Everything was good not until last year’s update. I can no longer adjust recording level. Here’s my setup information:
OS: Windows 10 pro
Audacity version: 3.7.3
Host: Windows WASAPI
Recording device: Stereo Mix (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Issue: Before the update I always adjust the recording level between (-9 ~ -6) db level, and the playback sounds good. But right now, the recording level is fixed in far right 0db. Even I adjust the windows sound mix recording level to 80%, the recording playback always have clipping and crackling sound because recording level is too high.
I don’t think this is caused by Audacity… I think when you are adjusting volume, you’re adjusting it (indirectly) through Windows or the drivers (before the sound gets into Audacity).
Try WASAPI loopback instead of Stereo Mix. You may not be able to adjust the recording volume at all with loopback (different people seem to get different results) but you shouldn’t get clipping unless the audio data coming-in is already clipped.
What are you recording from?
Are you actually “mixing”, such as recording the microphone with music that’s also playing? Mixing is done by summation and it does get “louder”.
You are right. When I switch the recording device to Speaker(Realtek High Definition Audio) loopback, then I can adjust the recording level. BTW, I record the music from my online streaming
