Hi folks
This popped up right after an upgrade to Windows 10. I have included a screenshot to illustrate.
When recording my levels are considerably lower than normal, despite, as you can see the seeeings on the Audacity desktop are normal or above. I checked the level control on my Presonus Audiobox and it too seems normal (roughly at 2 o’clock on the dial.
I’m not sure how to explain this or how to remedy the situation
Bob H
Audacity 2.1.1
There’s something in the [u]Audacity FAQ[/u] about half-volume when recording in mono.
Something may have changed with the Win10 drivers causing that issue to crop-up.
Ok folks
Indeed, following the advice on the FAQ, I made a stereo recording and alas, the levels returned to normal. Again, following the advice on the FAQ, I used the Track dropdown menu and selected Stereo Track to Mono option. That returned me to the original problem, half level.
This is the FAQ answer
How can I prevent a half-volume mono recording?
This can occur when connecting to one channel only of a device that has separate left and right channel inputs. Recording in mono will often result in a half-volume track that cannot be made louder without adding distortion. If this happens, record in stereo using Device Toolbar, then use the Audio Track Dropdown Menu to split the stereo track and close the silent channel.
As always thanks for quick replies.
I used the Track dropdown menu and selected Stereo Track to Mono option.
Wrong option… 
Split to Stereo allows you to edit the left & right channels independently. Delete the silent track and that won’t affect the other track.
P.S.
You don’t need to re-record that half-volume track. When you combined the good channel and the silent channel that was done digitally in 32-bit floating-point, so it was a lossless process. Just use the Amplify effect to bring the level up to where you want.
Bob H, have you obtained the Windows 10 drivers for your Audiobox from http://www.presonus.com/support/downloads/AudioBox-USB?
Gale
No Gale, didn’t know I needed new drivers, will download now. Thanks for the heads up.
Bob H
Hi
Updating the Presonus drivers for Windows 10 didn’t solve the issue but your Split Stereo seems to be a good temporary fix.
I’m wondering if Presonus is even aware of the issue. Do you think this is simply a Presonus/Audacity issue or have you heard from other DAW users experiencing the same problem?
Bob H
Updating the Presonus drivers for Windows 10 didn’t solve the issue but your Split Stereo seems to be a good temporary fix.
I’m wondering if Presonus is even aware of the issue.
I don’t know where this comes from (Windows drivers or Presonus drivers) but it’s intentional.
If you plug-in two devices (such as two microphones) and you record in mono, the signals will be summed and you can potentially get clipping in the summed mono signal without clipping the channels individually and without triggering the clip LED on your interface.
I think Bob is only recording into one input on the AudioBox, is that right, Bob? Most DAW’s that support ASIO record at full volume if you only connect one input and set the DAW to record in mono. They don’t assume the missing input is part of a stereo pair.
And I believe many two-channel interfaces will send left only if two inputs are connected and the DAW requests mono.
But both of those things depend on the drivers of the device too. I think Bob was probably lucky not to encounter this before.
Gale