Trouble With Audio Playback - Help! -Sound Forge - PC

Subject:Trouble With Audio Playback - Help! Posted by: ianchap Date:11/7/2002 7:58:13 PM I was wondering if anyone could help me, and I'm sorry if this is easy but I'm new at this. I have SF 6.0 and want to transfer audio from minidisc to my HP Pavillion laptop. The laptop has no line-in so I am using a stereo mini-jack to mini-jack lead from the minidisc's line out to the laptop's microphone input. The sound is perfect while recording from the minidisc, but when I listen to the SF playback of the audio it is muffled, quiet and distorted. I have adjusted all settings I can find and it makes no difference. Please can someone tell me if there's something simple I'm missing, or what I may need to correct this problem? Like I said, the sound is perfect whilst recording, so I don't think it's my soundcard (ESS Allegro), it's just the playback of the recording that is muffled quality. Please can anyone help me?
Subject:RE: Trouble With Audio Playback - Help! Reply by: Chienworks Date:11/7/2002 9:08:36 PM Are you adjusting the recording volume for your sound card or are you only adjusting the playback volume? When you have the volume control mixer panel open, click on Options, Properties, and select "Recording". You will now be looking at the input levels instead of the monitoring levels. This is where you set the recording volume. Generally if you connect a line level source to a microphone input you'll end up overdriving it badly. Apparently that's not happening for you since you say it sounds good while recording. But, just to be safe, you might want to look into getting an attenuating patch cord, which reduces the volume from the minidisc player to an appropriate level for the mic input jack. This will avoid distortion from overdriving the input.
Subject:RE: Trouble With Audio Playback - Help! Reply by: Sonic Date:11/8/2002 9:49:25 AM Also, take a look at the file properties you are recording to and make sure they are what you wanted.
Subject:RE: Trouble With Audio Playback - Help! Reply by: ianchap Date:11/8/2002 11:18:29 AM thanks for your help, this patch chord thing sounds like it might do the job! Any advice where/how to get one? is it software or hardware? Thanks guys.
Subject:RE: Trouble With Audio Playback - Help! Reply by: Chienworks Date:11/8/2002 3:07:55 PM Probably the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to get the attenuating patch cord is at RadioShack. They make two versions: one is a 6 foot cord with an RCA plug at one end and a mono 1/8" plug at the other, the second one is an adapter from RCA to 1/8" mono. Neither one fits your application perfectly, but add in a Y adapter and you should be able to get it hooked up properly.

Subject:Trouble With Audio Playback - Help!

Posted by: ianchap

Date:11/7/2002 7:58:13 PM

I was wondering if anyone could help me, and I'm sorry if this is easy but I'm new at this. I have SF 6.0 and want to transfer audio from minidisc to my HP Pavillion laptop. The laptop has no line-in so I am using a stereo mini-jack to mini-jack lead from the minidisc's line out to the laptop's microphone input. The sound is perfect while recording from the minidisc, but when I listen to the SF playback of the audio it is muffled, quiet and distorted. I have adjusted all settings I can find and it makes no difference. Please can someone tell me if there's something simple I'm missing, or what I may need to correct this problem? Like I said, the sound is perfect whilst recording, so I don't think it's my soundcard (ESS Allegro), it's just the playback of the recording that is muffled quality. Please can anyone help me?

Subject:RE: Trouble With Audio Playback - Help!

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:11/7/2002 9:08:36 PM

Are you adjusting the recording volume for your sound card or are you only adjusting the playback volume? When you have the volume control mixer panel open, click on Options, Properties, and select "Recording". You will now be looking at the input levels instead of the monitoring levels. This is where you set the recording volume.

Generally if you connect a line level source to a microphone input you'll end up overdriving it badly. Apparently that's not happening for you since you say it sounds good while recording. But, just to be safe, you might want to look into getting an attenuating patch cord, which reduces the volume from the minidisc player to an appropriate level for the mic input jack. This will avoid distortion from overdriving the input.

Subject:RE: Trouble With Audio Playback - Help!

Reply by: Sonic

Date:11/8/2002 9:49:25 AM

Also, take a look at the file properties you are recording to and make sure they are what you wanted.

Subject:RE: Trouble With Audio Playback - Help!

Reply by: ianchap

Date:11/8/2002 11:18:29 AM

thanks for your help, this patch chord thing sounds like it might do the job! Any advice where/how to get one? is it software or hardware?

Thanks guys.

Subject:RE: Trouble With Audio Playback - Help!

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:11/8/2002 3:07:55 PM

Probably the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to get the attenuating patch cord is at RadioShack. They make two versions: one is a 6 foot cord with an RCA plug at one end and a mono 1/8" plug at the other, the second one is an adapter from RCA to 1/8" mono. Neither one fits your application perfectly, but add in a Y adapter and you should be able to get it hooked up properly.