Shaky. As we are trying to solve the problem with different versions on our screens it is all very confusing.
I now intend to do a restore and then download the latest beta version. Maybe I can then mute the mike and achieve what I want in audacity.
I am grateful for your interest and help.
At present, trying to shorten the concert file with an open mic is a nightmare senario.

regards thoramay

Downloading the concert file from the recorder via usb was simple and the full length concert is on the hard drive via my music files.
Tried playing the concert direct to audacity via the usb but this did not work.
The core need is to record from the hard drive to audacity without the mic being live. Can this be done in the latest version, I wonder?
I cannot grasp what relationship the music and the mic has and why silencing the mic also closes down the music.

regards thoramay.

I need to recap.
The concert lasted over two hours. CD's will only take eighty minutes.
I need to reduce the length. I have done this once, except that the computer mike was open and all room sounds went over the recording.
Result. I want to silence the mic. Given instructions, thank you, but this also cut out all sound. Tried to reverse this but the computer hung on me. I guess that is when things went wrong.
I can play the concert but immediately I press the record button in audacity the music stops and I am informed that the media player cannot carry out the instruction. I now discover that my version is 123 which came out in 2004 for XP. I am using windows.
Next stage to change the version to the latest beta that does support windows 7 regards thoramay.

Bernard. The digital recorder plugs into the usb socket. What are the chances that audacity can access these files direct??
regards thoramay.

The version I have has the preferences under FILE and not EDIT. Have I a different version?
I am trying to condense a music concert to the size that will fit on a cd. The music has been recorded on a Sanyo 128mb stereo digital voice recorder. I now have this 2hour plus recording in my music files and have successfully made a recording through audacity but the mic is open all the time and records all the noises in the room over the concert music. I am searching for a way to switch off the mic but seemingly, this also switches off all the music.
I have been to the preferences. The settings are different to how you describe. I tried all the settings with audacitry open and tried each in turn. No joy there. There is obviously another setting that has been altered. I cannot think what.

regards thoramay.

I've gone to the speaker symbol. Right click--recording devices..Mic/line in and disable.
I have now reversed this but the problem now remains.
I have version 123, just downloaded.
A friend has this. His previous version allowed him to cancel mic under the mic symbol.
Perhaps I now need to find a copy of this version.
I know so little regarding the workings of a computer that I am way out of my depth here. I just cannot understand why pressing the record button on audacity should cancel the music and the notice pops up that media player could not action this.

regards thoramay.

Not good news, I'm afraid. I cannot now record to audacity. It tells me that a change has been made and media player cannot work!! I have tried to reverse the change but it locks up the computer. I am stuck now.
Bernard. My version is different to yours. The pull down does not actuate. I believe there is some problem here and it has been noted on the forums.

When I play music from my files it works but go to audacity and try to record it stops the music and I get the message that this change has been made.

regards thoramay.

Thank you good people. Now done. I need to remember that the right button activates other functions. I was using the left button and getting nowhere..Pathetic, I know!
My better half is away at the moment who is the techno person.
Again. Many thanks.

regards Thoramay.

In my copy of audacity, under the blue line in the centre of the screen there is an input and output meter with a mike symbol between these two. clicking on the mike symbol does nothing. I have just downloaded the latest version of audacity. I think there is an issue on this with closing the mike.
I am using the latest windows version, not XP. I cannot see a clock symbol here.

regards thoramay.

Terry. Thanks for your response. I am confused!! What is Systray? Is this in windows or in audacity, please. Cannot locate this in either. Sorry!! I am not good with computers. Any further explanation would be helpful.

regards Thoramay.