Tech: Laptop help

Subject: Tech: Laptop help
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 12:40 PM

My PC has gone belly-up and is in for repair so I'm forced to use my Lenovo Ideapad Laptop (hate-hate-hate)
I was never able to import sound to digitise tapes etc as I wasn't sure how to switch off the built in mike - when I finally managed it I found I couldn't import anything onto my Adobe Audition software
My laptop comes with two mini-jack inputs - one for headphones - fine, the other, for mike - dead as Jacob Marley
Can I import sound from a tape recorder, etc into a Lenovo - if so, how ?
Help would be much appreciated
Thanks
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: DaveRo
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 01:27 PM

If it has USB, buy an external USB soundcard with a line input. If the laptop runs Windows there is plenty of choice on ebay, for example those branded 'Creative Soundblaster'. Make sure it has drivers for your version of Windows.

I used a 'Terratec Aureon 5.1 USB soundcard' (which is one a the very few which runs under Linux) when I had to record on a laptop which didn't have a line-in socket. It had several inputs and its own headphone socket and volume control.

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 01:32 PM

Is this one where one of your personal recorders (eg. Zoom) and USB could help you out?

--
Totally OT but I like dad's (running Linux) Lenovo Thinkpad. Not a posh one but still a better build quality than my faster Asus.

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 01:33 PM

Dave beat me to it...

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 01:37 PM

Jim - if you are dipping your toes in USB audio interfaces, The budget price Behringer range are gaining popularity for first time users.

http://www.musictribe.com/Categories/Behringer/Computer-Audio/Interfaces/c/Interfaces-123403?group=Interfaces&colExpFlag=,Interf

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 01:39 PM

I have a USB sound dongle, Jim. PM me your address and I will email it to you.

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: Mr Red
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 02:04 PM

I bought a USB dongle that worked faultlessly on recordings. You have to find it in audacity.

Has in and out and is isolated AFAIK

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 02:10 PM

Again OT but DaveRo, on re reading.

I used a 'Terratec Aureon 5.1 USB soundcard' (which is one a the very few which runs under Linux)

I think quite a few USB sound devices (anything snd-usb?) will work on Linux these days. I've not used much and I've had some stuff a while... but known to work here are the same card you mentioned (which I'd give away if I found it), Zooms H4 and H6 - the latter in stereo and in multi channel mode, Yamaha Mixers MW10C and MG166CX USB and an Edirol MIDI UM-2 interface.

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 02:53 PM

That's why I love this forum - many thanks all
there's a pint or ten waiting for anybody who finds themselves in the region of Miltown Malbay
Jim

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 03:32 PM

Most operating systems have a sound control window, usually reachable by clicking on a little loudspeaker symbol in the bottom right corner of the screen. Otherwise from "Start" -> "System settings" menu items, or similar. This window may offer you an ON/OFF checkbox and a slider for input volume; one set for each sound input plug. If you only see the ones for output devices, there may be a little button or menu item labeled "Input" or similar. Good luck!

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 09 Feb 19 - 07:48 PM

Sooooo Happy to see Linux is still used by Mudcatters.

It is easy to view transparent
Country of source
Previous and foreward isp

Close enough to unix to run a root.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

go to the google inside link and you will be blown away.

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: DaveRo
Date: 10 Feb 19 - 02:47 AM

Even if you can resurrect the microphone input, it's not the same as a line-in input - different sensitivity and impedance. Decent sound cards have both, and most laptops used to have both. Some laptops now only have a combined headphone/microphone port for a headset - the mic is mono.

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 10 Feb 19 - 08:33 AM

I know that at least one of the two laptops here use the combined jack, Dave but it's not really an issue here.

Dad's needs are just playback and I think Bluetooth provides the best solution there. Or at least he can play to his headphones, the Yamaha base under the tv and to a Pioneer amp that way. At least when he wants to and I tend to have to set things up for him (not difficult but he can forget how to do things).

Of what we have, the Zoom H6 would be my most likely device if I wanted to record audio to the laptop. The base unit has 4 combined XLR/TRS and an 1/8" line in.

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: Mr Red
Date: 10 Feb 19 - 12:38 PM

this is the USB dongle that I have

Subject: RE: Tech: Laptop help
From: DaveRo
Date: 10 Feb 19 - 01:19 PM

Jon Freeman wrote: I think quite a few USB sound devices (anything snd-usb?) will work on Linux these days.

You're right. I'm out of date. I bought my USB soundcard in 2006, when very few worked with Linux - you had to research the chipset.

I suppose the clue - for example with that dongle of Mr Red's - is that it says it doesn't need a driver to install.