Recording levels too low?

Vaiza · Post by **Vaiza** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:08 pm

Been using audacity for years.. but got a new computer and am setting it up for the first time on this machine.

I'm having a really hard time getting a decent recording level in Audacity. On my sound card monitor (m-audio delta AP), I'm registering at around -10 db with peaks at -2 or so (which is what I want).. but the best I can get in a recording on Audacity is around -36 db.

Any thoughts?

FYI: I'm running a mic into a mixer, into a compressor/limiter, into a sound card. Running windows xp. Voice recording only.

Post by **steve** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:08 pm

Your sound card driver has probably got a mixer or control panel, most likely with an icon for it in the sys tray (near the clock). You will probably need to adjust the recording volume in there.

Vaiza · Post by **Vaiza** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:20 pm

Thanks Steve. As mentioned, the levels in my sound card mixer are registering at -10 with peaks of -2db... so sound is coming in to the computer just fine. It's just not recording that way.....?

Post by **steve** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:04 pm

I'm talking about a software mixer application - it will have separate settings for record and playback. The fact that you can hear it just says that the playback level is ok, but if the record level is too low then it will record very quietly.

How high is it metering in Audacity while you record?

Post by **kozikowski** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:38 pm

<<<How high is it metering in Audacity while you record?>>>

It's good to know that you can launch Audacity and click once inside the red record meters and they will become active whether or not you're actually making a recording. This is terrific for testing since the meters will show you what you're doing as you make the adjustments.

Koz

Vaiza · Post by **Vaiza** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:04 pm

To clarify:

On my sound card software, the mic level (ie., input meter) is registering at -10 db.

On Audacity, the record meter is barely getting past -36 db.

My question is.. do I have a setting wrong somewhere?!

Vaiza · Post by **Vaiza** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:41 pm

stevethefiddle wrote:I'm talking about a software mixer application

Can you recommend a software mixer application?

Post by **kozikowski** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:50 pm

You gotta dig around in your Windows Sound Panel.

http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... trol_Panel

All the devices and destinations in your machine have two (or more) pathways. There is a pathway that goes from your sound device (microphone?) through the sound card and up to your headphone or speakers. There is a completely separate pathway that goes from your microphone through the sound card and into Audacity. This is one of the things that makes dealing with Windows so darn much fun.

You just haven't found the right level control yet. In older Windows, where they hadn't figured out a way to hid it all yet, you actually had two completely different plain-looking sound panels and you could adjust them to suit your work. The newer Windows have a one, pretty, colorful panel that nobody knows how to work.

Koz

Vaiza · Post by **Vaiza** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 12:04 am

Hah! Figured it out, and it had nothing to do with the control panel or audacity.

On a lark, I decided to try an older driver for the sound card, as that was one of the only things different from the old computer to the new one.

Works like a charm now.

Thanks for your help.

Post by **waxcylinder** » Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:11 am

Interesting.....

bearing in mind that the usual advice is to upgrade your soundcard drivers - vaiza shows that regression can sometimes work .....

WC

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