Using a compressor whilst recording

[SteveSteve]

I have read through the FAQ, the effects tips, the recording section, done numerous google searches and searched with the keywords in the advanced forum search, but can't seem to find any information that I'm looking for.

Recording the audio output is great; love the option of doing so. But the problem I'm having is, the sounds that are coming from the sound card are variable in terms of loudness. Normally when people record an audio output, it's been mixed, mastered or at least has some consistency to the volume levels; not so here. What I would like to do is insert a compressor/limiter over the recording of the audio output, so that it cannot peak out whilst the audio output is being recorded.

Is it possible to compress and/or limit with the plugins whilst you're recording the audio?

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[steve]

Audacity does not do real-time processing.
Set the recording level low enough so that you do not get any clipping (aiming for a peak level of about -6 dB is a good general guide). You can then use the Amplify effect (after recording) to increase the peak level closer to 0 dB and optionally apply dynamic compression. The compression effect in Audacity 1.3.12 is much better than in 1.2.6. There is also a third party plug-in called "Chris's Dynamic Compressor" which is a very nice (transparent) compressor - you can get that from Chris's web-site: http://pdf23ds.net/software/dynamic-compressor/

See here for how to install plug-ins: http://audacityteam.org/download/plugins

BTW, other than using a real hardware compressor before the computers audio input, there would not be any point in using a compressor on the input because signals high enough to need compressing would be clipped by the A/D converter in the sound card.