How Do I Convert Computer Sound to Conventional?

Convert digital sound (computer) to analog sound (conventional).

Convert computer sounds to conventional sounds using the "input/output link" method. Sounds from your computer can be everything from YouTube audio tracks to sounds you have downloaded in formats such as .mp3 or .wav that can be played on your computer but not converted to use in other formats. You can even record sounds from your favorite CDs and DVDs using this method.

Things You'll Need

• Multi-media (audio) card
• Male-to-male audio cable

Instructions

1. 

   Audio recording software saves music to your computer's HDD.

   Download audio recording software. Go to the Audacity sound editor website and download this free software, which can record and save files to your computer. You can use any software you wish that can record sounds from a microphone, though you do not need a microphone.

2. 

   Make the audio output your audio input.

   Connect the male-to-male audio cable from your headphone jack on your sound card to the microphone jack on the same sound card. The microphone jack will be located near the headphone jack. The color of the headphone jack is normally green, while the microphone jack is normally red.

3. 

   Use a hardware modification to gain control over your sound architecture.

   Open your sound recording software. In Audacity and other audio editors, you can adjust the input (microphone) volume, but because you have control of the volume on your computer, there is no need as you can control the loudness of the recording through your standard volume bar in the lower right corner.

4. 

   Audio waves appear as vertical lines over a horizontal plane.

   Push "Record" on your sound recording software, then play the computer sound you wish to convert. When the sound is done playing, hit "Stop" on the sound recording software. Your new sound file should appear as a pattern of waves from left to right.

5. 

   Saving files in the conventional MP3 makes them playable in portable devices.

   Save the audio file. Saving the file as a .wav will result in a large file size, but greater preservation of the quality of the original recording. Saving the file as an .mp3 will make the file playable in your cell/mobile phone or MP3 player, as a ring tone or a song. To save as MP3 in Audacity, you will need to download the Lame MP3 codec for Audacity (free).

Tips & Warnings

• Make more than one recording, adjusting the volume and mic sensitivity as well as recording quality, to determine which final file you want to save.

• More advanced users might try downloading and installing software such as Cubase or Hydrogen to mix sounds.

• If you don't have the male-to-male audio cable (the size of your standard earphone jack), then you can adjust your sound settings for the mic to hear the sound output.

• If the waves are very large and seem to extend beyond the boundaries of the upper and lower boundaries, then lower the volume bar on your computer and repeat this step to obtain a better quality recording.

References

• eMoney: How to Record Streaming Audio on Your PC

Resources

• Audacity: The Free, Cross-Platform Sound Editor
• Lame: MP3 encoder
• Hydrogen: Advanced Drum Machine
• Cubase 5