021, 9:53 AM

@leif-hkansson

Hi

Which tutorial were you following?

When you activate the recording function (“R” key) did you select the pre-amp as the recording input? It may appear as “PA-005-2 USB” - under “Sound card” as shown below.

John EB

 

 

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

browj2 wrote on 1/10/2021, 10:30 AM

@johnebaker

Hi John,

In your previous post, you mention turntable. The OP is using a cassette player, not a turntable.

My turntable is old and I have it connected to a phono amp which is connected to the audio in phono sockets on my computer. There is no USB associated.

My cassette player does not need a phono amp. I simply connect the audio out of the cassette player to the audio in on my computer using phono jacks.

@leif-hkansson

Hi,

Do you not have phono jack style audio in sockets on your computer?

Normally, you should not have to use a phono amp with the audio out of a cassette player.

John CB

John C.B.

VideoPro X(16); Movie Studio 2024 Platinum; MM2025 Premium Edition; Samplitude Pro X8 Suite; see About me for more.

Desktop System - Windows 10 Pro 22H2; MB ROG STRIX B560-A Gaming WiFi; Graphics Card Zotac Gaming NVIDIA GeForce RTX-3060, PS; Power supply EVGA 750W; Intel Core i7-10700K @ 3.80GHz (UHD Graphics 630); RAM 32 GB; OS on Kingston SSD 1TB; secondary WD 2TB; others 1.5TB, 3TB, 500GB, 4TB, 5TB, 6TB, 8TB; three monitors - HP 25" main, LG 4K 27" second, HP 27" third; Casio WK-225 piano keyboard; M-Audio M-Track USB mixer.

Notebook - Microsoft Surface Pro 4, i5-6300U, 8 GB RAM, 256 SSD, W10 Pro 20H2.

YouTube Channel: @JCBrownVideos

johnebaker wrote on 1/10/2021, 1:19 PM

@leif-hkansson

Hi

I have just found this tutorial for RYV&T 2016 using the pre-amp - is this the one you were following?

If so - the switch must be set as Line in and the cassette player output plugged in to the Line In socket.

The setting up of Audio Cleaning Lab and Rescue your Vinyl & Tapes is the same in that the device must be selected in the Recording dialog.

@browj2

From Leif's last but one comment above

. . . .  I have the Rescue your Vinyl & Tapes 2016 pack including a preamp for connections between laptop and cassette player/record player.  . . . .

John EB

Last changed by johnebaker on 1/10/2021, 1:21 PM, changed a total of 3 times.

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

leif-hkansson wrote on 1/11/2021, 3:23 AM

@leif-hkansson

Hi

I have just found this tutorial for RYV&T 2016 using the pre-amp - is this the one you were following?

If so - the switch must be set as Line in and the cassette player output plugged in to the Line In socket.

The setting up of Audio Cleaning Lab and Rescue your Vinyl & Tapes is the same in that the device must be selected in the Recording dialog.

@browj2

From Leif's last but one comment above

. . . .  I have the Rescue your Vinyl & Tapes 2016 pack including a preamp for connections between laptop and cassette player/record player.  . . . .

John EB

Hi

Thanks for trying to help. Yes, that is the tutorial in the link I´m following, and the result is the same whether I plug into the line in or line out in my cassette deck or whether I use the pre-amp (line in+line in switch) to the computer. It´s also the same negative result if I try to connect the cable directly from the phone socket on my laptop tothe cassette deck. In the ACL soundcard settings I can choose Line MAGIX Phono PreAmp (PA 0 or Microphone MAGIX PreAmp (P or Microphone Realtek High Definition. All or resulting in the message "Waveform-Device ....cannot be opened for recording. Reason: unknown external fault. Activate the setting WDM under soundcard alternatives"

KIndly Leif

johnebaker wrote on 1/11/2021, 8:35 AM

@leif-hkansson

Hi

. . . . Reason: unknown external fault . . . .

This would suggest the Pre-amp is faulty or the laptop USB ports, if they are USB 3 are not switching correctly to USB2.

If the laptop has a combination mic/headphone socket, this can also cause issues when plugging the Line out of the cassette deck to input socket - this is not recommended as the Line out voltages from the cassette player could damage the input on the laptop irrespective of whether it has a combi mic/headphone socket or separate sockets or lead to severe overload distortion.

John EB

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

leif-hkansson wrote on 1/11/2021, 8:57 AM

@leif-hkansson

Hi

. . . . Reason: unknown external fault . . . .

This would suggest the Pre-amp is faulty or the laptop USB ports, if they are USB 3 are not switching correctly to USB2.

If the laptop has a combination mic/headphone socket, this can also cause issues when plugging the Line out of the cassette deck to input socket - this is not recommended as the Line out voltages from the cassette player could damage the input on the laptop irrespective of whether it has a combi mic/headphone socket or separate sockets or lead to severe overload distortion.

John EB

Hi

So it seems I´m not able to solve the issue, at least not on my laptop. Can I install the program to another computer to check if I can find a solution that way? In that case, what operatative systems do ACL support?

Cheers Leif

johnebaker wrote on 1/11/2021, 11:33 AM

@leif-hkansson

Hi

. . . . Can I install the program to another computer to check if I can find a solution that way? In that case, what operatative systems do ACL support? . . . .

Yes - you have 2 activation slots so you can install and run on 2 computers. If you have already used the 2 slots you will need to de-activate one in your account at magix.com.

ACL 3 requires Windows 8 or 10 - Windows 7 and earlier are not supported.

HTH

John EB

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.

leif-hkansson wrote on 1/13/2021, 4:24 PM

Hello

Just wanted to let you know that I finally had to dust off my wife´s old laptop and install ACL on it. And it worked. It will be a little more inconvenient with USB sticks back and forth, but it´s better than nothing! So it seems I can´t get rid of neither wife or her old computer...

Thanks for your support

Leif

johnebaker wrote on 1/14/2021, 9:12 AM

@leif-hkansson

Hi Leif

Thanks for the feedback - this may suggest the issue is with the USB3 ports on the other computer not being consistent at supporting USB2 devices.

John EB

VPX 16, Movie Studio 2025, and earlier versions 2015 and 2016, Music Maker Premium 2024.

PC - running Windows 11 23H2 Professional on Intel i7-8700K 3.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, RTX 2060 6GB 192-bit GDDR6, 1 x 1Tb Sabrent NVME SSD (OS and programs), 2 x 4TB (Data) internal HDD + 1TB internal SSD (Work disc), + 6 ext backup HDDs.

Laptop - Lenovo Legion 5i Phantom - running Windows 11 23H2 on Intel Core i7-10750H, 16GB DDR4-SDRAM, 512GB SSD, 43.9 cm screen Full HD 1920 x 1080, Intel UHD 630 iGPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB GDDR6)

Sony FDR-AX53e Video camera, DJI Osmo Action 3 and Sony HDR-AS30V Sports cams.