Karaoke Forums

Hi, new here in the singer's forum. I just wondered........What the heck's wrong with my computer? I just installed a $50.00 stick of 256MB memory and I still can't get any of these sound recorders to work....I'm out of ideas here.
Any computer wizards in here? I'd sure appreciate some help.
Thanks.............Perry

OK I'll give it a shot, I'll need more info...and maybe wont reply instantly cause of Christmas/working/all that...ok?

WHat kind of software are your trying to use, is it Audition?...that's the one I know.

Are you using your computers built in audio hardware, or some add on card you've bought?

I'm assuming you are not using a Karaoke machine...


Russ

I started using a free downloaded version of "Audacity". It worked once, that's how I got my half-a$$ed sub over in the showcase., then it started locking up after about 2 minutes of recording everytime. I attributed this to lack of memory in my computer,(only 120MB), so today I bought a stick of 256MB memory and added it with the 120MB.
I tried to uninstall the Audacity, download it again from the website, then reinstall, but it wouldn't download from the website....said the files were corrupted.
So I did a Google search for some more free software. I found one that seemed like it would work well. I got it installed, it worked for about 1 minute, then wouldn't work after that.

I'm using the computer's built-in sound hardware, with the mic-in, playing my music through the karaoke machine, then just singing and letting the computer's mic-in pick up all of the sound at once.

Would I be better off just buying a sound recording program from like Best Buy for $60.00? Making sure that all of the minimum requirements are compatible before buying? Then, if the program wouldn't work in my computer, I'd know that something's amiss in my hardware? (the computer's)

Thanks for any help you can give me with this.............Perry

KRISTAL will work. if it does not then any other $ software will not.

_________________
I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

From what you said I think you want to do something like this...

Plug the mic into the karaoke machine, not the computer, and then take the output from the KM (whatever the output is called, could be external spearkers, or line out, whatever). Connect that output from the KM to the "line input" of your computer, not the mic input. Depending on the mic to pick up the music "in the room" as you sing into it is gonna give crap quality for sure....

Why not try the trial version of Audition from Adobe...You can have it for 30 days, and it works for everyone, instead of this "free" stuff that...hey...you get what you pay for...

Bring up task manager on your machine, and check the memory to see what it says your memory amount is. If you don't know how just use google with "Task manager" and "memory" as search and you'll learn.

what operating system are you using????

What confuses me is that you say it works for a few minutes then stops....that just doesn't compute right now .......we'll get there....


Russ

Okay...I was just working with this again today. It seems that this free program I'm using will work as long as I record in "mono". I was able to record a whole song in mono, then when I played it back it sounded like crap. I tried to switch the channel preferences on the recording program to stereo, and when I started singing, the program locked up. And D*mn, I was sure that recording was a keeper.
I was in the living room with my karaoke machine hooked up to the stereo, singing through it with echo, the mic was extended to the living room, and the computer was in the other room......not even recording.  :(
Could this be because I need 2 mics and my computer only has a mono input?
The line-outs on the back of the karaoke machine are stereo audio/video RCA jacks.
To hook my KM to the line-in on the computer I would need some kind of conversion harness for the wires, but then again, does the computer pick up the stereo sound through 1 line-in input?

By operating system do you mean....Windows XP, ME, 2000, etc...?
I'm using Windows ME which I've heard is problematic anyway.
My system manufacturer is VIA Technologies, Inc.,
Processor is a VIA Samuel 2 CentaurHauls 800 mhz,
Total physical memory is 375.45MB,
Available physical memory is 206.40MB,
Total Virtual memory is 2.00GB,
Available virtual memory is 1.73GB.
I'm using Intenet Explorer 5.5.

I might need a more updated computer and systems. Right now, I can't even get Windows Media Player to load music from the internet. That might just be my connection speed, but I'm not sure. I didn't know I would need to be a wizard just to make sound recordings.
I appreciate the help Russ and everyone.
Thanks.........Perry

Althought there is only one jack on the back of your computer, it is no doubt stereo, the jack from your KM with two rca outs needs a converter (just go to radio shack they'll show you) to convert from the two RCA to a single stereo male mini jack into your computer. Sing into the KM and have your come flow with the KM output into the computer.

Another way to do this is just let the KM play the music, don't sing, and record the playback into your computer.  Now, in your programs multitrack view, set a new track for recording, and leave the track with the music as playback. Plug your mic into your computers mic input (you may need a converter for this, from Bannanna jack on your mic to mini jack for your computer. Doesn't matter about stereo. Now use your recording software to record your voice only while the music plays. THen mix the two tracks down for the final result.

Windows ME is a real dog, you should switch to xp, or back to 98 even...anything but ME....

Yeah, to get things together the first time through is the toughest part. If you can afford it, trash that computer and go buy one of those Dell boxes for $400.00, would probably be worth it for all the time you'll spend beating that dead horse ME system....

Russ

Thanks Russ. I just got back from Radio Shack a little while ago. I bought an RCA stereo to line-in adapter. I hooked it up the way you said, then I tried Audacity again. I was able to record for a bit, then hear the playback. The quality was markedly better than what I was doing before, but then, Audacity started locking up again!!
At Radio Shack I explained what I was trying to do, and that my computer was having problems with the software, and they basically told me the same thing you just did........junk that computer with the generic processor and the Windows ME. I'm wasting my time.
I mentioned a Dell processor and they said....good luck. They said the reason Dell has such great customer and technical service is because they really need it to handle all of the customer complaints? I don't know either way.
They wanted to sell me a tower for $585.00 with an AMD processor with mega GBs and high quality sound & graphics cards etc... I'm not ready to buy a computer yet just to showcase my singing here, although it's driving me absolutely crazy that I started this and can't follow through with it yet.  :(
I asked about just installing Windows XP home edition in my computer and they advised against that also.
That d*mned mail-order house that I bought this computer from at Christmas in 2000 are a bunch of extortionists. I won't say the name for obvious reasons, but they advertise and sell worthless junk on the pretense of....shop for Christmas now, don't make a payment for 6 mos. blah blah blah....
I paid a grand for this totally worthless set-up.  :shock:
Live and learn....live and learn.  :(  :newlol:

Thanks for helping me with this Russ, atleast we found the core of the problem.

It has nothing to with your pc, I use an even older system. You just did the thing wrong.

_________________
I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

They sell trillions of those dell boxes, they can't all be bad. Anyway, if you purchase from CompUSA you'll get the best hand holding available, best buy is a joke in the Techie support area...

Anyway, I'm going to go along with Badsinger, I'll bet we can get things running on the computer you have...


Uninstall all the recording software you've installed...

Check your disk properties and make sure you have enough disk space, could be you are running out....

Now reinstall Audacity...



Try this first


RUss

Hey I use Audacity...I don't believe that it's possible to record in stereo with it, as it will make the program crash, kind of silly that they even give you the option.  I believe after you mix everything into a single track, you can split it into a stereo track.....not sure though..I record everything mono and my stuff doesn't come out too terrible.  Of course it would help if you had some kind of usb interface for your mic inputs or instruments, I use a tascam us-122, works great and easy to use.  Also keep in mind, that the sound of your sub will begin with the mic your using, if you have a 20 dollar radio shack mic, don't expect things to sound all that great. But hey, i'm no expert.....

_________________
Satisfaction is the death of desire

I didn't want to get off on the wrong foot here, but something is bugging me about you Badsinger.
What's your deal man?
You haven't offered any real help to my problem, but you feel obliged to throw in a one-liner ever now and then, and frankly, I took this one as a condescending remark.
So I guess what I'm saying is, if you have a problem with me, just say so.

Now my f'ing computer acts like it's virus ridden and closes Internet Explorer whenever sound is transmitted through my speakers, and I haven't done anything to my systems out of the ordinary, but I did download free software programs from a link that you provided to a female member. I've had nothing but problems since then.

So, if you want to be nice enough to help me, fine. If not, just try to be nice anyway, huh?

Sorry about that short post. I mean to go into detail but got distract and cant get back soon.
I assume you use Audacity to record your singing thru a karaoke machine. I personaly use KRISTAL which is more stable for older pc.
If you get the virus form the site where you download Audacity please give me the link that you use and I will inform them of that bad link.
My sincere advice is that you remove Audacity from your system, run your anti virus program to clean it up, then defrag your hard disc. Then download KRISTAL. It is easier to use and if you have any problem recording with it I am ever willing to lend a helping hand.
To get a better qulity recording from your system it is better to seperate the backing track from the vocal track. That way you can add efx on the vox, adjust vol etc. To do that rip the backing track from your cdg and import to the recording software.
If you can sing without the aid of the graphic then all you need is play the track from your pc and sing and record your vox in the second track.

At this point I do not see the need of you buying any recording software. Just try those free one. Get good at it and then move on from there.



Cheers Merry Chirstmas and a happy New Year.

ps I still use the $2 mic that come with the pc to record;sm58 sound just as bad with my vox and singing cos am still the    Badsinger

_________________
I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Okay Badsinger, I apologize for letting my frustration get the best of me.
I just made it back on the net! I've been off the net since my last post.
I'm having major problems with Internet Explorer or my ISP. Somehow today I was able to access this forum again through a different search engine. When I tried to come back before, the site wouldn't even let me sign in.
I've done everything I can possibly do without any real knowledge of computers....I've reloaded the Windows ME software and started all over, then installed all Microsoft updates dated back to 2001!! But my ISP software keeps closing Internet Explorer with error messages.
It seems I had computer problems before I registered at KS, so I want to clarify that I'm NOT accusing anyone here of causing my problems....I just don't know how and why these things happen, so I'm frustrated.
I'm looking into buying a new computer with a better operating system, so I'm not sure when I'll be back.
But, Thank You everyone who took the time to help me work out these computer issues even though it turned out to be "beating a dead horse".

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!
Friends? I hope so........Perry

Hey man, MERRY CHRISTMAS and a happy NEW YEAR

_________________
I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott