Using Audacity for old records

mattnorb · 11-05-2009, 12:53 PM

I have been successfully recording old records (78s, 45s, 33s) and all was going well until yesterday when I upgraded to Ubuntu 9.10. Now I get a flat blue line when I try to record anything. I hadn't changed any settings, but have since tried various changes, without success. I am using a usb turntable. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

frenchn00b · 11-05-2009, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattnorb

I have been successfully recording old records (78s, 45s, 33s) and all was going well until yesterday when I upgraded to Ubuntu 9.10. Now I get a flat blue line when I try to record anything. I hadn't changed any settings, but have since tried various changes, without success. I am using a usb turntable. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

which version of version of program are you using ?
Mencoder is cool.
Example for converting videos:

Code:

mencoder "$1" -ovc xvid -oac mp3lame -xvidencopts bitrate=-700000 -o "$2"

mencoder can do some recordings too.

Let's be specific:
one shall reply the question:
Audacity, which version of the software?

eventually:
xterm -e alsamixer

mattnorb · 11-05-2009, 07:02 PM

Version 1.3.9-6 which came with Ubuntu. I will certainly give 'mencoder' a try, but I am very puzzled as to why Audacity could have stopped working. I installed a version on my husband's 'Windows Vista' laptop and that is working on the turntable and the records I was wanting to do, but I prefer my Ubuntu OS and hope to continue using it for this project.

Quakeboy02 · 11-05-2009, 10:31 PM

Have you checked your alsa record settings?

frenchn00b · 11-06-2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattnorb

Version 1.3.9-6 which came with Ubuntu. I will certainly give 'mencoder' a try, but I am very puzzled as to why Audacity could have stopped working. I installed a version on my husband's 'Windows Vista' laptop and that is working on the turntable and the records I was wanting to do, but I prefer my Ubuntu OS and hope to continue using it for this project.

ubuntu is the unstable version of Debian. Debian is stable. It was your choice. Audacity: I will check that tonight,

mattnorb · 11-07-2009, 10:21 AM

Thank you for your replies. After fiddling with different combinations of settings I have finally found what works. I was so puzzled to understand why the system was 'playing up' after upgrading. Hopefully all with now be well. Thank you

Quakeboy02 · 11-07-2009, 12:30 PM

People often use the search function here on LQ, so could you do the next guy a favor by posting what the problem turned out to be and what you did to fix it?

tredegar · 11-07-2009, 02:25 PM

These links may be useful to people reaching this thread:
http://www.linux.com/feature/149917
http://www.linux.com/archive/feature/119550

And yes, mattnorb, please tell us what you needed to fix to make it work.