Weak Recording Volume

[sharproy40]

I am running Audacity 1.3.12 on Windows 7 OS with Microsoft High Definition Audio Device and trying to record streaming audio via mixer. With mixer recording level at max and Audacity input at max, monitored volume is barely visible and totally unuseable on playback. Same problem with 1.2.6. I do not have this problem on my laptop using XP OS. Also notice I do not have any device options in the Audacity Mixer bar but all devices active in system. Any suggestions?

[kozikowski]

Everybody always wants to do the same thing, so there is a pretty good help page for it.

http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Recor ... e_computer

It sounds like you could be recording the laptop microphone rather than the actual on-line stream. That's more common than you think.

Koz

[sharproy40]

No, not using a mic on the laptop, just streaming. Will check out the link. Thanks.

[sharproy40]

Read suggested link. Didn't help. Have tried all option on Volume Mixer, Control Panel Sound, and Audacity Edit Options. Everything but streaming OK, which is just extremely weak and recording mostly noise. Suspect maybe an uncompatibility or copyright issue. Works OK on my XP laptop but not my new Dell PC running WIN 7. Any suggestions for a different sound card?

[steve]

Suspect maybe an uncompatibility or copyright issue.

Very unlikely. If your computer has a "Stereo Mix" option then with the appropriate settings it should work. If the computer/sound card does not support Stereo Mix, then it will not work at all. There's no half way in-between.

just extremely weak and recording mostly noise.

That does sound like you are recording from a built in microphone and not from "Stereo Mix".

Windows 7 does not make it easy to record Stereo Mix. For it to work properly you need to set everything up from the Windows Control Panel through to Audacity Preferences and ensure that all the settings match. There are some additional steps involved on Win 7 which are described on this page: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... _Issues#cp

It is also very important on Win 7 to check that you have the latest sound card drivers installed. See here for details: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Updat ... ce_Drivers

There is also a page specifically about Windows 7 that contains important information: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Windows_7_OS

[sharproy40]

Talked to Dell Tech and was advised that PC came with Microsoft generic sound card that does not support Stereo Mixer. Will look for a 3rd party card. In meantime, able to record by connecting Line Out to Line In.