Audacity Forum

ok, well i am almost completely inept with a computer- i'll start with that, so know that any reply i get, i need specific instructions on what to do- so having said that, i'll state my questions-
several times i've tried to download VST plug-ins through Audacity- i click open file, then i click audacity to open the file, then the plug ins, but the file won't do anything when i do that- it just doesnt do anything- and if i put it into Audacity alone, it doesnt recognize the file- can anyone help me with this? it would be grately appreciated- (also, i'm just finishing up my record, so some plug-ins for finishing touches would be very very nice, so any help that'll alow me to get this to work would be super great) (you'd be helping my soul, man!) (these songs are my soul)
also, i have 15 songs all to be on the same record, and i want to make sure all the volume levels are all the same- how do i go about that? once again, specific instructions please- this is probably the more important question-

. . . well, while i'm at it, might as well ask about this: when i plug in my keyboard directly into the computer (through the mic input), i get noise, and it sounds distant- any ideas why? (and how to fix it?) and right now, i'm only using a usb mic to record, nothing else into it, what would be the best way to plug a mixer into my comp? and have it not be noisy? and what are some good cheap ideas for gear that'll improve my sound on a whole other level? like i said, all i'm using is a usb mic, and it sounds great, but i want to improve and have more options-
could i plug my four track cassette recorder into the computer, and use it as a mixer and get warmer, more analog sounds from this? i have no idea about computers- i just got bored and found audacity a week and a half ago, and since then i've been working on recording all my new songs- any ideas, help, comments, (i'm sure you couldnt ask me for advice, but if you have questions that'll help get me answers), just let me know
help my soul! please!
thanks
Joe

Hang on, This stuff can get complicated. Maybe it's not as hard as learning to play an instrument, but it can be... depending on how far you want to go... If you really want to get into home recording & music production, you might consider a subscription to Recording Magazine.

...i've tried to download VST plug-ins through Audacity-

What VSTs did you try? Did you find the information on How to istall VSTs? There is also some information about why they don't always work.

i want to make sure all the volume levels are all the same- how do i go about that?

Mostly by ear... Human perception of volume is complicated. It's related to average levels and our ear's varying sensitivity at different frequencies.

You can start by "normalizing" (maximizing) the files. This is easily done with the Amplify effect, and setting the New Peak Amplitude to 0dB.

If your songs don't sound equally loud after your files are maximized, you can use the Amplify effect again to reduce the volume of the loud-sounding files. Since all of the files have maximized peaks, you can't increase the quiet-sounding files without clipping (distorted flat-topped peaks).

Now, you can increase the average levels without increasing or clipping the peaks by using (dynamic) compression. (Not to be confused with file compression like MP3.) Most commercial music is compressed to make it "louder", and IMO a lot of modern music is over-compressed to the point where the music is boring.

when i plug in my keyboard directly into the computer (through the mic input), i get noise, and it sounds distant- any ideas why? (and how to fix it?)

Does your computer have a line input, or can the input be switched to "line-in"? Your keyboard is most likely line level (higher signal level than a mic). Many laptops don't have line-in.

The mic input on most computers/soundcards is pretty useless for recording music. It's usually low-quality, plus it's usless with a good microphone because it's high-impedance unbalanced, which is the wrong match for studio/performance mics which are always low-impedance balanced with XLR connectors.

If you don't have a line-input, the lowest-cost solution I know of is the Behringer UCA202.

There are all kinds "recording interfaces" that connect by USB or firewire, and there are mixers with USB outputs. These things start around $100 USD, depending on the type & number of inputs. Or, you can use a mixer connected to your computer's line-in. The only issue with a mixer is that you usually have to mix in real-time analog so can't record more than 2 channels at a time.

If your USB mic is designed for music (not gaming or communications)... Maybe something similar to the AT2020-USB... this can be a good and convenient solution for acoustic recording. But there are some limitations... You can't easily add a 2nd mic, or record your vocals and keyboards at the same time, etc., and you can't use the mic for live performance.

Good Luck!!!!