Ed Vance : August Abolins wrote:
> I believe You were the person writing about Audacity in this echo a long
> time ago that I remember first hearing about the Program.
> Thanks for joining in to try helping me learn why Audacity isn't keeping
> (or making) a file when I send audio to it.

I have no recollection about making posts about Audacity, but if the
content was helpful, I'll take it.


>  AA> I use the SoundBlaster SB0490 with from many years ago.
>  AA> It too has an SPDIF optical out option.
>  AA> See item "N82E16829102174" at newegg.com, albiet it
is discontinued.
>
> I wouldn't know if I needed the optical out option here.
> The pc I use didn't come with a Remote Control like some of the XP MCE2005
> Models that HP sold back in 2006, when I bought mine.

Th optical out is not for remote control. It's an AUDIO Out to go directly
into a receiver/amp that supports it.  At the time, I did not even have
optical Inputs on my receiver/amps, so I missed out on using that
advantageous pure digital connection.


> I was trying to get the sound from my Radio/Cassette Player to the
> Line-In jack using a cable with 3.5mm Stereo Phone Plugs on each end.

I've never captured audio for recording that way, so I am no help. But I
would suggest you use a player that has RCA OUT connectors.


> In another room is a Dual Cassette Tape Deck I could try using if the
> Output from it could be used by this XP pc.

That sounds like a better way.
And don't forget to configure Audacity to use the correct audio input
device on your XP pc.  When I was new to Audicity and playing with it on 
different pcs (WinME and WinXP), I would forget to select the proper
"device" for Audicity to listen to and wondered why I wasn't
getting any sound detected.

The manual at..

 https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/how_to_connect_your_equipment.html

...gives a pretty good explanation and a point to avoid the headphones output:

>>> The best option is usually to connect to the source device's
"aux out", "tape out", "line-out" or
"record" output (if so equipped). These outputs standardize the
signal at a fixed (non-adjustable) level of approximately 1 - 1.5 volts,
resulting in a high quality recording, whereas the headphones output will
add an extra stage of possibly low-quality amplification in order to
provide an adjustable level. <<<

>  AA> Need replacement cartridge+needle for best results.
>
> With Radio Shack and Circuit City gone I wouldn't know who sells Phonograph
> Cartridges or Needles for them.

No problem.  Plenty of sources listed online these days.  I'm just too lazy
to get started into the project.


> Then one weekend I saw a Electro-Voice Patrician Speaker System -
> You know, the 4 Speaker System with the 30 Inch Woofer in it?

I never heard of those, but a lookup online revealed pictures of those
massive speakers.  Looks like they would be primarily used for large
venues. The posters look misleading with the pretty model sitting just
inches in front of the unit!

--- Thunderbird 2.0.0.24 (Windows/20100228)