HELP !!!!! PLEASE......

[Wyatt]

I have been using Audacity on my laptop.(Windows Vista) I'm recording through my PA board. (Tape out jacks with no level adjustment on board) No matter WHAT I do, my recordings are coming through muddy. I have the line in set at .1, which is the LOWEST recording level, and I'm still clipping. HELP !!!!! A few months ago my recordings were fine. I don't know what happened. How can I lower the recording level to stop clipping and get clearer recordings...

[Wyatt]

I should mention I'm using Audacity lnk. Is that an older version of Audacity? Should I upgrade? Thanks.....

[kozikowski]

Audacity 1.3.12 is the current champ.

http://audacityteam.org/download/

Do you have a certified, authorized, documented, Stereo Line-In on your machine? Most Windows laptops don't. They have "Mic-In" and that is a serious problem. It overloads very, very easily and it's mono.

Koz

[Wyatt]

I'm using the small input jack on computer and am running it "line in"....Is that my problem?????

[steve]

It could be. A lot of PC laptops only have a "microphone" input and no "line" input. A microphone input will be massively overloaded by a "line level" signal from a mixer.
The input on my laptop is rubbish, so I use a mixing desk attached to one of these USB devices: http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/UCA202.aspx (cheap and cheerful - nothing fancy but does the job)

[Wyatt]

Thanks for the info... I'll try that next.......

[steve]

If you use a Behringer UCA 202, then as I said previously, it's a "no frills" device.
There's no input gain control - it's just straight in and straight out, but that's not a problem if you're connecting a mixer as the output level from the mixer can be adjusted.

[Wyatt]

The ONLY way to cut the signal from the mixer is to bring down the master sliders, which compromises the big, full, lush live sound. So what DOES the Behringer unit actually do then? I hope I didn't waste my money buying this unit if it doesn't cut the signal.....

[Wyatt]

Maybe I'm asking the wrong questions....What do I have to do to lessen the input signal into my computer to stop the clipping and get clean recordings in audacity? If the Behringer unit doesn't do that, what will? Or do I have to add some other external device? Thanks for being patient with me. While I have a basic understanding of the audacity program, I'd REALLY like to master it....

[waxcylinder]

As Steve said above the Behringer device is a "no frills" unit and has no gain controls. Alll it is is a device to take in an analog audio signal and convert to a digital signal, delivering the output via USB.

I use the Edirol UA-1EX (now superseded by the Cakewalk UA-1G - both devices made by Roland). It has two separate gain controls one on the input and t'other on the output side - the UA-1EX also has a digitial input (via optical mini-jack) - with the UA-1G Roland made the volume controls more ergonomic and added a guitar input to the device.

The Behringer and the Edirol were both on my shortlist - I shelled out the extra as I wanted the gain controls (though I seldom touch them now as I have the input set perfectly for inputs from my TT/pre-amp and my FM tuner) - and I wanted the digital input for my Minidisc conversions. Both companies have excellent pre- and post-sales tech support - Behringer are in Germany, but of course they speak excellent English.

WC