Cassette digitiser

[Mokles]

Hi all

 

I bought a cassette digitiser which comes with AudioLava software. Everything appeared to be going hunky dory, except that I can't hear a thing. It appears to be working and recording the track but I can't get any sound out of it and there's a funtion that allows you to hear it as it's recording - but nothing.

 

Any suggestions about what to do or recommendations for alternative software that I could use?

 

Thanks. :)

[Plastic Nev]

Hi Mokles,

I assume the cassette digitiser is plugged into a USB port, let me know if otherwise please.

However, if indeed it is plugged into a USB port, a few things to look into as it may require some settings changing in your sound system. I will go through those once I know for sure it is via USB.

In the mean time, first of all do you know where the digital sound file is being put, and if so, once recorded does the file play through a media player?

 

Nev.

[Mokles]

Hi Nev,

 

Yes, it is plugged into a USB port.

 

I have the option to put the file where ever I want. It does play through the media player, but again, no sound.

 

Thanks

 

Mokles

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, these cassettes, I assume they are music and not video as well? If video and that is showing, but no sound?

 

I have to assume they are music or other sound only for the moment. so let's see where your settings are.

 

With the digitiser plugged in and ready to be used, right click on the loudspeaker icon bottom right of the task bar, and then click on "Recording devices"

 

In the window that then opens, it should show the digitiser, if it does click on it to highlight it.

 

Properties should then become active and not greyed out, so click on it and another window should open.

 

Click the tab for "Listen"

 

You should see a tick box for "Listen to this device", put a tick in that box, then click "Apply," then OK to close out.

 

See if it actually does record sound then.

 

Nev.

[Mokles]

Hi,

 

Yes they are music just.

 

I've followed your instructions, but still no sound. :(

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, beginning to suspect a fault, either with the actual hardware, or the accompanying software here. The file or files you have created so far, right click one and select properties, on the general tab it should tell you the size of the file and the size on disk, if you can let me know that, plus the actual playing time of the song please.

For example, a six minute piece of music I have, has a file size of over 6MB, if your file size for similar length of playing time is only a few KB, it obviously hasn't actually recorded any sound data.

 

Can you also please give me details of the cassette digitiser, make and model number, then I can look up for information thanks.

 

Nev.

[Mokles]

Hi,

 

The track was just under 2 minutes and the file size is 1.73MB, so going on what you said it does look like it's been recorded.

 

The cassette digitiser is Silver Crest SKD 1000 A3.

 

I've just found the same problem highlighted elsewhere with the same make and software. I might just return it and get my money back and then get one that's recommended.

[Plastic Nev]

Hi, I meant to ask, what file format is shown for the files you have created, is it .wav or .mp3 ?

 

I also found a few complaints about that player/digitiser listed on various sites via Google.

To be quite honest, if you have already got a decent cassette player with a stereo 3mm output jack, connect that to a line in or other audio input jack on your computer, (Not digital input) Windows own media player or the free open source Audacity will record a use-able file with no problem.

 

You could of course try Audacity with that digitiser as well, so if you don't have Audacity, here is the download site.

 

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

 

I must also warn to watch out for unwanted bundled software and remove ticks from boxes where the download or install offers these unwanted things, also if a choice of automatic or advanced for both download or install, use the advanced as that is where you will find the junk which would get installed without your knowledge if using the automatic function.

 

That warning is now standard for all downloads of free softwares.

 

Once Audacity is installed, there is a button to select the input device, it should show the digitiser there, if not there is definitely something wrong with it.

 

Nev.