I am recording LPs from a Crosley turntable. First one sounded fine and the wave image was broad, -1 to +1. After that, using several different records, I saw only a barely perceptible wave above and below the 0 line. The sound was inaudibleI unless I cranked up the dbs, then the hiss etc. was unbearable. Did I hit some key or setting that changed the recording values? I’m using max value for incoming volume. I appreciate any troubleshooting advice or direction to resources. I have looked through the manual.
-6 dB on Meter Toolbar, and +/- 0.5 on the scale to left of the waveform is a good safe aim for the maximum recorded level (it gives you some leeway to go over).
I don’t know what you mean by “cranked up the dbs”. Mac OS X does not normally let you modify the input level of USB recording devices.
Perhaps you want to restart the computer or check if the USB cable is loose, or check if the input in Audacity Device Toolbar is still set to “USB Audio CODEC”.
Gale
Actually, one thing I did to increase the volume was “normalize.” THeN the hiss etc. was overpowering. When you say -6 on the db meter, is that the slider on the left below the words mute and solo? That’s where I cranked up the dbs, to something like +10 or 15.
In any event, things seem to be working ok today. I guess the system reset itself when I shut it down overnight. Sorry to take your time helping a beginner, but I appreciate it. I really am trying to use the manual but the vocabulary is a big challenge for a neophyte like me.
That is expected if you recorded at a really low level. You need peaks of around half height or a bit more on the Audacity waveform.
That -…+ slider below Mute / Solo only makes the audio louder or softer after recording, so that is no more a solution than Normalize.
Normally you would use the right-hand slider on Mixer Toolbar:
to adjust the loudness of what you were recording. But you cannot use that slider on Mac when recording from most USB recording devices. Have a look on or under the turntable to see if it has a knob to regulate the output volume.
When you are recording, look in the red part of Meter Toolbar:
to see what the level is. The -6 dB “good, safe level” is there (see where the blue maximum peak lines are in the image above). -6 dB is the same level as “half-height” (0.5) on the waveform.
You don’t have to record to check the level. Get your input going into Audacity, then click in the recording meter and it will show you the same red bars, but without recording.
Many phrases in the Manual are in blue, for links to other pages. You can click the links at any time to find out more about what that phrase means or what it does.
Gale
Having similar problem here with streamed audio (e.g. from radio replay via webpage): v. small wave image, sound audible, but v. low even if input and output levels set at max. No problem recording direct from radio/tape/turntable.
Yes, using Soundflower: have followed steps in Audacity manual but can’t get input signal up.
Perhaps this SoundFlower tutorial will help: http://cycling74.com/2012/04/02/expand-your-sound-palette-with-soundflower/
Try this somewhat expanded tutorial in the on line manual: http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/Tutorial_-_Recording_Computer_Playback_on_Mac
Here’s the thing that trips up most people: you need to set Soundflower as the output device in System Preferences/Sound/Output. You can then set Soundflower as the input to Audacity.
– Bill
Done all that: still no explanation of difference between direct input (e.g. from radio) and streaming (e.g. from iPlayer) or how to correct it
The difference is simple - choose the Soundflower input in Audacity when you want to record streaming audio and the built-in input when you want to record a physical radio or tape deck.
If there is still a problem, open Help > Audio Device Info…, drag-select the contents, Command - C to copy, then paste that in here. Is the problem still that the iPlayer is recorded too quietly? If so, does turning up the Audacity input slider in Mixer Toolbar Audacity Manual make any difference? It may not - I have never used Soundlower.
Gale
Yes, it does. Both the Audacity output slider and the input slider will affect the achieved volume of the recording.
Gale
Device info herewith: input slider is on max.
==============================
Default capture device number: 3
Default playback device number: 2
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Built-in Microphone
Host name: Core Audio
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000952
Low Output Latency: 0.010000
High Input Latency: 0.009524
High Output Latency: 0.100000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Built-in Input
Host name: Core Audio
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.000952
Low Output Latency: 0.010000
High Input Latency: 0.009524
High Output Latency: 0.100000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: Built-in Output
Host name: Core Audio
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.010000
Low Output Latency: 0.000952
High Input Latency: 0.100000
High Output Latency: 0.009524
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
192000
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: Soundflower (2ch)
Host name: Core Audio
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.010000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.100000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
192000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: Soundflower (16ch)
Host name: Core Audio
Input channels: 16
Output channels: 16
Low Input Latency: 0.010000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.100000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
192000
==============================
Selected capture device: 3 - Soundflower (2ch)
Selected playback device: 2 - Built-in Output
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
192000
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available capture sources:
==============================
Available playback volumes:
0 - PCM
==============================
Capture volume is native
Playback volume is native
If the problem is that it records too quietly, put the output slider on maximum too.
Gale
Done that too - no difference: wave peaks never more that about 0.2 with full symphony orchestra at forte. Sound is audible, but low volume.
Turn up the playback volume in iPlayer to max.
– Bill
It already is
I’m trying input to Audacity from Soundflower on my Mac right now, and it works perfectly. Sound coming from Firefox or iTunes.
I can see no fault in your device info.
Please describe exactly the steps you took (including setting up Soundflower in System Preferences) to record audio playing on the computer. If iPlayer is still a problem, try iTunes or a YouTube video playing in Safari.
– Bill
Are you saying that when you record then play that recording back at full volume, it is quieter than the volume at which you heard the sound in iPlayer while you were recording it?
Gale
SysPrefs: input=line-in, output=Soundflower 2ch, input volume at half, output volume at full
Audacity: input=built-in output, output=Soundflower 2ch
Wave peaks about 0.2-0.3 max
Recorded output lower volume than input sound
Same with both Firefox and Safari
Seems a bit better on YouTube, but only marginal, and the stuff I want is (so far) only on BBC Radio iPlayer