I have a receiver’s tape line out feeding my computer’s line in. When I try to get the recording volume set, I have to set the input volume to about 0 to have a -6dB peak. Any ideas?
Yes. You’re not using your computer’s Line-In because if you’re on a Windows laptop, you probably don’t have one. This machine has super sensitive Microphone In and Headphone Out and it’s pretty normal.
http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/PCLaptopSound.jpg
If that’s not what you’re doing, then post back and include lots of details.
http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/Documents/PostingQuestions2.pdf
Koz
I am using a HP desktop with the Beats audio sound card. Windows 7
When I try to get the recording volume set, I have to set the input volume to about 0 to have a -6dB peak. Any ideas?
As long as you can get the peaks down below 0dB, and there is no clipping/distortion, I wouldn’t worry about it. (I guess zero isn’t zero for your soundcard driver. 
)
Line-level isn’t well defined or calibrated on consumer equipment. Usually the output-level is high-enough to get full-volume (or more) and the input sensitivity is high-enough to get full volume (or more). And of course, it depends on program material… Some recordings are louder than others… If you are playing vinyl records, every phono cartridge has slightly different output, etc. Your phono preamp, CD player, and DVD player may all have different output levels, etc. (I once has had soundcard that also wouldn’t go to zero and it was so sensitive that I had to use in-line attenuators.)
I tried two decent receivers Yamaha & NAD on different sources. Both were too loud so I think it is the sound card. It is the first time I have used Audicity on this computer. It wasn’t like this on my older machine.
There have been a number of issues reported with “Beats Audio”.
I’m sorry I don’t know the solution, but the problem appears to be with the Beats Audio software as far as I can tell. I don’t have a HP computer so I’m not able to investigate further.
These are links to other forum topics involving Beats Audio - I don’t know if they will be of any help:
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/muddy-sound-when-recording-in-audacity/28023/1
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/recording-problems-on-windows-7-beats-audio/21030/1
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/audacity-wont-output-in-true-stereo/22882/1
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/low-recording-volume/20631/1
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/recording-result-sounds-thin-out-of-phase/28199/1
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/feedback-during-recording-session-today-help-please/23918/1
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/playback-sound-quality-lousy/26786/1
and from another forum I noticed:
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=98277
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=98774