Audacity Forum

How do I get the levels higher?

When I playback I have to crank the volume on my computer to hear anything. I have both input and output volumes set at Max, and yet when I record, the levels barely hit -24. I don't want to have to yell into the microphone!

Any suggestions? Thanks!

A pre-amp?

What's a pre-amp?

The latest generation of sound cards isn't very good at amplifying a microphone. If you dig in the setting for your sound card, do you have a clicky for [x] 20dB Sound Boost? If you don't, then what you have is probably as loud as it's going to get assuming it's not broken.

Describe the system, remembering we can't see mistakes you may be making. Model numbers, how are things connected and into what? Laptop? Which Windows?

Microphones are a very special case because the signal is so small and delicate, and some microphones only work when connected correctly to a computer. We'll find that out when you tell us what you have.

Koz

I changed the sound settings and it didn't make any difference, so I dug out an old, ten dollar computer mic and wouldn't you know? It worked perfectly.

So obviously it's my expensive hand-held microphone that's the problem.

thanks so much for your help! I kept thinking it was something I was doing wrong with the program and it turned out to be my hardware.

Cheers,

Kimberley