Cannot record

[bellemary]

I have used Audacity 1.2 with Windows XP successfully, but I have recently changed to Windows 7 and downloaded Audacity 1.13 (Beta) and have not been able to record. I have a headset microphone (not USB) and it is recognized by the computer as the default mic. I have followed directions in the tutorials, but whenever I hit the red record button, all I get is a flatline. I am just trying straight voice recording for a books online group. I would appreciate any help you can give me. The computer is 64-bit.

[kozikowski]

I'm not a Windows Elf, but can you look in Audacity > Edit > Preferences > Devices (I think) and make sure something rational is selected. Both Windows and Audacity have to point to the same thing for proper recording.

Particularly if you have an analog headset, this is what Windows laptops are designed to do.

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/PCHeadset.jpg

You should be in the Mic-In or Pink connection if you have an option.

http://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/ ... pSound.jpg

Koz

[steve]

See this page (and follow the appropriate links) http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Conne ... _Equipment

[bellemary]

Thanks for your input, but I still cannot record. I've gone through the Wiki's, Tutorials, etc., all to no avail. When I try to record the only response I get is in the meter tool bar red zone, nothing in the green zone, and a flat line on the audio track.

Any ideas?

[steve]

The recording meter has red bars, the playback meter has green bars.
If the red bars in the recording meter are flickering up and down while you record, then it is recording "something" but may be at too low a level to show in the waveform.

Try using the Amplify effect on your recording (with default settings) - if "something" has been recorded then you should be able to see/hear it after amplifying (though there will probably also be a lot of hiss).

[bellemary]

My last post may have been confusing. I was referring to the output meter level (green) and the input meter level (red). When I've used Audacity 1.2, both meter levels would flash when recording. Now only the input meter flashes red when I try to record; they are both enabled. I have also checked the sound level and increased it, yet still get a flatline and hear nothing in playback.

[steve]

When I've used Audacity 1.2, both meter levels would flash when recording.

That should only happen if you are playing back a track at the same time as recording another track.
The green meter shows the level of the signal that is being played and the red meter shows the level of the signal being recorded.

I have also checked the sound level and increased it, yet still get a flatline and hear nothing in playback.

Have you tried amplifying that flat line as previously suggested?