Having problems recording with BCD396T

[screamingchicken]

I have been trying to record signals from 396 onto my PC for the last few days but cannot get it to work. I am using ARC396 PRO with a gold plated 1/8th audio cable from Radio Shack. I've plugged the cable into the headphone jack on the scanner and then into the soundcard on my PC. I've tried all three jacks! I have set up a custom folder for the recordings to go into. The ARC396 set up folders for me with the date and system, but there was no audio file inside. It said it was recording but there was nothing there. I assume I leave the RS232 cable attached while recording. I clicked on the 'speaker' icon in the system tray to and tried both the line in and mic options. Obviously I'm doing something wrong!! Can someone please help me!??

Thanx!

 

[emt331000]

If you are using the most recent release (v2.0), the default location of saved audio files is %USERPROFILE%\My Documents\My Scanner Data Files\ARC396PRO. Check there.

But, you can specify the location yourself, which is done inside Virtual Control: Recording (tab) > Path. Check the box labeled "Use Custom Path:", then press the button on the right of the field (labeled with "...") to browse to your desired directory.

 

[ka3jjz]

Screaming - dumb question. Are you hearing audio thru your PC speakers? If not, perhaps the source you're trying to use is disabled. Go into your Control Panel and make sure that's not the case. Use something that's on constantly, such as your local NOAA station.

73s and GL..Mike

 

[oritpro]

Arc won't create an audio file if it doesn't detect an audio signal. Since you've tried all input jacks on your sound card; either the cable is bad, the headphone jack on your 396 doesn't work, or your soundcard is broken or has a driver problem.

Windows usually defaults to the mic input and you should have at least picked up a (distorted) signal there.

Try plugging in a set of headphones to the 396 and go from there.

 

[screamingchicken]

Screaming - dumb question. Are you hearing audio thru your PC speakers? If not, perhaps the source you're trying to use is disabled. Go into your Control Panel and make sure that's not the case. Use something that's on constantly, such as your local NOAA station.

73s and GL..Mike

I do not hear anything through my PC speakers while trying to record. If I plug the cable from my scanner into the speaker jack on the soundcard, then I can hear it.

 

[screamingchicken]

Arc won't create an audio file if it doesn't detect an audio signal. Since you've tried all input jacks on your sound card; either the cable is bad, the headphone jack on your 396 doesn't work, or your soundcard is broken or has a driver problem.

Windows usually defaults to the mic input and you should have at least picked up a (distorted) signal there.

Try plugging in a set of headphones to the 396 and go from there.

I checked the jack with headphones and it works fine. I tuned the scanner to a radio station, but was still unable to fine any recording.

 

[oritpro]

I do not hear anything through my PC speakers while trying to record. If I plug the cable from my scanner into the speaker jack on the soundcard, then I can hear it.

Most newer sound cards have color jacks to indicate their purpose. The typical color scheme is:

Green - line out or speaker out.
Pink - microphone input.
Blue - line input.

The 396 should be plugged into into the line input on your soundcard, and Windows should be setup to record from the line input.

 

[screamingchicken]

Most newer sound cards have color jacks to indicate their purpose. The typical color scheme is:

Green - line out or speaker out.
Pink - microphone input.
Blue - line input.

The 396 should be plugged into into the line input on your soundcard, and Windows should be setup to record from the line input.

I have plugged the jack into the blue input. ACR396 says it is recording, but when I open the file into where it should be recording, it is empty.

 

[oritpro]

I have plugged the jack into the blue input. ACR396 says it is recording, but when I open the file into where it should be recording, it is empty.

Ok, try this:

While running Arc396 (v2.0) open the Virtual Control and click the recording tab. Then click the set recording button and a recording control box should pop up. Make sure that the select check box for line in is checked.

 

[hiegtx]

I checked the jack with headphones and it works fine. I tuned the scanner to a radio station, but was still unable to fine any recording.

If you can hear audio through earphones, but are not hearing the scanner through the pc speakers, then either your audio patch cable (from scanner to sound card) is defective, or the sound card is not processing the audio input. On my pc, with a scanner plugged in, I hear the scanner's audio through the pc's speaker, regardless of whether I'm running a recording/logging program, like ARC, or not.

Check the sound card settings either from within the control panel, or if it has a systray icon. The line or mic input may be disabled, or set to be used for something other than line-in or mic. The card on my pc (Soundmax) asks, when something is plugged into the line-in jack if I'm using it for a mic, line-in, a speaker, whatever. There's also options to disable (mute) the port. If the port is set to "off" (or mute if you prefer), or the wrong device, then I cannot hear or record audio.

I do not hear anything through my PC speakers while trying to record. If I plug the cable from my scanner into the speaker jack on the soundcard, then I can hear it.

You are hearing the scanner, through the pc speakers when the scanner audio patch cable is plugged into the speaker jack? Which jack are the speakers plugged into when you are hearing audio?

 

[screamingchicken]

Ok, try this:

While running Arc396 (v2.0) open the Virtual Control and click the recording tab. Then click the set recording button and a recording control box should pop up. Make sure that the select check box for line in is checked.

Awesome!! I actually just updated my driver, and thought about what you just mentioned!! It seems to be working now!
Thank-you very much for all your help!! This is my first scanner, it seems to have a very steep learning curve!! LOL

Thanks

 

[oritpro]

Awesome!! I actually just updated my driver, and thought about what you just mentioned!! It seems to be working now!
Thank-you very much for all your help!! This is my first scanner, it seems to have a very steep learning curve!! LOL

Thanks

Your welcome.

I went through the same thing when I bought my 396 (coming from a conventional scanner). Fortunately the Arc software really helps take a bite out of the learning curve.