Using the AT2020 USB microphone on my desktop windows 7 64bit, the input volume in audacity is set to 0.3 and the volume comes in nice and loud and clear. I’m able to rap over an instrumental and i can hear the voice really well in the recording.
HOWEVER;
I have 2 laptops both running Windows 8.1 64bit, and with the exact same settings in audacity, the same microphone records much much lower. Some people recommended to update Realtek drivers, and that did not fix the problem.
What happens if you turn the Audacity input volume up on the Windows 8.1 machines? There is no direct correlation between the input volume and the -1/+1 linear you will achieve in the blue waves, but 0.3 is not high.
Also is there any boost for the mic in Windows Sound that you might not have turned on?
Windows has the ability to manage microphone volume on a USB microphone. I think you need to mess about in the Windows Control Panels. That’s the only place I can think which would change the volume. Generally, once you make a digital bitstream, the show is set. It’s the analog microphones that have multiple places to set volume.
You can also be experiencing the joy of Windows helping you. I once took a very long time to figure out that Windows was applying Cathedral Effects to my sound. If Windows thinks you’re making a Skype call, it may decide you need Windows Enhanced Services.
first and foremost, i waited about 2 hours before i double posted, because i wasnt even sure if i confirmed my first post because of the long admin process to “ok” my post, which in its own is a joke in my opinion, do you really think people are going to waste their time spamming audacity forums???
this is the first forum ive ever been to in my very extensive online history which requires an admin to approve of a first post from a fresh account, i mean this is audacity, …
anyways, i think the problem has something to do with windows 8.1
You were asked politely not to double post. Doing that wastes volunteer time. I answered you in one topic then Koz answered you in another topic, then we had to merge the posts.
This is free software. We are all volunteers. One of the Forum volunteers is on holiday. You were answered in about five hours which is much quicker than on many forums.
There are usually dozens of attempted spam posts a day. If there was no moderation there would be more spam than genuine posts.
Please provide some examples where there is no moderation then we will examine them.
Have you taken the advice and looked in Windows Sound?
USB ports on some machines are hotter than others. On some machines, some USB ports are USB 2.0 and some are USB 3.0 and those ports may have different audio input levels.
If you are able to get a good level of about -6 dB with the Audacity input slider on 0.8 or so, I think you are doing fine. It’s better than having distortion you can’t fix.
Unfortunately we have had to introduce post moderation for new Forum users to avoid being deluged in a flood of spam, as Gale wrote. Mostly its harmless but very annoying advertising - but some very unpleasant and some downright dangerous. A while back some Russians were posting pictures of people in very “interesting positions” - not what you come to an Audacity site for imvho. And folk are endlessly trying to sell us male enhancement and escort services.
do you really think people are going to waste their time spamming audacity forums???
So yes I do think that, more than that I know that - it causes me to waste my time each and every day un-spamming the Audacity Forum …
I actually don’t resent that time used as we try to keep this little corner of cyberspace a sane and family-friendly place to visit, but it could be used more productively.
