Blasted by volume in headphones when recording computer audio

Audacity 3 Help Forum
1

Several months ago, I recorded a bunch of songs on my Windows (10 or 11?) laptop (a Lenovo) using Audacity (don’t remember the version but it was several builds ago) to record the audio from YouTube Music. The audio settings were:

Host: Windows WASAPI
Playback device: Headphone (Realtek(R) Audio)
Recording device: Headphone (Realtek(R) Audio) (loopback)

Things worked swell. I was able to listen to the song while watching the time series on the Audacity display.

Now, with a new Windows 11 Pro HP laptop, the latest Audacity version, 3.7, and the same audio settings, I can’t adjust the record level up to where I had it previously (peaking at around -6 dB) without deafening volume coming through the headphones. (Note, the same happens if I switch the playback and record devices to the computer speakers.) The song will record at the low record level (peaking around -45 dB), but I don’t see the time series because the level is so low. If I normalize the time series when done, I now see the time series. However, I can’t believe that this is what I’m going to have to do.

So basically, my question is how can I record computer audio at a reasonable record level (peaking at -6 dB) and be able to listen while recording? I.e. like I was able to do before. What might be going on here that I need to address?

Thanks times a billion,
Bill

2

I don’t know what’s changed but you are recording what’s coming OUT of your soundcard so the playback volume affects the recoding volume.

If you have speakers that plug-into your computer, they almost always have a volume control knob so you can turn-up Windows volume.

You can also find add-on inline headphone volume controls.

3

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to determine the difference in settings between now, with the new laptop and latest version of Audacity, and then, with the older laptop and Audacity version.

What I do remember is that previously, the record (and playback too I believe) slider on the Audacity menu didn’t really do much. Varying the volume slider on the YouTube Music program did impact the record level. However, I could turn down the volume output to the headphones (via the volume button on my keyboard), and that would let me listen to the music with a normal volume level while recording.

Now it seems like the output to the headphones is tied to the output going to Audacity. I can’t up the recording level without also cranking the volume up going to the headphones.

Thanks,
Bill