Audacity Forum

Hi, I've just started using audacity to record guitar, and unless I record with the mic volume right down, the program records any vaguely loud notes as a distorted noise. I'm completely new to this but can't seem to find an answer, probably because I dont know what I'm searching for! I'm using a samsung C01U mic. I've posted a pic of a recording where you can see the peaks that seem to cause the distortion. Is it my sound card? Or settings or something? Please help!

Which version of Windows are you using?

windows 7...

You could try going into the Windows Control Panel, and in the "Sound" section, go to the "Recording" tab, right click on the USB device, and locate the recording level setting in the "Preferences". Turn down the recording level there to a really low level, then try recording.