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Subject:Recording from casette
Posted by: ositogrande
Date:6/16/2002 10:15:06 AM

I am a beginner. I have Sound Forge XP 4.5 (Windows)
Am trying to transfer a voice recording from a casette player to my PC for editing etc. to include as a wav file in a short movie
I have 2 RCA plugs (R & L line out) to 1 RCA to y "line in" on my sound card.
Dont know exactly know how to capture the sound with SF.
Have tried "Recording" and I do get a file but is of very poor quality, very low volume, and the wave signal show as very "thick" from -6 to +6 almost solid.
Any ideas please?
thank you
OG

Subject:RE: Recording from casette
Reply by: ositogrande
Date:6/16/2002 10:15:50 AM

I am a beginner. I have Sound Forge XP 4.5 (Windows)
Am trying to transfer a voice recording from a casette player to my PC for editing etc. to include as a wav file in a short movie
I have 2 RCA plugs (R & L line out) to 1 RCA to y "line in" on my sound card.
Dont know exactly know how to capture the sound with SF.
Have tried "Recording" and I do get a file but is of very poor quality, very low volume, and the wave signal show as very "thick" from -6 to +6 almost solid.
Any ideas please?
thank you
OG

Subject:RE: Recording from casette
Reply by: RiRo
Date:6/16/2002 3:44:14 PM

It could be your levels for the sound card. Some are at professional levels, some are at more home stereo levels. Most Cassettes with the phono outs are set at the -10 db home level. When you record, open up the "volume control" (little speaker in the task bar) and set the level for the line-in. This may work. You can use the vu meter in sound forge for the correct setting. This may help, or not. There could be other things that cause bad sound. I'm taking a stab at this one.

Subject:RE: Recording from casette
Reply by: jgalt
Date:6/17/2002 5:18:40 AM

To quote RiRio: I'll take a stab at this.

Be sure the output of your cassette deck feeds the Line Input jack on your soundcard and NOT the Microphone jack.

DOUBLE click on the icon in your task bar that represents the volume control for your soundcard. For many soundcards this will be a picture of a speaker.

When the picture of a mixer appears on your screen, examine it carefully. There probably will be an Options Tab. Click on it. Click on the Properties tab that shows. You now have options to show the Playback mixer or the Recording mixer. I suggest you carefully look at both until you understand what is taking place. Make sure no "critical" to your operation Mute boxes are checked.

For recording from your cassette you want the Recording mixer Line in box checked. Follow RiRio's suggestion as to setting the recording volume - have the volume on the low side so that you do not cause clipping distortion. You can correct for volume level later from within Sound Forge by using the Normalize option.

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