problem recording phone conversation on laptop

[tfriel]

I have a 64bit win 7 dell laptop

I am trying to use audacity beta  1.3
to record a phone conversation onto a file on my laptop

I have a hello direct headphone device
inserted on the chord that goes from the phone base to the handset
It works fine

I have a radio shack "mini recorder control" (mrc) device
attached between my headphone device  and the phone handset.
The mrc is set to record, not play.

The wire coming out of the mrc device
goes into my "microphone/line in" input place on the laptop.

My sound card is an IDT high def audio codec;
 date 6/29/09; version 6.10.0.6217
Windows update says it is the latest card

On the IDT preference settings
 I have the microphone/line in set as the default setting

On audacity 1.3.12 beta
I have these preferences set ...
Host - MME
Playback device - microsoft sound mapper - output
Recording device - microsoft sound mapper - input

The problem -
Audacity does not record any sound during the conversation

If I switch the audacity recording device to microsoft line-in
It still does not record any sound

IF I switch the IDT default settings to microphone array
 (which is the open mike on the laptop)
Audacity records my voice,
but not the other person on the line

I appreciate that with multiple devices involved
It is difficult to know which device is the problem

Any suggestions as to how to solve the problem
(or suggest an easier way to record a conversation on the laptop)
Would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Ted friel
tfriel@fmtc.net

[rbcp]

OMG USE LINUX YOU NEWB!

[RTF]

You need more devices hooked into the chain of devices.  When your pile of recording equipment is larger than your laptop and the wires are hopelessly tangled like my grandpa's Christmas lights you have won.

[ApprenticePhreak]

Get a digital voice recorder, an old suction cup microphone, record the conversation that way and then plug in the microcaset recorder in through the USB and win.

Also your text format scares me a bit on how it's all aligned.

[rbcp]

Have you tried plugging in a regular microphone and recording to that?  Just to see if the mic jack is working?  I'd start there.  Then maybe try and use Windows built-in recorder (assuming 7 still has one) or another recording program so you can eliminate Audacity as the problem.  THEN SWITCH TO LINUX, YOU NEWB!

[nyphonejacks]

why not try one of these http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2141764

[rbcp]

why not try one of these http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00897894000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

[Dean Currie]

If I strip the wires of a phone line cord and stick them directly into the microphone jack on my sound card, will I be able to record phone calls?

[rbcp]

If I strip the wires of a phone line cord and stick them directly into the microphone jack on my sound card, will I be able to record phone calls?

That actually would work, but the spikes in voltage when the phone rings might not be so good for your computer.

[nyphonejacks]

If I strip the wires of a phone line cord and stick them directly into the microphone jack on my sound card, will I be able to record phone calls?

i guess i am going to invoke the red text with this one... My own mediocre attempt at humor has been highly amusing to myself. 

[rbcp]

But it really does work!  A little buzzing on the audio, but it works.

[Dean Currie]

I think I will be able to fix the voltage spikes with zener diodes and I can fix the mains hum in post with Audacity.