So discouraged with Audacity. need help.

[doughcutter]

Hi. I have a few newbie questions. I'm just so frustrated and could really use some help.
I was recording using Audacity for a good part of a year by running live mics to separate instruments (guitar, electronic drums, etc.), then simply connecting each mic to a Mic Mate XLR via USB into the computer as I would record each instrument. Everything worked absolutely perfect. The sound was quite good. For a rookie, I was so so happy that I never had to change any settings. . I had a computer with windows xp and an old Audigy 2ZS soundblaster card. I use Logitech Z5500 speakers to playback the sound.

I then bought a new computer which has Windows 7, downloaded the new Beta version of Audacity and installed the old sound card into the new computer. since doing that, everything is an absolutely total disaster. Most of my recordings now clip a majority of the time, I have changed so many line in and line out settings that I'm so confused now and just totally lost. Sometimes Audacity will not even record properly. It is hard to explain but when I push the record button, the track will skip and hesitate as it moves along during recording??
Some of my computer savvy friends had told me a few things that may help but i'm not sure where to go from here. A few things they mentioned.
1) Windows 7 does not support the old Audigy soundcard and therefore it is not working as it should
So, that said, should I buy a new soundcard or use the onboard sound in the computer. I have already downloaded the new drivers for the soundcard.
2) I need to disable the onboard sound and/or install a new sound card

If anyone has any suggestions, i'm all ears. I've tried everything and now have made so many setting changes, I can't figure out what will make it better.
thanks for your help
Chad

[steve]

I then bought a new computer which has Windows 7...

I shudder every time I read that.
On Windows 7 there are multiple places to set levels and the recording format which you should be able to get at through the Windows Control Panel - there is a bit of a guide to using the Control Panel here: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel

Also with Windows 7, it is essential that you use the latest drivers, and even then there is no guarantee that an old sound card will work correctly.

I'm afraid I can't offer much assistance myself as I don't use Windows 7, but there is some other information that may help here: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Windows_7_OS