Troubleshooting And Recording In XP.

Make it work on your XP computer, step by step.

Drew's Self Help Troubleshooting
XP NOT Recording? Tutorial. Normally you just plug in a microphone, a turntable or cassette deck through the DAK Interface Mixer or other music source into your computer and hit record. Or select the streaming audio station you want to record and hit record. The DAK Editor will normally start recording.

But what if you don't hear the music coming through your computer speakers (laptops don't normally) from your music source and what if you can’t record? No problem, it’s usually just a switch or setting that's off and that's what we’re going to solve right here on this page.

Just follow these easy step-by-step self-help suggestions and you'll be up and running in no time. I've put it in most likely issues first or just following the whole path to solving the problem for you. Don't worry that there's a lot here, it's usually just one small issue and then everything will work perfectly.

4 Basic Recording Rules To Get Started
Don't Skip This Section.

1. One-Minute Recording Rule - When you're setting up to record for the first few times, please don't record for an hour. Just record for 1 minute. Then click stop. Then hit play in the editor. If your recording plays back, you're all set. You can adjust volume or anything you like, but first just test to see you are recording OK. Then hit NEW (1st icon on the left) to clear the editor and you're ready to record. If you didn't get a recording, we’ll that's why we're here in troubleshooting.

2. No Sound, No Recording - When you are recording from LINE IN or any source OUTSIDE your computer you should hear the sound of what you want to record playing through your computer speakers or you probably won't be recording. Exceptions - USB audio adapters for laptops don't allow you to hear the sound while recording and a very few desktop sound cards are simplex and don't allow sound while recording. They still record perfectly. If you see the waves in the big wave windows in the editor, you are recording.

3. No Waves In The Editor, No Recording - You must see waves in the two big windows or you are not recording. Record a 1 minute sample to make sure you are recording. Don't worry about the VU meters below, look in the two big wave windows. No exceptions to this rule.

4. Select Your Source - Choose Mic for the pink microphone jack, LINE IN/Analog for the BLUE jack in the back of your Sound Card or What You Hear, Stereo Mix or Wave Out for Internet Recording. You must choose the correct input to record from it. It's like turning on a light switch. Turn it on in the room you want to light.

Not Recording?

We just need to track down the cause. Let’s break it down into 4 major categories. Click on the one that applies to you and follow the easy steps:

But first, please confirm that your computer speakers are on and working. If you hear normal computer sounds, then that's all we need to know to get started.

Category 1. You DO NOT HEAR the sound of what you want to record coming through your computer speakers. Click here to follow this path.

Category 2. You DO HEAR the sound of what you want to record coming through your computer speakers but can't record. Click here to follow this path.

Category 2A. You DO HEAR the sound of what you want to record coming through your computer speakers but you have 2 BLUE JACKS. Click here

Category 3. You are using our NOTEBOOK USB ADAPTER with a Notebook computer. Recording is largely the same, but I've got a different connection to your computer. Click here to follow this path.

Category 4. You hear sound from ONE SPEAKER ONLY before or after you record. Click here to follow this path.

You Answered NO Sound.

You DO NOT HEAR THE SOUND of what you want to record coming through your computer speakers. First. Do you see any green lights on the Interface Mixer’s LED VU Meters? Even a flicker is fine.

Connecting Your Music Source To DAK's 2800 Interface Mixer.

Step 1 - The Hookup To Your Computer. When you connected the cable from the DAK 2800PC Interface Mixer to your computer did you run the cable we sent you from the AMP OUT jacks on the back of the mixer to the BLUE JACK NEXT TO WHERE YOUR SPEAKERS ARE PLUGGED IN in the back of your computer and nowhere else?

You can’t connect in the front of your computer. You can’t connect to a 2nd blue jack that's NOT next to where you speakers are plugged in. Please check.

Arrow 1.) This is THE INPUT to the Mixer Interface. Plug the cables from your turntable or cassette deck, reel to reel or boombox in here. If you have a 2nd music source, plug into the B jacks.

Arrow 2.) This is THE OUTPUT from the Mixer Interface where the cable we shipped in the box with the mixer is plugged in. The other end plugs into the BLUE JACK on the back of your computer and nowhere else.

Arrow 3.) This is where the power supply for the Mixer Interface plugs in.

Arrow 4.) Attach the ground wire from your turntable here to prevent hum. This does not determine if you do or don't have sound. It only prevents hum.

Plug Into The Back Of Your Computer.

Look on the back of your computer. Plug the other end of the cable from AMP OUT on the mixer to this blue LINE IN Jack and nowhere else. Not in the front, not anywhere else.

2 Blue Jacks CAUTION: There are often 2 blue jacks on the back of your computer. Be sure you are using the one next to where your speakers are plugged in. The other one won’t work. See 2 Blue Jacks in pictures here.

Interface Mixer Settings To Get Sound

Just check to be sure that you have these few settings correct so you'll get sound through the Interface Mixer.

Arrow 1.) To start, set the input volume control to about 2/3rds up. You should adjust it later so you get 1 or 2 of the LEDs flashing in the LED Meters (See Arrows 5.). If you get no lights then be sure your music source like your turntable or tape deck is working and that you are coming out of an output jack, NOT AN AUX jack which is for input, not output.

Arrow 2.) Set this switch to LINE for tape decks, stereos or Turntables with built-in preamps. Use PHONO, only when you have a normal turntable directly connected to the Mixer Interface.

Arrow 3.) The Fader simply selects the A side or B side of the Mixer Interface. Move it all the way to A.

Arrow 4.) Turn on the power switch.

Arrow 5.) The LED meters should at least flicker so you know that you are getting a signal from your turntable or tape deck. 1 or two LEDs is all you need. You'll control the recording volume using DAK Wave Editor.

Still No Sound? Unmute the Windows Mixer.

Step 2. Unmuting The Windows Mixer In Your Computer.) Please check the Windows Mixer to be sure that LINE IN or MIC (depending on which you are using) isn't muted.

Here's how to check your Windows Mixer

Accessing Your Windows Mixer

Arrow 1.) Look to the bottom right of your computer screen and you'll see the system clock. To the left, you should see a small speaker icon. If not, then click this < button and your 'tray' should expand to show you the hidden icons like I've shown above.

Arrow 2.) Either you should see this all the time or after you click the > button. Note: If you don't see it then use one of the other methods and I'll show you how to turn this on later. If you do see it, if you click it once, you'll see the small volume slider for the main system speaker button, BUT IF YOU CLICK IT TWICE, you'll be in the Windows Mixer.

No Speaker Icon? No problem, go to your Start Menu/All Programs/Accessories/Entertainment and click on Volume Control.

Your Windows Mixer Volume And Mute Screen

Many times your computer is shipped to you with its inputs muted. After you double click the speaker icon in the previous picture, then check to see that your LINE IN, or AUX or Microphone inputs aren't muted. Once you uncheck this Mute box, everything should be fine.

Still No Sound? Let's Check Your Music Source.

Just 1 Flickering LED Is All You Need.

Step 3.) Do You See Activity In The Mixer Interface LEDs? Start your music. Check the meters. Do you see any lights moving? If you do, then you are getting music to your Interface mixer. Then you know BOTH your source of music and the mixer are both fine.

If you don't have even a flicker of LEDs, even when the sliders are all the way up, then let's check the source you are recording from.

What are you trying to record from?

Turntable Tips & Tricks To Check

A Turntable? Did you plug the two RCA cables attached to your turntable into the A jacks on the Interface mixer and set the toggle switch above the A slider to PHONO?

Did you set the horizontal fader control under the slider all the way to A?

Note: if there's a ground wire, attach it to the GND lug on the back of the mixer interface. It doesn't affect sound, but will eliminate hum.

There's not really much that go wrong with the turntable connection. The main thing to check is DO YOU SEE ANY FLICKERING LEDs in the Interface Mixer's LED meters?

If you don't, can you check the turntable in your stereo system to see if it's working OK?

Distorted Sound NOTE: If you have sound but it's distorted from your turntable there are two possible reasons.

Reason 1. If your turntable has a preamp in it, you need to switch the toggle switch above the A slider to LINE not phono, or turn off the preamp in your turntable.

Reason 2. If your turntable is in a stereo system and your cable is coming out of the amp, receiver or headphone jack, switch to LINE on the toggle switch as well.

Question. Do you have a pair of headphones that you can plug into the front of the Interface Mixer? If you do, there's a PFL switch on top of the Interface Mixer. IT MUST BE SET TO A if your turntable is plugged into the A jacks. If you hear sound there, then your turntable and Interface Mixer are working properly.

Cassette Deck Tips & Tricks To Check

A Cassette Deck or Open Reel Deck? Or, the output from you cable TV or Satellite Radio will be the same.

Main Problem Here is, INPUT INSTEAD OF OUTPUT jacks are chosen.
Did you choose an output jack and use the RCA cables you were already using from your tape deck to your receiver or amplifier?

IMPORTANT NOTE: Don't use AUX Jacks. They are inputs to your tape deck or stereo, not outputs. Also don't use speaker jacks as they can damage the mixer or your sound card. Headphone jacks are fine.

In short, use jacks that say OUTPUT, LINE OUT, or PLAY. Don't use input jacks like microphone, aux or line in.

Walkman, Boombox & Shelf/Mini Stereo Tips Tricks To Check

A Walkman, Boombox, Shelf Stereo System or 8-Track Player. - Headphone jacks in today's stereos work great for feeding the Interface mixer. They are pretty much preamps and most are single chip very high quality outputs.

Don't worry that a boombox doesn't sound good. That's its cheap speakers and small amps. The headphone jack really does give excellent results.

What About Headphone Level? First plug a pair of headphones into the headphone jack you want to use and set the volume to low normal. Then you'll have the volume set properly and know the jack is working.

What's important here is DO YOU SEE LEDs lighting in the Interface Mixer's LED meters? No LEDs, no recording.

If you don't, did you use a stereo headphone out cable from the headphone out jack to the A jacks on the back of the interface mixer?

If you don't have one you need one like this Click to see a headphone out cable.

Please set the toggle switch above the A slider to LINE, not PHONO. And, set the horizontal fader below the A slider all the way to A?

Microphone Tips & Tricks To Check

Mics have very few problems as long as they are normal plug in mics or wireless mics with the proper 3.5mm adapter.

USB Mic? If you have a USB mic, please plug it in and turn it on before you launch the editor. USB mics replace your computer's sound card and if the DAK Editor is open when you plug it in, it can't change on its own to the new USB Mic sound card. Don't try to set the editor to the mic. It should see it when you first open the editor.

No sound? Look in the section below. Often the Mic input to your Windows Mixer is muted. Just uncheck the mute button in the section below.

Not Enough Volume? When computers were invented in the 80s, dynamic mics were used and they put out more output but weren't as sensitive. So the mic input may be too low. There's a 20db mic boost in most sound cards. In the section below I show you how to find it and turn it on.

Accessing Your Windows Mixer

Arrow 1.) Look to the bottom right of your computer screen and you'll see the system clock. To the left, you should see a small speaker icon. If not, then click this < button and your 'tray' should expand to show you the hidden icons like I've shown above.

Arrow 2.) Either you should see this all the time or after you click the > button. Note: If you don't see it then use one of the other methods and I'll show you how to turn this on later. If you do see it, if you click it once, you'll see the small volume slider for the main system speaker button, BUT IF YOU CLICK IT TWICE, you'll be in the Windows Mixer.

No Speaker Icon? No problem Go to your Start Menu/All Programs/Accessories/Entertainment and click on Volume Control.

Microphone Tips & Tricks To Check 2.

This is the Windows mixer I showed you above. Once you are here you can control the mic inputs.

Arrow 1.) Look below the Microphone slider and find the Advanced button. If it's not here, go to Options/Properties and see if you have an advanced choice you can turn on. Almost all sound cards do have this. Anyway, click the button when you find it.

Arrow 2.) This is the 20db mic boost. Yours will look something like this. If your volume is just too low for the mic, this will solve your problem.

Arrow 3.) If you have no sound or waves when you are trying to record from a mic, chances are your mic input is muted. Often this is the default setting you'll find on your computer when you get it. Just unmute this input and you should be all set.

Your Recording INPUT Choices. . .
HOW TO CHOOSE WHAT YOU WANT TO RECORD
(Yours Will LOOK Different See Box Below)

This is where you choose what you want to record. Think of it as a light switch in your home. If you want to turn on the bedroom lights, you don't turn on the switch in the living room. You turn on the switch in the bedroom. So here is where you select (turn on the switch for) what source, coming into your computer, you want to record.

Arrow 1.) This Takes you directly to the Windows Mixer where you can control all of your computer's audio inputs and outputs.

Arrow 2.) This takes you to DAK's Pre- Record Wizard where you can access the windows mixer and control and test recording in the editor.

The new Vista Operating system is very different from the old XP/ME/98 systems. You can no longer simply select what you want to record from the Editor Interface. Now you actually have to go to the Windows Mixer and change it there.

Because this Editor is Vista compatible, you need to set your inputs in XP just like you would in Vista. The good news is that when you upgrade you can take this editor with you.

In Short To Choose Your Recording Source

Step 1.) Click the Record Source or Pre- Record Wizard Button In the Editor.
Step 2.) Choose Your Recording Source in the Windows Mixer.
Step 3.) Click Record.

Think of it like airline security. I guess Microsoft doesn't want anyone hijacking your inputs without your permission, so although it's a bit of a pain in the form of a few extra clicks, it works fine and we implemented it for all Windows systems so as you upgrade your computer to Vista, you won't have an obsolete editor from DAK.

YOUR INPUTS ARE DIFFERENT?
READ THIS PLEASE.

There is nothing wrong with your computer. Your sound card, not Windows and not the DAK Editor determine what choices and names for input choices you'll see here.

What you see in the screens below are the recording choices and names that my sound card offers. The Windows Mixer displays all the choices for your sound card. Your sound card may be different than mine, so your choices will have different names, but for the most part, you will be able to record from Line In, from Microphone and for 99% of all sound cards, also from the Internet.

DAK's editor simply polls your sound card from what your sound card calls each of the inputs to your computer. Your computer generally has the same inputs as mine; it just might just call it something different. Don't worry, virtually all computers have what you need.

Record Source Button Arrow Above.) So, to select your Recording Source, Click the Record Source Button First.

XP-98 - Selecting And Setting Your Recording Input
This is the 1st Screen You'll See. Click The Audio Tab.
Note: Your names may be different, but they do the same things.

Just Click the Audio Tab here and go onto the next Screen.

Then Click The Record Volume Button Here. Click the one as shown in the MIDDLE, NOT THE TOP one.

Then Choose LINE IN Or Another Input Here

To choose the source you want to record from, Click DAK's Set Record Source Button and navigate to the Audio Tab of the Win XP, 98, ME or 2000 Recording Slider Screen of the Windows Mixer shown here.

Arrow. ) All you need to do here is Check the box for the input source you want to use for recording. I've chosen Analog Mix which is the same as Line In. Or you can choose Microphone or What U Hear, Stereo Mix or Wave Out for Internet recording.

For the step-by-step detail of how to get to and use this screen in XP, 98, ME AND 2000, Click Here.

STILL NO SOUND?

Surround Sound Turned Off Your Inputs? Many computers today are shipped ready to play 5.1 or 7.1 channel surround sound when you first get your computer.

You need your speakers set to Desktop stereo speakers, not 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound and here's how to get your computer set to accept your inputs.

5.1 is great for watching DVDs, but to power the extra speakers, the input jacks are turned into DUAL USE JACKS and the inputs are turned off. In short, when the jacks are being used to power subwoofers or rear speakers they can't be used for your LINE and MIC inputs.

Just go to the Windows mixer and switch to Desktop speakers/2 channel sound like this.

Let's Set Your Speakers To Desktop Stereo Or 2 Channel Sound - 2 Access points.

Open the DAK Wave Editor. Click on The Record Input Button or go to the Pre-Record Wizard.

Arrow 1.) This Takes you directly to the Windows Mixer where you can control all of your computer's audio inputs and outputs.

Arrow 2.) This takes you to DAK's Pre- Record Wizard where you can access the windows mixer and control and test recording in the editor.

Windows Sounds And Audio Devices.

Then you'll see a screen something like this. All you need to do here is to click the button to get to the screen where you can select the way you want your speakers set.

Arrow 1A.) This will take you to Advanced where you may see the speaker layout below.

Arrow 2A.) If Advanced doesn't take you to the speaker setup section, Speaker Volume will.

Speaker Setup Choices

5.1 or 7.1 surround sound is great for watching DVDs, but to power the extra speakers, the input jacks you need for LINE IN and MIC IN are turned into
DUAL USE JACKS and the inputs are turned off. You can change the setting any time you like. Just come back here and change them to 5.1 or 7.1 when you want to watch a movie. But for now.

Arrow 1.) Click the pull down speaker setup box.

Arrow 2.) Choose Desktop Stereo Speakers, or 2 channel sound.

Then your inputs will be reset to work as inputs again.

CLICK APPLY IMPORTANT NOTE: After you change the selection, Click Apply hidden under this menu. Then click OK to close each screen. Then reboot and try the editor again.

2 Blue Jacks 2 Sound Cards - Check It Out.

Still NO SOUND, Or you HEAR SOUND but can't record? Many computers today have 2 sound cards and you may be plugged into the wrong one.

Why would you have 2 blue jacks or 2 sound cards - Yes almost all good computers today end up with 2 sound cards. Why? Most motherboards today come with a decent sound card built right onto the motherboard.

But if your computer is at all upgraded, usually the video and sound cards are upgraded to PCI cards. PCI cards are specialized cards that plug into your motherboard and are better than what's built in.

So the motherboard sound card and your PCI card are both on your computer and you can usually select whichever you want in the Windows Mixer Sounds and Audio Devices.

OK this means 2 things to you. 1. Check to see if you have 2 blue jacks on the back of your computer. Do you? How can you tell which is which?

Arrow 1.) This is your good upgraded sound card. It has more options and it's in a computer slot.

Arrow 2.) This is your OK motherboard sound card and it's fine for most things and will sound OK too. It's part of the motherboard and located with other jacks.

Green Arrows 3.) Look around the jacks. You can see it's on the same piece of metal as other things, in this case my USB plugs. Once you've looked at the back of your computer you'll find it easy to separate what's on the motherboard from what's a PCI slot.

Green Arrows 4.) This is what the PCI slots on your computer look like. You're likely to have several. You can see that the slots actually punch out and that new sections are put in. My dual monitor video card is what's above the top 4 and if you look carefully you'll see the cutout area where the sound card is.

What's most important is whichever card you want to use, BE SURE IT'S THE SAME PART as where your speakers are plugged into the GREEN JACK. That's another way to be sure you will get sound.

Choosing Which Sound Card.

If you go back to Sounds And Audio Devices as we did before, you can Choose THE AUDIO TAB AT THE TOP to access this screen.

Arrow 1.) Choose which card you want for playback.

Arrow 2.) Choose which card you want for record.

Arrow 3.) Here I'm showing you that I've Chosen my SB Audigy to be my sound card.

Arrow 4.) Here I've chosen a USB sound card that's external.

What's important to know and remember is that whatever card you choose will totally change all the sliders we looked at earlier in your Windows mixer because they all show what's available in your computer using the sound card you've chosen. You can switch back and forth any time you like. No harm. No foul.

Only Hear One Channel?

If you only hear one channel, what we need to do is track down where the problem is so we can fix it. It's normally not serious, but let's find out how to easily find out where the problem actually is.

What we're going to do is quickly isolate the problem. So let's do it.

Arrow 1.) With the Left And Right jacks from your turntable, tape deck or other musical source plugged into the A plugs, note on your computer speakers and the DAK Editor which channel isn't working.

Arrow 2.) Then SWAP THE LEFT AND RIGHT Plugs into the A jacks. Then listen to your music again. Did the sound move to the other side? If it did, then you know the problem is your music source or the cable from it to the Interface Mixer.

But what if it didn't change channels? OK return the left right jacks to their original jacks.

Arrow 3.) This shows you that you already have the cables from AMP OUT going to the blue jack in your computer.

Arrow 4.) Now SWAP THE LEFT AND RIGHT Plugs from the AMP OUT. Did the sound move to the other speaker now? If it did, then the Interface mixer is bad and needs repair. You can try the B jacks to see if it's bad there too, but either way contact us and let the DAK 1 year warranty take care of fixing your unit.

But what if it still didn't move?

Then it's one of 3 things for you to check. Thing 1. The cable we sent you may be bad. Thing 2. The plug into your blue jack may not be pushed in all the way. Thing 3 your sound card jack may be defective. It's most likely the cable or that it's not plugged in all the way. Push it in and out of the jack 5 or 6 times to clean the area and try again. If it still doesn't work, we can send you another cable.

More To Come

A few last things that I want to mention.
You computer will give you broadcast quality recordings. Usually if it's not, it just takes making a few small changes to settings. I'll add more to the easy troubleshooting guide as soon as I see that something isn't covered. Just email me if what you need isn't covered so I can share with everyone and get us all recording fast and easy and of course with great sound.

Enjoy. . . Drew

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