Sound Recorder generating loud hissing and screaching on playback

Question

I recorded a cassette tape using Sound Recorder last week and it came out OK but quality is questionable. I installed Roxio Record Now 9 to clean up these recordings but everything I record now is distorted with loud hissing and screaching over the music. I also noticed that when opening the Sound Recorder that the Sigma Tel Audio info isn't appearing anymore. Windows indicates that Sigma Tel is working correctly?? Anyone have any ideas. I'm using a Inspiron 1501 w/Vista.

Jim Coates · Answer

Could it be distortion caused by too much input gain?

The green line that moves during recording should not touch the outer boundaries of the little window, or flatten out. If it is doing that, lower the volume of the cassette player.

"I also noticed that when opening the Sound Recorder that the Sigma Tel Audio info isn't appearing anymore."

I'm not sure what info Sound Recorder displays about Sigmatel. To view the audio properties from within Sound Recorder, click on the Edit menu, then on Audio Properties. Make sure that 'microphone' is not selected as the recording source or else the signal level will be boosted too much and cause distortion.

Jim

pcssajim · Answer

jimco...I have adjusted the volume up and down but has no affect on the generated noises. The music level from what I can determine over the noises does go up and down.   RE; Sound Recorder There is no edit menu on the Sound Recorder window?   Jim B.

Jim Coates · Answer

Jim,

I just googled this and got an unpleasant surprise, that Vista Sound Recorder is a different app from the Windows Sound Recorder. I had heard that there were changes in SR in Vista, but had assumed it was an upgrade of the program. It seems to be a downgrade in many respects, having been stripped of most of its features.

Obviously I have a lot to learn about the Vista version.

When you plug into the jack do you get a popup asking you whether you are inserting a line-in versus a mic plug? If it is defaulting to mic the level will be too high.

There is also the possibility of a ground loop causing the noises, but that should be apparent all the time another device is connected to the computer, not just when recording. It usually occurs when the other device has a 3 pronged plug.

Jim

Jim Coates · Answer

I saw this on Inside Microsoft/Blog News Channel:

To get the old recorder to work on Vista, do the following:

1. Copy the %SystemRoot%\System32\sndrec32.exe file from a Windows XP or Windows 2003 computer that is the same edition as your computer (i.e. 32-bit or 64-bit) to your Vista machine.

2. Right-Click the file and choose Run as Administrator. (This is required so that it can write one-time registry entries).

3. Enjoy — from now on you can just double-click that icon and the old app will work!

Comment by Darren | 2/13/2007

Jim

pcssajim · Answer

I'll give the XP version a shot. Thanks....JimB

pcssajim · Answer

When I plug into the jack the display comes up as Mic default and no other options are available.

pcssajim · Answer

I copied the sndrec.exe file to my computer and it works but the the edit/audio properties gives me an error message in MMSYS.CPL indicating Missing Entry: Show Audio Property Sheet. All other menu functions seem to work. Also, it hasn't improved the noise issue which I didn't expect it would.   Your other question regarding the pop up box and input device when plugging in the jack: A Sigma Tel Audio window opens with three basic choices - Mic, Line In and 'Open Sigma Tel Audio Control Panel'. When I open the control panel window, it only has one tab named advanced and deals with allowing reconfig pop ups and thats it?   JimB

pcssajim · Answer

Forget about the Sigma Tel Audio Control Panel Window, you answered that question on anotherf orum thread. JimB

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Sound Recorder generating loud hissing and screaching on playback

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