Audacity Forum

Using XP Home. For some reason, the mixer toolbar has greyed out just when I wanted to record via a microphone. It was OK for the first half-dozen or so sessions recording from LPs. I didn't notice when it first greyed out because everything was going OK. I've tried it with the mic but all I get is a very faint sound, even when speaking in my best parade ground voice and with all volumes full on.

I could really do with using a mic to record my own tunes [c. 300 of them] without going to the hassle of pre-recording on to mini-disc. Anyone out there to ride to the rescue? You don't need to be cavalry, just to tell me how to get the damned thing working again.

The key point is that you can also set the mic as recording device in the Windows Sounds and Audio Devices Control Panel applet. See:
http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... bar_Issues

Also note that bad/outdated sound drivers can cause these kind of interface problems with audio software. See:
http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... ce_Drivers


Gale

Thanks for that, Gale. I've got the toolbar back by trying everything in 'Preferences' but still very little sound. I've tested the mic and it's OK.

Now I've just ripped an LP and the file's showing as 'envelope' which won't let me insert track labels. I'm minded to uninstall and re-install to see if that cures it.

Is there a dummy's guide to Audacity anywhere? I got the prog with a USB turntable. The manual is very brief and covers only the basics.

MickFurey wrote:Thanks for that, Gale. I've got the toolbar back by trying everything in 'Preferences' but still very little sound. I've tested the mic and it's OK.

You are turning the input level up in the Audacity mixer toolbar? And checked the Windows Control Panel for an advanced button when the mic is selected? This might give a gain boost.

MickFurey wrote: Now I've just ripped an LP and the file's showing as 'envelope' which won't let me insert track labels. I'm minded to uninstall and re-install to see if that cures it.

Is there a dummy's guide to Audacity anywhere? I got the prog with a USB turntable. The manual is very brief and covers only the basics.

http://audacityteam.org/help/documentation

F1 should let you choose the selection tool so you can place the cursor in the track. Restart or reboot usually does the trick if the software has got "stuck". Reinstalling rarely cures anything.

Also check in the software at Help > About if you have the latest 1.2.6 version, if not, grab it from the download page on the same site.

Gale