Recording works, but is VERY quiet... help?

[ennauriel]

After finally figuring out how to enable the correct input device, I got recording to work. It does record, but I don't think it's recording properly, because the frequency is low. When I play it back, it's VERY quiet, and I'm unable to hear it unless I turn my speakers up really high (and even then it's still quiet). I was recording at a normal volume from iTunes.

I'm using Vista.

I read this tutorial to get the input device enabled: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/index.php? ... bar_Issues

Here's my recording devices from the Control Panel:


Here's the I/O preferences in Audacity:


...I also tested using Stereo Mix for my input device, and had the same problem:



Here's what it looks like when I record:

As you can see, it's very low. Something is off.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[kozikowski]

Minus 18 (on the meter) is actually not all that far off. You can probably amplify what you have.

Edit > Select > All.
Effect > Amplify > [return]

The sound meter in this case is a much more accurate measure of your show. The timeline is designed for complex editing, not critical loudness measuring.

Koz

[waxcylinder]

As Koz says - and you would get a better idea of the amplitude if you switched the display from the default Waveform to Waveform (dB).

To switch the display just click on the little black downward pointing arrowhead at the top right hand corner of the track control box at the left of the track. In 1.3 you can set your preferences to change the default that you require - but as far as I remember you can't do that in 1.2 - so you would have to do it for each recording.

Tip: you can make your recording and playback meters much more useful by enlarging them. To do this just drag the meters off the toolbar by clicking on the little lined bar at the left of the meters and drag it on to the work window. Then you can click and drag to re-size and reposition the metere. Once again this is improved in 1.3 over 1.2 - as in 1.3 the setting you make is stored in your preferences and appears the same when you next fire up Audacity. In 1.2 you will need to do this each time you open Audacity. I have my meters stretched across the whole work window.

WC

[ennauriel]

Minus 18 (on the meter) is actually not all that far off. You can probably amplify what you have.

Edit > Select > All.
Effect > Amplify > [return]

The sound meter in this case is a much more accurate measure of your show. The timeline is designed for complex editing, not critical loudness measuring.

Koz

Thanks, that worked. Does amplifying it decrease the sound quality, though? And do you know why it plays back much quieter than the level I actually recorded at?

[ennauriel]

And most of the time it's somewhere between 24 and 36 when I record, actually :/