Cannot Get Audacity 2.4.2 to record. Tried everything--even two different computers.

[StephanNB]

The windows sound control panel meter is what I was referring to where you asked me to click on the "2 USB Audio CODEC", and that if the meter next to it was working... It does work.

[steve]

Thanks for clarifying.

Try resetting Audacity to default settings ("Tools menu > Reset Configuration"), then try recording with the default settings.

[StephanNB]

P.S. Steve, I forgot to mention that when I had the cassette player plugged into the interface, and interface run through the computer and Audacity, I checked to see if Audacity would record the cassette tape, and it did record just fine.

[steve]

P.S. Steve, I forgot to mention that when I had the cassette player plugged into the interface, and interface run through the computer and Audacity, I checked to see if Audacity would record the cassette tape, and it did record just fine.

That's important. It shows that both Audacity and the interface are working correctly. In that case, don't change anything in Audacity or on the computer.

Are you able to record the mic with this setup:

Mic -> Mixer -> Interface -> Computer

(We may be just looking at a bad cable somewhere)

[StephanNB]

Hi Steve,

No, as a matter of fact I tried that already, and it still will not work with the mic. Unfortunately, I had already reset Audacity to default before I saw this message. I also tried one other thing, using the Windows Voice Recorder and the mic> Interface, etc. and nothing will record using that voice recorder either

[steve]

You will need to trace the signal through the system.
Start with the mixer - plug your headphones into the mixer - can you hear the mic?

[StephanNB]

Yes. I hear the mic fine--even with all running all the extras I mentioned, it still works. But yes, the mic works plugged straight into the mixer fine.
I have also plugged in the USB jack both front and back inputs on my computer.

Do you think maybe a recent Windows Update could have done something to the driver or something?

[steve]

Do you think maybe a recent Windows Update could have done something to the driver or something?

No, because you wrote:
"I forgot to mention that when I had the cassette player plugged into the interface, and interface run through the computer and Audacity, I checked to see if Audacity would record the cassette tape, and it did record just fine."

If there was a problem with the driver, the interface would not work with the cassette player.

Is it perhaps possible that Audacity is working with the mic, but the recording level is so low that it looks like a flat line (and too quiet to hear on playback)?

[StephanNB]

Okay, thanks for that. I should have known better than that, lol.

I have tried the mic volume cranked all the way up, and still get no sound, other than hiss and a very faint high pitched signal which creates that up and down zig-zag when I record with the mic all the way up.

[StephanNB]

Hi Steve,

I just remembered something...

I was reading online something about "DFX" and its effect on Audacity, and I wondered if maybe this could be the problem?

Also, I discovered that my printer can no longer be recognized by my computer for some reason, when it worked fine for the longest time.
Plus, when I began fiddling around with the "Sounds" mic settings, etc.--before coming here--I may have either disconnected something or other in doing so. Is it possible that I've messed something up, since I really am not that savvy with computers?