I’m using Audacity 2.4.2 and was wondering if there’s some way to hear my mic output without having to record. It seems like every time I try to record something, I end up having to re-record it because I got too close to the microphone and the audio ended up sounding loud and grainy, so I want to be able to hear what I’m saying before I record so I’ll know if I’m too close to the mic or not.
What sort of microphone are you using, and how is it connected to your computer?
With a normal computer mic, it is possible to monitor the mic input, but there’s a delay which is very distracting and makes it nearly impossible to concentrate on what you are doing.
Also, you can click on the microphone meter bar for a dynamic visual indication of your recording level.
To listen to the microphone without recording via Windows, right-click on the speaker icon on your Windows taskbar near the lower right-hand corner of the screen, then select Sounds > Recording > [Your microphone] > Properties > Listen to this device > Playback through this device > Apply. I don’t recommend leaving it on.
I hope this helps. 