I recently bought a dictation machine with micro-cassettes and recorded a few things there. I then connected the headphone jack of the dictation machine to the microphone jack of the laptop with an AUX cable. Then I opened Audacity and started a recording there and also clicked Play on the dictation machine, but the computer did not recognize the dictation machine. How so?
First of all, the question arises which sockets are available and how they are connected.
If the dictation machine has an output for stereo headphones, you have to use a three-pin stereo jack plug (tip / ring / shaft). With a one-sided earphone, you need a two-pin mono jack plug (tip / shaft).
There are also several options on the laptop: Either a headset socket for a four-pin jack plug (tip / ring / ring / shaft), a three-pin one
Stereo AUX input (tip / ring / shaft) or a two-pin microphone input (tip / shaft).
On the one hand you have to connect the devices via the correct (!) Plug, i.e. The plugs must have the appropriate number of contacts. On the other hand, the signal at the input of the laptop must be present at the tip of the connector.
Another problem: The microphone input is very sensitive and is actually not suitable for feeding external sources other than a microphone. The level of the source device must be kept very low so that the signal at the input is not overloaded.
And then there's the choice of recording source with Audacity. If this is chosen incorrectly, nothing can be recorded.
You basically did it right. But:
Do not use the MIC input, it is too sensitive, the signal would be overloaded. It is better to use the LINE input of the sound card or the laptop.
The computer can't actually "recognize" the dictation machine. Because there's no digital data connection at all. Only an analog audio signal connection.
Then the connection cable must be compatible with the two sound connections. With a 3.5mm stereo jack plug on both sides, it should basically work.
If you don't get a recording signal, you have to investigate why:
What comes out of the (headphone) output of the dictation machine?
Does Audacity record what if another source is connected?
If both can be answered in the affirmative, it is a wrong or defective cable.
