Techie question *sigh*

[sarren]

Oh look, I fail again *sigh*

I thought I'd be able to record my oral presentation on a tape - yes, Murdoch are slack on first years doing their very first unit, whatever.

Except my cd player/tape recorder won't record my voice. Okay, it's years and years since I did this but it USED to be possible right? I'm not imagining it?

Anyhow. So my other alternative is, I have a microphone. When I say "I", I mean Dragonfly waved it at me last night and said her friend had left it here. What can I do with it - download a programme from the internets?

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bigjobbies_/]

windows has a sound recorder
dunno how good he is

[sarren.livejournal.com]

i'm recording now, just not getting sound :(

[caitlen.livejournal.com]

My question is totally dumb and stupid and I feel kind of bad for even asking it, but did you plug the microphone into the tape/CD player?

[strangedave.livejournal.com]

Reasonable software to download is Audacity, which is free. I think agoodliedown used it for a similar purpose not so long ago. If you had a Mac, I'd just say use Garage Band, but Audacity, while geekier, is still pretty easy to use and good.

Pretty much any microphone that is capable of plugging into your computer will do a reasonable job for voice stuff. Ie if it has the right kind of plug, it will be fine. There is a good chance that the mic will have not quite the right type of plug - often, your computer has a small (1/8") jack socket, and the microphone has a bigger version of the same thing (a 1/4" socket), in which case a small adapter can be purchased at an electronics store like Dick Smiths for about $3, but otherwise everything should be fine. If the microphone has a professional XLR connector (a sort of great big three prong thing), the mic is too professional for easy amateur use, and you should give it to me (seriously, in this situation you need equipment I would lend you if I was in Perth, but is probably too annoying to get hold of otherwise).

[sarren.livejournal.com]

I'm just using the sound recorder and it's recording files, I just can't get sound. As far as I can tell all the sound thingies are turned on.

Now I've dl'd Audacity and I don't think we have the same definition of "easy". I tried recording something and it plays back in Audacity still silently. if it's even working, and also it says to be able to play it other places you need to export which I don't know how to do.

Sorry, am frustrated and geting desperate. *cries bitterly*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_bigjobbies_/]

can you email a test file to me and I'll see if it works on another PC ?
terry dot chilvers at sjog dot org dot au