By setting my my input device to just clips and observing the setting that causes audacity to just show cliping, it appears that the multiplication factor is 1 at about -12 db or 80% on the input volume control. Can anyone verify that is approximately correct?
Audacity’s recording & playback sliders don’t amplify. They only attenuate. At 100% you have a gain (multiplication factor) of 1.0 = 0dB = no change.
Windows Microphone Boost can amplify.
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Thanks, that answers my question. Also thanks for the info on the Windows volume conttol.
Yes, your observation is generally correct. In Audacity, when the input volume is set around -12 dB (or about 80% of the maximum), that’s often where clipping can start to occur. This is because the signal may be amplified too much, leading to distortion. It’s good practice to keep levels below 0 dB to avoid clipping.
I disagree. The input level control should be set to get peak recording levels of about -12 dB. Sometimes that means setting the control to 100%, other times it may mean setting it to 50%. If you have to set the control below 25% that probably means that the signal coming into your sound port is too loud and is being clipped at that point.