So basically I’ve been using audacity to start recording music, I have zero experience in music programming but I thought I might record my guitar and make some songs. I tried recording my guitar using a microphone and the audio was incredibly quiet. I then discovered I could plug my amp into my computer with a USB and I thought that would maybe resolve the issue while giving me a cleaner sound however, it does the same thing. Every input I put into my computer makes the audacity audio extremely quiet, I bass boost it as much as possible and it’s still barely audible despite it’s directly inputted into my amp. Was hoping someone someone has had a similar issue and could possibly help me out. The funny thing is, If I use my regular microphone fitted with my laptop the sound is just fine.
My OS is Windows 10 Home and my laptop is a Lenovo ideapad 110-151br. Not sure if any additional information is needed but I am a complete beginner.
I tried recording my guitar using a microphone and the audio was incredibly quiet.
Microphone sensitivity varies and the signal depends on the loudness of the sound and how close the mic is, but a mic right in front of a cranked-up 100W guitar amp usually gives you plenty of signal.
Your computer has a combo mic+headphone jack and it requires a [u]4-conductor TRRS plug[/u]. Does your microphone have that kind of plug? Or, are you using a USB microphone?
If you run Audacity’s Amplify effect, what default amplification do you see? After amplifying, how does it sound?
I then discovered I could plug my amp into my computer with a USB and I thought that would maybe resolve the issue while giving me a cleaner sound however, it does the same thing.
It’s normal to have some “headroom” with USB audio connections, especially if the there is no volume/gain control for the USB. That’s so a hot pick-up and/or hard strumming doesn’t clip (distort) the analog-to-digital converter. It’s also normal for clean-undistorted and uncompressed guitar to sound a lot quieter than a commercial production (which will be compressed and possibly played through a distorted amp).
