Audacity Forum

Hello,

I recently downloaded 1.2 beta and for some reason when I record the level is extremely low (-24 to -30)

Thinking there was something wrong with my audio chain, I opened up Audition and I opened the previous Audacity program I used and the levels were perfect (-3 to -6)

Also, I noticed that my input level adjuster bar will not work and is set to maximum.

I use a pre-amp into a tascam 144 interface and those are functioning fine. It seems to be an issue with the beta, or I need to put a check mark somewhere to activate something!

Does anyone have a clue?

Thanks for your help!!!!

keithmichaels wrote:I recently downloaded 1.2 beta

Do you mean 1.3 beta?

The current (recommended) beta version is 1.3.11 (see "Help menu > About Audacity" for the version number)

Look in the "Device" section of Preferences (Edit menu > Preferences > Devices) and check that the recording device is set to the USB device.

It is very common that USB devices do not support the Audacity volume control. There may be a setting in the Windows Control Panel for adjusting the recording level directly.

Audacity uses different recording settings to those used by some other programs as Audacity does not support ASIO drivers - it uses the Windows drivers, so setting up the recording settings in Windows will set them up for Audacity.

Yes, I meant 1.3

My record input is set to my USB Tascam device.

In Audacity 1.2.6 I had no problems with my USB device and my record level, and did not do anything with windows settings. As I mentioned, I am able to record perfect levels with audition, wavepad, and the Audacity 1.2.6.

We need to find out what's different between the old and new Audacitys

Do you still have Audacity 1.2.6 installed?
If you do, could you look at the following settings and tell me what they are:

Edit menu > Preferences > Audio I/O (all settings on that page)
Edit menu > Preferences > Quality (all settings on that page)

While you have Audacity 1.2.6 open, just check that it is recording OK, then close it.

Next, open Audacity 1.3
Look in the Help menu > About Audacity... Exactly which version do you have?
Edit menu > Preferences > Devices (all settings on that page)
Edit menu > Preferences > Quality (all settings on that page)

OK...

I should probably put this thread on the beta page too?

Here are the settings:

Keep in mind I only use this to record voice.

1.2

Device

Playback-Realtek
Record =tascam 144
Channels=1 (mono)
"play other tracks" marked

Quality

44100 / 32 bit float
High Quality / High Quality / shaped /shaped

Audacity Beta 1.3.11

Device

Interface host is Windows Direct Sound (other option in MME..which I tried as well)
Playback is Realtek
Record is Tascam 144

Quality settings are same as 1.2

1.2 works fine, 1.3.11 still low levels of -24 to -30db

Thanks for your help!

Are you using Windows Vista / Windows 7 ?

XP Home

Well that's me out of ideas. I'll see if I can find an expert to ask about this.

I'm not claiming to be an "expert" but Steve asked me to come and take a look.

Have you got the latest US-144 firmware and drivers for XP? Make sure you get the correct 32-bit drivers.

If the Mixer Toolbar input slider is greyed out on maximum, this indicates Audacity does not have proper control of the input level. You must use the input slider in the system mixer, or in any Tascam control panel you have to control the input level. 1.3 makes you do this when it cannot directly control the input level of the hardware, because otherwise turning down the Audacity slider would only make a clipped signal quieter, not stop it being clipped (that is, distorted because it was too loud).

Does setting Audacity to record in stereo make any difference? If you record in mono and Tascam is sending as a stereo pair, Audacity may only give you half volume. See:
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 16&t=13764

I believe this would be the same issue in 1.2.6, though. I have only ever used cheapo USB recording devices and they don't have this problem because if they have a stereo input and Audacity asks for mono, the device sends a mono mix at the requested volume.



Gale

Gayle,

WOW...it works fine when recording in stereo. Left level is perfect. Why is that again? My Tascam is a mono box. Is this a glitch or will this be the norm now?

I will have to split track to mono each time I record, which is another step, but I guess if that's is what I need to do...

Also, I set recording device in windows audio to Tascam and now the input meter works fine.