how to record using headphone/mic jack as a line-in

[alantitus]

I am trying to record music at home. I am using an Asus laptop with the combined headphone / mic jack. Which, from my research, can also be used as a "line-in" stereo input, correct? Well anytime I plug the cable coming from my mixer/pa into the laptop it asks me what I plugged in and gives me three options. Headphone, speaker out, or headset. Its none of those. I am trying to use the jack as an input, which it is as well as an audio out. How do I do this and why am I only getting those three options?

 

[Darkbreeze]

What is your laptop model?

 

[alantitus]

Asus x551

 

[Darkbreeze]

Ok, so you can't use a standard 1/8" input from an auxillary device on that port. It's only compatible with a combo jack plug. You might be able to use an adapter like this one below but honestly, if you plan to record music, I'd highly recommend adding a USB soundcard like the one at the second link below or even something better like a good professional unit from someplace like www.musiciansfriend.com . The built in audio adapter in most laptops leaves much to be desired and almost any external USB soundcard will be an improvement if it's a quality unit.

Adaper: http://www.amazon.com/ASA-Electronics-JENAUX-Audio-Input/dp/B002ZNXX7C

Soundcard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829102032

 

[alantitus]

Thanks. I'll check it out.

 

[davriley]

I have the exact same issue (and same model of laptop) I was trying to do a simple stereo recording from my Yamaha Clavinova keyboard. i have a special cable that uses the stereo auxiliary RCA line-out of the keyboard with a 3.5mm male stereo plug on the other end that I used to plug into the mic/headphone input of the laptop. I, too, did not have the 'device plugged in' option of line-in appear. I believe the plug on the laptop may be designed for use with only a combo headphone/mic headset using a 4- segment plug rather than the normal 3 segment kind. I may be mistaken however. But likewise, when I plug the cable in to record (using Audacity software) the built-in microphone on the laptop is not disabled.

any ideas about using a USB 2.0 Interface 5.1 Stereo Audio Sound Card Adaptor for PC? they sell for under $5 on eBay/Amazon). This would appear to bypass the mic/headphone input jack on the laptop by using the USB port instead. then use a free sound recording program like Audacity to record it. http://