Recording - Sound Activation

When I start a sound recording, Audacity attempts to record immediately even when sound is present, leading to a period of silence at the start of. recording. Is it possible to instruct Audacity record ONLY when sound is detected?

Have you enabled “Sound Activated Recording” and set the “Sound Activation Level”? (see: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/playing_and_recording.html#sar)