Buzz when using line-in socket on Sound Card

  • Thread starter Thread starter Baswick
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Baswick

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I'm trying to record from a cassette recorder to the hard drive on my PC. I am using a Radio Shack shielded Y-adapter to connect the line-outs from the cassette player to the line-in on my PC sound card. When I plug into the PC I get a load hum or buzz through the PC speakers even though the cassette player is not yet turned on. If I unplug the RCA plugs from the cassette player the buzz stops. Is this a grounding problem? If so how do I get rid of the buzz. Thanks for any advice.
 
Sounds like a cable problem. Not sure what this Y adapter is. I use an unshielded 1/8" stereo male to 2 mono RCA connectors. Is this what your using?
 
Yes, thats what I'm using. A 1/8" stereo plug to two phono plus.
 
How about after you've unplugged the RCAs:
Does the buzz return if you touch the RCAs or use your finger to short the inputs?
 
No. The buzz doesn't return if I touch the RCA plugs or put my finger across them.
 
Emeric had it right. Try replacing that cable first. Sometimes even a cable in good condition won't work (or will work the way you are saying yours does) just because of the variation in the dimensions and condition of either gender of connector.
In other words, 1/8" mini plugs suck.
I've seen them work just fine and then I've seen the dark side. Never have I observed such nonsense with either RCA or 1/4" or (obviously) XLR.
 
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