my sound card is shitting its self. please help.

[Archon]

so, i use a numark mixdeck, and to record, i use an RCA line in connection. like one half is RCA which i plug into the "record" part of the mixer, and the other end is just a regular 3.5mm jack like for an ipod. i plug it into the microphone jack on the laptop, and record in audacity. everytime i plug it in, i have to fuck with it for at least 30 minutes to fix the sound. the highs sound fine, but the bass is SO HEAVY AND SO DISTORTED. i have disabled and enabled the line in device and driver, tried to update it (already up to date) rebooted, everything. usually i can get it working fine, (although i forgot how i did this) but today i couldn't figure it out for the life of me. i just spent LITERALLY an hour trying to fix it. nothing. i googled it, but to no avail. whats wrong? cna someone help? the computer is a dell inspiron 1545. wont say what the sound card is, just says "IDT high definition audio CODEC." i googled around to find out what the sound card is called, but it doesnt have it in the specs of the computer online or anything. whats happening? how can i fix this? PLEASE help me out.

[sss18734]

Um...

Why not just record using your software's internal recorder?

[Archon]

i dont use software.
there's no need to use software, the mixdeck does everything i need it to without software. plus the software doesn't work right with my computer.

[Manu]

check your windows sound mixer and get the line in recording level lower.

[Archon]

tried that. still distorted like crazy.

[Mystic]

Sounds to be like a soundcard issue. Some soundcards are terrible at recording from input and mic when you're dealing with high quality audio because that's not what they are designed for. Being that it's an onboard soundcard, this could be the issue.

I would also consider trying to swap out the cables. That's a long shot but better to try early on and make sure that's not the issue than to beat your head over it later.

[Manu]

tried that. still distorted like crazy.

set it to line in instead of mic and lower the master level out on your mixdeck. Also apply the same settings to the software you use to record.

If all that fails to work, then your integrated sound card is probably useless.

[Archon]

see, it works most of the time, just it didn't work last night and i couldn't fix it. and it is set to line in. if the onboard sound card sucks, what do i do to fix the issue? i need to record stuff.

[Manu]

Triple check all your software and windows settings, check your cables. Laptops generally suck at recording, the next move is either buy a soundcard, or use another device that has recording capabilities.

If it works most of the time, then you might be doing something wrong some of the time.

[Archon]

it works if i fuck with it a lot, i should say. what else could i get that records? on a budget. and by a budget i mean im broke as fucking fuck. most homeless people have more money than i do. im really not fond of selling my body, but ill do it if it means i can record again...

[Manu]

please define "fuck a lot"
please specify budget. If you are broke as fucking fuck, then you need to save some fucking money. DJing isn't the cheapest hobby around when it comes to purchasing the equipment.

[Archon]

i know, i have all the equipment, just need the recording interface. and fuck a lot - mess with the levels, turn it on and off, etc.

[djmickyk]

i find that while recording if you can change to booth output instead of record,its alot easier to get the levels right as the booth output has it own volume control,i discovered this through trial and error having used the record output in the past:)

[Archon]

tried that, too.