Excessive line in volume

[Hewie]

I'm trying to get set up to rip from vinyl to my PC using Audacity, but I can't turn the input level down enough to prevent clipping. I've also turned the line in all the way down in the of Control Panel>Sounds and Audio Devices>Audio>Recording Control. Nothing fancy as far as my setup goes: Rega P3>Scott 299D line out>Dell 5150 onboard sound card line in. The installed driver is from SigmaTel. Anybody have any ideas? If I can't figure out a software solution, I guess I'll build a 6db pad to put between the pre-out and PC in.

Thanks,
Dave

[steve]

Are you sure that you are using a "line in" on the computer and not a "mic in"?

[Hewie]

Are you sure that you are using a "line in" on the computer and not a "mic in"?

Yep. It's the light blue input and the line-in controls in control panel do change the level, just not low enough.
dave

[steve]

In that case I think a hardware pad will probably be the best option though you may want to go to a bit more than -6 dB. Perhaps -12 or even -20 dB will give you a more usable range. Somewhere on this forum I posted a wiring diagram for an adjustable "pad" attenuator (using a stereo pot).
Ah yes, here it is: http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5080