Hey all...

I need a little help here - I have a concert on VHS that I want to put on my computer so I can cut the tracks and put them onto a CD so I can listen to it in my car.

What I did was get an RCA input that goes into the left and right outputs on my VCR, and then it goes down to a mini Y input (headphone type) to my PC input.

At first, I had it selected as Mic and it was terribly loud and distored with tons of clipping. Then I switched it to Line In and noticed that I only have sound coming out of the left channel.

Is there any way I can fix this, or do I have to figure out a way to make the left channel split to a mono recording?

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks everyone!

The line-in is indeed the correct input. Your problem is that the mini 1/8 inch jack you are using is mono rather than the correct type -- stereo.

Howpfully, now that you are no longer a "noobie" you will make intelligent and meaningful titles for your posts. "Noobie" tellls no one anything.

Gee thanks a bunch Andy! Hopefully, now that you are an "expert" you will make intelligent and meaningful use of the word Howpfully, even seeing you went back to edit your kind and thoughtful post. Please, a little respect for the new guy on the block. I do appreciate the help.

Cheers.

Is that input stereo? or just mono? If it is really a mic input then it might be just mono. You might want to check that. (see your hardware manual/manufactures website for specs)

You are on the right track for how to do the recording though... just have to work out the kinks.

If you don't already have a decent way to record and edit:
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

He's correct to use the line-in (and not the mic input) for this purpose. I can't imagine any decent modern soundcards having a line-in that isn't stereo.

As andyH pointed out, chances are that the RCA to 1/8" minijack adapter/connector is mono on the minijack end - it's taking the two RCA channels and outputtting them as a single mono channel (I *think* it's an analog downmix of the 2 channels). However since the line-in is looking for stereo input, it sees this one mono channel as the left channel (or right, I forget which one).

A stereo RCA to stereo minjack is your best bet, they can be purchased at a radio shack or other type electronics store. The packaging should expicitly say so, but if you're not certain take a look at the minijack male plug - a stereo jack has 2 black (or colored) bands, whereas a mono only has 1.

I apologize for the tone of my admonition. I suppose it must not be obvious to someone who has not been posting, or at least reading in forums for a little while, but surely no one who has been around a bit can be other than dreadfully tired of headings that convey no useful information, and especially those that so explicitly say "question" as though the overwhelming majority of threads don't exist simply because someone wanted to find out something.

Would it be better if I used regularly a spell checker? Probably. At least it would seem a little less uncouth.