I am using Audacity 2.0.1 on Windows 7.
How do I select the input source? I want to use the USB - midi connection to record from my Synthesizer. But the software records from the microphone of the PC and not from the USB connection.
Vivek
2.0.1 is obsolete now so unless you have a reason to use that version I suggest you update to 2.0.6 here Audacity ® | Downloads.
Audacity does not record from MIDI inputs, because those are not audio.
Audio sources can be chosen in Device Toolbar.
See also Audacity Manual.
Gale
I am planning to buy a new laptop. Will the port for a Headphone and Microphone combo-jack work for recording guitar or electronic keyboard? The laptop does not have a separate port for microphone of line-in.
No. A single combined headphone and microphone port are almost always only for computer mics. They will apply unwanted amplification to a strong signal such as from a keyboard or most guitars.
It may be a four-position TRRS port too, which is meant for use with a modern single connector headset. If so you would need an adaptor to connect even a conventional computer mic to it.
Buy a USB interface like the Behringer UCA 202: Missing features - Audacity Support.
Gale
I have a new laptop - Lenovo Yoga 3, i7, SSD with Windows 10. When I record anything from internet, I observe loss of fidelity while playing back within Audacity. There is a further drop in fidelity when I try to play the exported mp3 file on the same laptop. I have been using Audacity for many years on laptops of much smaller configurations. But I did not experience this earlier. Is there any issue with the setting?
If you are recording into the mic port or using the internal mic, that is expected.
Record using Windows WASAPI (loopback) which is digital. See Tutorial - Recording Computer Playback on Windows - Audacity Manual.
Set the Audacity project rate (bottom left) to 44100 Hz. At lower rates you will lose high frequencies and the audio will sound dull.
Also you can download video or audio files from many popular sites. Use you favourite search engine to find out how.
Then install FFmpeg and import the downloaded audio or video file into Audacity. If it’s a video file, Audacity will extract the audio from the video. At that point the audio will be the same quality as it is in the video.
MP3 is a lossy format so that is expected. If you export the MP3 using the “Insane, 320 kbps” preset, many people find that close to transparent, but it is not lossless, and the file will be relatively large.
Gale