Audacity Forum

I just installed Audacity 1.2.6 on a second computer (emachine, XP.) However, when recording, it clips input at 0.5 on the Vertical Ruler, instead of the 1.0 it mentions in walkthroughs, etc. My other computer doesn't have this problem, records up to 1.0, and I have compared all options under Preferences and made them equal. Installed the newest drivers for my TASCAM US-122L, checked the Control Panel, everything looks normal. Still no dice. A friend of mine has a similar problem. Anyone else having this issue, and does anyone know how to fix it? I'm sure it's something simple that I'm missing, but I've no clue at this point.

You might be looking in the wrong place. This is the kind of thing that happens when you plug a high or Line-Level signal into a microphone input. Your mixer has both types of inputs. Are you sure you're using the right connection?

It's highly unlikely that you have digital damage, although that's possible, too. Are you messing with 24-bit sound?

I tend to not like "Buss Powered Equipment." It's insanely convenient not to have to replace batteries or plug the mixer into the wall, but buss power means you are a complete slave to that USB power supply inside the computer. I had to stop using one of those when I discovered I could hear the hard drives changing speeds in my show.

I'll get really fuzzy now. 0.5 in real audio terms is 6dB. That's the kind of error you get if you have a splitter or "Y" cable in the wrong place. Maybe you're recording mono from a stereo show?

Koz

Hey, thanks for replying. Yeah, I've checked all of that, to no avail. Well, let me rephrase. I see what you're saying, and it was something I was trying to modify, as it does appear that Audacity might be receiving what I play as one input type, when it's being sent in as another. But when I go to modify any of these things in my Control Panel, it doesn't let me. I'll go to the Audio tab of Sounds and Sound Devices, select the device, and select Volume. This brings up Volume Control, and I click Options, then Properties from the menu, and it gives me the option for Adjust Volume Control, with radio buttons for Playback and Recording. On playback, I can select which output I wish to use, but on Recording it gives me an empty box--it shows no input options at all. While my device is plugged in, I can select either it or the internal sound card, but neither gives me any options in that Recording box. I believe this is connected to my problem, but I've no idea how to correct it. All drivers are current.
I have heard some background noise from time to time, like you were describing, but I've found that unplugging and reconnecting my device gets rid of it for the remainder of my session.
Anyway, if you or anyone else has any idea, I'd be grateful.

Clipping can occur anywhere in the input chain, from the microphone, input of the pre-amp, output of the pre-amp, ...
You need to find out where in the signal chain the clipping is occurring.
Have you looked in the Windows control panel to see if there is anywhere in there for controlling the input level of this device?
Can you record without clipping in Cubase LE?