Re: Ask EU: Audcap

"Siderius Nuncius" <matron.nuncius@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

"Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604" <faunt@xxxxxxxxx> wrote
Jim Easterbrook <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
"Siderius Nuncius" <matron.nuncius@xxxxxxxxx> wrote

Radio Times is offering a little gubbins for £30-ish which claims to
be a simple way of digitising vinyl and tape. It uses Audacity
software, which I think people have mentioned here, but I wasn't
paying attention properly at the back.

Audacity is a free download anyway, so on its own it's not a selling
point.
The implication that the gubbins works with audacity (rather than some
nasty application that's totally unlike anything you've used before) is a
plus point though.

http://www.radiotimes.technologyinthehome.com/Shop/Music-AND-Audio/238-
Audio-Capture-USB-Analogue-to-Digital-Converter.html

If you have a PC with an audio input then the gubbins is pointless, as
far
as I can see.

Many laptops only have a microphone input, which is monophonic.
This unit just a simple USB "soundcard", but there lots of these
about, and you can actually read the specifications on them.
And some of them are very cheap.

Thanks for the info, all. I have a laptop whose only input is a mic socket
which is, indeed, mono. Not that that should bother me any more, but I'd
like to have decent quality if possible.

It's helpful to know that it's a sound card. Might I be better off looking
for something to go in that little slot on the side of the laptop? The
advantage of the gubbins from the numpty viewpoint is that you just plug one
end into the laptop and the other into the stereo and away you go.

I'm tempted unless anyone thinks it's a really bad idea...

You can use that slot, but you'll probably pay more for equivalent
performance than if you get a USB unit. Economy of scale.

I have a slight preference for the Creative products, and for your
application a Creative USB Soundblaster would be pretty good.
Just make sure whatever you get has a stereo input- there are a number
of USB sound card devices that are output only.
They're pretty much plug in and go these days.

73, doug
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Ask EU: Audcap
    ... Audacity is a free download anyway, so on its own it's not a selling ... The implication that the gubbins works with audacity (rather than some ... I have a laptop whose only input is a mic ... A/D processing and ASIO 2.0 drivers you should be OK. ...
    (uk.media.radio.archers)
  • Re: Ask EU: Audcap
    ... be a simple way of digitising vinyl and tape. ... Audacity is a free download anyway, so on its own it's not a selling ... The implication that the gubbins works with audacity (rather than some ... I have a laptop whose only input is a mic socket ...
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