Stereo mix recording disabled

I searched but couldn't find a topic here discussing internal audio capture recording being removed/disabled in the latest Thinkpads.

For those that have an interest, Lenovo is soliciting comments on the need for this function and explanation of what activities that are precluded by not having it.

http://forums.lenovo.com/lnv/board/...l&thread.id=316&view=by_date_ascending&page=3

 

You got me intrigued with this so I just realized that the red plug is a mic input, not a line input... which makes it useless for what I need. I used that on my older Toshiba laptop (it has a line-in) to record old vinyl to MP3s.

I guess I will have to find a USB dongle line-in adapter. Does that exist? I would like a dongle USB, not the adapter that have a USB cord and a block at the end of it with plugs. Thanks for your suggestions.

 

From threads on the other 2 TP forums, some people have used Creative Labs notebook sound cards. Unfortunately their PCMCIA version seems to have a problem with some of the TP Ricoh chipsets and their Express card version only seems to work well with XP as their Vista drivers supposedly aren't up to claims.

 

I would prefer to stay with a USB dongle solution if such thing can be found. The PCMCIA may be costly. I'm looking for a sub 20$ solution if I can.

 

Good luck on that. My interpretation on some other posts was that people tried both a USB TV Tuner and a USB device to convert from VHS tape to DVD and both had sound problems using the TP. I don't know if the dongle would avoid those.

A quick google shows USB line-in adapters do exist. I'm interested in hearing how well that works for you.

 

This one sounds interesting:

http://www.usbgear.com/USBG-X4S.html

I would prefer this one, but I'm not sure it handles line-in signals:

http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_details.cfm?sku=USBG-X3S&cats=121&catid=121

I asked the company. Will follow up here.

 

Pick up a Creative Sound Blaster Live! 24 Bit External if you can still get it. It works great through a USB port and Creative has recently come out with a bunch of new Vista applications for this card.

 

Thanks for posting that. I have just discovered that my new t61 does not support recording audio with anything except... gulp... the internal microphone. I probably would have bought it anyway, but I hate surprises like this.

I have found freecorder 3 toolbar quite usefull for recording what you hear, but it just makes no sense why I cannot use whatever audio capture app. I want.

Hoping Lenove hears the outrage and adds back the feature. oh, and down with the riaa.

 

Interesting...I'll have to look closer at Freecorder. I'm like you, I read about the disabled line-in a couple of days before ordering. I didn't like it but it didn't stop me, although the prosepct of another $80 for a notebook sound card to do something I've done on every other machine before was a bit bothersome. I've typically used AudioGrabber and Audacity for my audio needs...great programs and the price is right!

 

Do you know if a notebook sound card will even work? I have read the the sound blaster audigy pcmcia card doesn't in a t61 because of some controller problem, and I am totally confused if the express card x-fi works with vista. When I say works, I mean if it will allow recording both from an application AND external audio input to most audio capture applications.

I'm also interested if anyone can say from experience that the headphone sound of an additional soundcard is actually better then that of the built-in soundmax audio. I use both shure e4c's and bose noise cancel headphones and would welcome a true sound improvement.

I find freecorder 3 works nicely for recording the stuff the riaa doesn't want you to do, but totally legal stuff like recording an online discussion is very choppy unless i set to wave, and that just wastes space. Total recorder seems to work well but if I am going to spend money I think I would rather have the hardware. Also, I hear virtual audio cable works but I have never seen a more difficult program to figure out, (and i get this stuff), so i gave up on it.

oh did I mention, down with the riaa for causing all these problems for people like me who DO NOT break the laws even though I disagree with them.

 

fwiw, most of the new laptops, not just lenovo, don't have line-in. Big Brother knows what's best for you.

 

I think the Audigy pcmcia card had problem with certain Ricoh chipsets which are listed on their site. These chipsets were previously being used in some of the TPs.

The x-fi Vista issue reported seemed to be with the driver support and stability. You might do a search at the creativelabs user discussion forum to see what the current status is.

This isn't the first time I've heard the difficulty comment regarding virtual audio cable.

 

omg, I got Virtual audio cable working. It really is a solution, yeah.

 

What I would like to find is something like this:

http://www.pana3ccduser.com/showthread.php?t=2386

http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/line_to_mic.html

but in a professional / compact package... still searching.

Update: I just remember that the ThinkPad mic input is mono so that wouldn't help someone (pretty much all of us) who want to record from audio devices to the laptop. Bummer. The only way to go would be a PCIMCI card with line-in or one of the USB solutions with line-in inputs.

 

Did anyone ever tried USB converters such as this:

http://www.usbgear.com/USBG-X4S.html



Does it work?