how to maximize recording wav volume.

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artsneef
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how to maximize recording wav volume.

Post by artsneef » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:33 am

i am recording original compositions with a professional mic plugged into my dell dimension 3000 computer, i have the microphone input level raised to 8.0, i have tried recording in stereo and mono, the volumes on my control panel are also maximized, but when i playback my recording, or burn it to cd, the volume is way too low. what am i not doing? jeff.

Irish
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Re: how to maximize recording wav volume.

Post by Irish » Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:02 am

You need to give us a little more detail to work with:

Make and model of the mic?
Are you using a pre-amp? What make and model?
How have you connected the mic / pre-amp to the PC?

PO'L
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artsneef
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Re: how to maximize recording wav volume.

Post by artsneef » Thu Oct 22, 2009 2:11 am

well the brand name of the mic is TAKY(udm-606 impedance 600), it is plugged in directly to my computer monitor, no preamps or anything, im just recording my voice and my acoustic guitar right now. i am getting sound and volume, but probably half of what it should be.

Irish
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Re: how to maximize recording wav volume.

Post by Irish » Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:38 pm

Does your audio control panel in Windows have a setting for "+20dB microphone boost"?
If so, it should be turned on. A moving-coil mic like yours probably won't generate enough of a signal to provide a good recording level on its own, and the boost setting would bring it up to a decent level.

If you don't have the mic boost setting, you have two options.
You can try using the "Amplify" effect in Audacity to increase the level of what you have recorded, but you will amplify any noise along with the sound, and the resulting quality may not be up to scratch. If, as you say, the level is half of what it should be, amplifying may work OK.
If this doesn't give you a decent sound, you probably will need a microphone pre-amp to go between the mic and the input on the PC. (Note, the mic gets plugged into the red mic input, but a pre-amp would be plugged into the blue line-in input).

I'm no expert in recording equipment, so I will leave it to others to suggest possible alternatives.

PO'L
________________________________________FOR INSTANT HELP: (Click on Link below)
* * * * Tips * * * * Tutorials * * * * 1.3 Quick Start Guide * * * * Audacity 1.3 Manual * * * * Audacity wiki * * * *

artsneef
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Re: how to maximize recording wav volume.

Post by artsneef » Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:11 pm

well i appreciate the help, ill give your suggestions a shot. thanks.

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