new user not able to record from external mic

Special Interest Groups Recording Techniques
1

Hi,

I have Audacity 1.2.5 installed and have been trying to record using an external condenser microphone. The mic is plugged into a pre amp with phantom power - an Edirol UA 101, which in turn is connected to my Macbook running 0S X 10.4.11. So far I haven’t been able to get any waveform recorded. Audacity works using the Macbook built-in mic. I also have no trouble when I record in Garageband using the external mic. I’ve tried the things suggested in the Troubleshooting Recording Audacity Wiki page. I.e I have set Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup. Clicked on the “Audio Devices” tab and made sure on the left-hand side that EDIROL UA-101 96kHz is selected in the “Default Input” and “Properties for” dropdowns. The source is set at default. Format at 96000.0Hz 12ch-24bit, and the Volume slider is greyed out.

What more do I need to do to get Audacity to record?

2

First, I would back off the crazy audio standards, at least until you get it to work the first time. Reset Audacity Preferences for 44100 and 16 bit. Restart Audacity.

Here’s how I got my USB microphone to work. This is a cousin to what you’re doing.

USB Microphone
http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/USB_Microphone.html

Koz

3

Thanks Koz,

Still having problems…

I have done everything you suggested, but when it comes to:

----First Recording-----

Click once inside the upper right-hand (Red, Incoming) “L” sound meter. Speak into the microphone. Your voice should register on the meter.

There’s no voice registering, Likewise any recording comes out with a flat waveform.

nb. I don’t know if it’s relevant, but when recording in Garageband it only seems to work using Channel 2 (mono). I’ve also tried using Audacity>Preferences>AudioI/O>Recording>Channels: 2 (stereo) without success…

nb. I have set Applications > Utilities > Audio MIDI Setup. Clicked on the “Audio Devices” tab and made sure on the left-hand side that EDIROL UA-101 44.1kHz is selected in the “Default Input” and “Properties for” dropdowns. The source is set at default. Format at 44100.0Hz 12ch-24bit, and the Volume slider is greyed out.

4

If you mess around in Apple Preferences and never get that little bouncing light meter to flash, then Audacity is helpless. Audacity is standing on top of Apple Sound Services. I measured it once and that Apple sound meter is pretty cool. It has a 40dB range and any useful sound managed by the computer will register.

Has the microphone/system ever worked, ever?

Koz