Transferring MD-PC without Line-In?

[bobbyo]

Hello everyone (first-time poster),

This is a really great forum, I've been lurking here for a few months trying to learn the ins and outs of MD recording. Here's for my pretty simple (if not to say stupid) question:

I've got a somewhat dated MD recorder (cannot complain about quality though ) that doesn't support the whole NetMD technology, so I'm kind of stuck transferring the audio from MD -> PC by analogue means. Unfortunately in this case, I've got a laptop (ie: no line-in) which means one of two things for me:

1.) I transfer via mic-in which leaves me with a mono recording with an audible hiss in the background (I'm guessing from the mic-in amp?), or

2.) I transfer via my tv card using composite red/white (cinch?) cables, thus allowing me to capture both channels. Unfortunately this method leaves me with a recording that seems somehow "stripped" (when I load the finished track in Winamp, for instance, it only shows the first few bars in the visual equaliser thing). There is also an audible "tinniness" to it, as if it were 64 kbs mp3 or so.

Thus my question: What alternatives do I have, or rather what is a cost-effective way to get my (relatively decent) recordings onto my PC in a form that is still enjoyable? I have thought about searching for a cinch -> mono klinke adapter, transferring each channel separately via mic-in, then putting the file back together but it seems kind of time-consuming. I've also put thought into acquiring an external sound card with a line-in, but even older models seem to still be a rather expensive solution (upwards of 50 EUR).

Thanks in advance for any advice in this matter.

-bobbyo

Edited February 25, 2007 by bobbyo

[MDfred1]

Hi, bobbyo: I had the same problem - my MD doesn't have a line out either, so since the earphone out has only about 2/3 of the voltage of a real line out, I just plug it into the mic input of the laptop, and it works fine. I never thought of the possibility of the input being mono, and on mine it's stereo. The comp. is a Dell Lattitude/Win XP, and stereo files go into it with no problem. My comp was built in about 2003, so it's pretty modern, but I'd think anything after 1998 or so would certainly be stereo, but maybe not in the WIN world! (I'm a MAC guy). Hope this helps.

MDfred1, So. Central Texas, USA

[raintheory]

Do a search for "USB Line-In" on Google or similar.. There are various products (most, if not all are marketed towards notebook computers that lack line-in) that would suit your needs. You should be able to find one relatively cheap anyways.

[bobbyo]

First of all, thank you both.

@MDfred1: My MD has a Line-Out, just my laptop has only mic-in. I've checked to make sure it is indeed mono by recording using audacity and monitoring the channels. After recording, the left (or maybe right it was?) is cloned to both channels, so it's almost unnoticable, but it still isn't the best solution.

@raintheory: Thank you for the suggestion, I will be looking into it.

[A440]

The Griffin iMic gives you line-in and line-out via USB. It's about $35, less if you can scoop one up on eBay.

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/imic/