I have an amateur radio connected via USB to my desktop. The vendor (ICOM) provides a helper utility program. This program provides windows sound interfaces called, for example, “ICOM_VAUDIO-1” which can be configured to be audio in (mic) or audio out (speaker) or one that can act as a 2-way interface.
These virtual devices work just fine with Spectrum Lab.
But, with Audacity, I need to use some 43 dB of (post recording) amplification effect to get the signal up to 100%.
Is there perhaps some sort of error with this interface? Is there a way to specify the level/gain?
Ken
The recording volume slider in Audacity is now “hidden” under the recording meters. I doesn’t always work with USB devices but check it.
There is also Windows Microphone Boost but you shouldn’t need that.
Thanks - but I see the control and it is at 100%. I looked at the windows control panel for this and it shows the volume control at 100%. However, even though I have a signal that is probably 50% of full scale, it shows the audio level as only 1% from the virtual device.
Looking back at spectrum lab, I see that the levels are around -50 dBm. And spectrum lab has no problem displaying this level. But it is a low level.
Poking round more, I found another device called “Microphone - USB audio Codec” which apparently is in the radio without needing to use the virtual device aux program. And it works fine!
My conclusion is the virtual device is more like line-level input and the level is tied the strongest signal that the receiver can receive, right at its overload point. The audio codec device (input) is more like a microphone input to Audacity. If I turn the slider all the way up, it overloads on strong signals.
Anyway - issue resolved. Thanks for humoring me.
Ken