While trying to set up the Audacity recording level I found that the record volume control was noisy!
The problem is that as I change the sound level there appears to be that unless it is placed at some definate point it shoots up to MAX. Fed up with the antic I opened the "Recording Control" window and watched. Sure enough it followed the Audacity setting, shooting up to max, as well. All settings made with the "recording Panel" are stable and only appear to wander if the application control is used. This is sometimes jinkered by changing the output level control, as well.
Should I un-install and hope all settings are removed and do a re-install, please?
Fiddling with this problem with no input connection, I got full-scale noise spikes on the recorded trace as well.