No Input Device Selection

[jimb]

I have downloaded Audacity 1.2.6 but I can't select an input device, it is greyed out. I have deleted and tried again but some thing. Tried beta version as well. Any Ideas? I am running windows xp home. jimb

[steve]

Are you talking about selecting the input device in "Edit->Preferences->Audio I/O" ?

[jimb]

No. The input device selector on the right of the microphone volume slider.

[steve]

ok
Check that you have the correct device selected in "Edit->Preferences->Audio I/O"
You can then select the recording source using the Windows Mixer (note that the Windows Mixer has 2 sections, one for recording and one for playback). Some soundcards use their own mixer instead of the Windows Mixer, so if you have one of those, use that instead.

[jimb]

Have tried that as well as microsoft. Neither works.

[steve]

Are you able to record using any other software, for example Microsoft Sound Recorder?

[jimb]

Is that Microsoft Sound Mapper?? If so it wont work either.

[steve]

No, I mean can you record with "Windows Sound Recorder"
In Windows XP, navigate to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Sound Recorder.

[jimb]

Yes I could record with Microsoft sound recorder with line in.

[steve]

The "Sound Recorder" uses the Microsoft Sound Mapper for audio in and out, so if you follow these steps exactly then it should work:

1) Open "Sound Recorder"
2) Record something
3) Play the recorded sound (you should be able to hear it play back, if not then you need to fix this problem before you proceed)
4) Open Audacity v.1.2.6
5) On the menu at the top click on "Edit"
6) Select "Preferences"
7) Click on the "Audio I/O" tab
8) Select "Playback Device" = "Microsoft Sound Mapper-Output"
9) Select "Recording Device" = "Microsoft Sound Mapper-Input"
10) Select "Recording Channels" = "2 (stereo)"
11) Tick the box "Play other tracks while recording new one"
12) Make sure that "Software Playthrough" is NOT selected
13) Click on the "Quality" tab
14) Set the "Default Sample Rate" = "44100 Hz"
15) Set "Default Sample Format" = "16 bit"
16) Click "OK"
17) Record the same thing that you recorded in step 2)
18) Play back your recording.