Audacity Forum

I have a new Cassette USB Tape deck with Audacity 1.2.3 installed on my computer.
I am able to import sound from tape but the recording level is consistently fluctuating around the -36 level in both the Input & Output Level meters. The Waveform dB holds steady but without the waveforms shown in the Track Pop-Down Menu as indicated in Audacity Help and I can find no trace of a Gain control in the Audacity Manual; and nothing I can find appears to be relevant in the Wicki FAQs. The received output to my computer is a very weak sound by comparison with the original tape source.
This is my first attempt to use Audacity and I'm floundering, can you help please.
many thanks, PeterR.

Audacity 1.2.3 is obsolete. I would recommend upgrading to Audacity 1.3.9 (audacity 2.0 is due out very soon).

I find the best way to control the sound card inputs is from its own mixer/control interface. Look near the system "Time / Date" for a loudspeaker icon and double click (or right click) on it. This will give you access to all of the sound card features.