Recording into Audacity on a laptop

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 3 Apr 2015 10:11 am

I have a Sony PCG-7133L; I'll be capturing stereo from a small Zoom or minidisc. The computer has no line-in.
In searching for how I can make do, I came across the suggestion to input into the speaker out.
This sounds outrageous, but I may have to give it a try, particularly if the mic-in is in mono.

Does anyone have experience with something similar or can provide suggestions?
I would love to get by without a line-matching transformer; it's a really low budget project.
The finished product will be a CD.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 3 Apr 2015 10:50 am

I can't find that model on the Sony site.

Some laptops that do not specifically have a line in jack have a combination mic/line in jack that senses what is connected.

I doubt that the headphone jack is also an input jack.

Les Cargill · Post by **Les Cargill** » 3 Apr 2015 11:25 am

Can you remove an SD card from the Zoom or whatever and just copy files? Or plug it in USB and copy them?

You might be able to go to Radio Shack and buy resistors to make an L-pad.

If it's not too nerdy:

http://www.uneeda-audio.com/pads/

and you'll be guessing about impedances and such.

The mic input on that laptop probably isn't very good; long term, there are a lot of 2-in 2-out USB devices that will probably work better. Might blow your budget for this one.