mp3 encoding - playback volume of recorded file

[mmalloch]

Hi there, new to Audacity here. Just installed the Lame dll, and made a test recording. If I compare the original source (a pre-recorded 256 kbps mp3 file) to the recorded file (test.mp3), I notice a significant decrease in playback volume ... i'd say roughly 100:70 ratio.

Before doing this test recording, I merely changed few settings:
Edit > Preferences > Audio I/O > Channels > 2-stereo (default was mono)
Edit > Preferences > File Format > OCG Quality > 10 (default was 5)
Edit > Preferences > File Format > Bit Rate > 256 (default was 128)

Thanks for help.

[steve]

Can you describe the method that you used (step by step) to make the recording.

[mmalloch]

- Pressed 'Play' button on windows media player
- Pressed 'Record' button on Audacity.
- after about 20 secs, pressed stopped on both Audacity and WinMedia player
- confirmed the recording on Audacity player, by pressing its 'play' button. Noticed recording was almost same quality as source, though just volume was significantly lower.
- At this point, clicked: File > Export As mp3 > named it: test.mp3
- Just to confirm again, opened test.mp3 file in Windows Media player. Noticed recording was almost same quality as original source, though just volume being significantly lower.
- (Just to circumvent this volume degradation issue, in interim, I'm just adding +12db gain to the recorded sound, which I think isn't right thing to do)

(Thanks for a quick help please!! I know I'm missing some imp. step/configuration)

[mmalloch]

And another question, though not as urgent:
if i need to trim the last few secs of recorded music, how'd I do that.

Thank you.

[kozikowski]

Select the area near the end of the performance by clicking and dragging. Press Magnify Selection, third magnifier tool??

Click Drag Select the area you want to vanish and press the delete key.

Koz

[kozikowski]

<<<- Pressed 'Play' button on windows media player
- Pressed 'Record' button on Audacity.>>>

So you're recording "What You Hear" or "Mix Out?" Both of those have volume controls in the Windows Control Panels.

Windows Control Panel
http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php? ... trol_Panel

If you're doing it with jumper audio cables, then you have two settings getting in the way, The machine playback volume and the Audacity Input volume.

Koz

[mmalloch]

Select the area near the end of the performance by clicking and dragging

Hey, am totally new to this, I do see a selection tool, but like How do I "select" an area of SOUND?

[kozikowski]

When you have Audacity open with a sound, it should look something like this...

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/Audacity1_playback.jpg

The two blue wiggly lines represent the sound in the performance, upper ls left.

If you click inside either of those and drag sideways, that portion will become selected. Whatever you do next will affect only that portion.

http://audacityteam.org/manual-1.2/tutorials.html

Koz

[steve]

- Pressed 'Play' button on windows media player
- Pressed 'Record' button on Audacity.

You know that you can Import audio files? In Audacity 1.3.x it is in the File menu, in Audacity 1.2.x I think it may be in the Tracks menu but I can't remember for sure.

Also see here: http://audacityteam.org/help/

[mmalloch]

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/Audacity1_playback.jpg
Koz

Thanks, I so much appreciatiated your illustrations, it became easy to follow. The trim works now, cheers.

Now, as for volume degradation issue.

So you're recording "What You Hear" or "Mix Out?" Both of those have volume controls in the Windows Control Panels.Koz

I'll read your 'Using the Control Panel' page. I think it gives enough hints, though mine is set up bit different. (I used to have it on USB Audio, but lately switched to simply connecting my sound card analog output to the input of an Emotiva 200w/channel Amp. This set up I thought gave me a substantially better sound than through USB).