How to adjust input & output levels during recording?

[Nawdry]

This seems an absolutely elementary question for an absolutely elementary need in audio recording, but
I've spent hours poring over the documentation and experimenting with the Audacity dashboard, and still can't find the magic control, clickpoint, or whatever to control audio levels.

For example, here's what the tutorial "Recording audio playing on the computer" advises:
https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/tut ... puter.html

"Before recording for real, try to set sound levels by playing similar material from your intended source and monitoring it in Audacity, so that the recording level will be neither too soft nor so loud as to risk clipping. ... Both the output level of the audio you are recording and the level it's being recorded at will determine the achieved input level of the recording. Thus to achieve the correct recording level you should use both the recording and playback level sliders on Mixer Toolbar ...."

My problem is that I can't find a way to adjust the input audio level on my my Mixer Toolbar. On the Playback Volume control (righthand) I can use mouse pointer to move the indicator, but not on what seems to be the input audio control (lefthand). There's nothing that I've found that allows me to move any control associated with the input audio level.

Advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

Incidentally, I've succeeded in making several audio WAV and MP3 files that sound well (though audio volume seems depressed), but I'm concerned that excessively high input could create clipping and distortion in future recordings.

Thanks — Lyndon

[kozikowski]

What are you recording?

Koz

[Nawdry]

What are you recording?

Koz

To experiment and learn, I've recorded 2 songs from YouTube and a snippet of FM broadcast via the Line In connection.

To record from the Internet (YouTube) Audio Host was Windows WASAPI, Recording Device was Speakers (Realtek...) loopback.
To record from Line In, Audio Host was MME, Recording Device was Line In (Realtek...)

These selections seemed to work OK, but any advice appreciated. My main goal is to record from LPs via the tuner/amp Line In.

Thanks — Lyndon

[DVDdoug]

To experiment and learn, I've recorded 2 songs from YouTube and a snippet of FM broadcast via the Line In connection.

You should be able to adjust the volume with analog line-in. With digital (streaming or USB) you are simply "capturing" the digital audio stream and Audacity won't change it. (There are Windows settings and "enhancements" that can affect the signal before it gets to Audacity.)

If the digital signal is low you can use the Amplify effect after recording. If the signal is clipping it can't be fixed and the analog signal should be reduced before it's digitized. With digital recording it's good to leave plenty of headroom and amplify after recording. (If you remember analog tape you wanted a hot signal to overcome tape noise but that's not the case with digital recording.)

My main goal is to record from LPs via the tuner/amp Line In.

I assume you have a desktop/tower computer with a "regular soundcard" and line-in?

Incidentally, I've succeeded in making several audio WAV and MP3 files that sound well (though audio volume seems depressed)

Even after Amplifying or Normalizing (AKA "maximizing") digitized records & tapes can be somewhat quieter than modern digital recordings. Most older recordings weren't victims of the "loudness war" so they are more dynamic and quieter overall. Then the vinyl cutting & playback process makes some peaks higher and some lower (without affecting the sound of the dynamics) so when it's "maximized" the overall loudness is lower.

Broadcast radio stations add their own dynamic compression & limiting so the recordings should be louder and more consistent.

The popular streaming services use linear volume matching so they don't mess with the dynamics. Usually this is a volume reduction and in cases where it needs boosting they won't boost into clipping.

[Nawdry]

First, thanks very much for a really illuminating and clarifying response. Clears up a lot!

You should be able to adjust the volume with analog line-in.

I presume this means adjusting with the Win "Speakers" control on the Win taskbar and not the volume control on the tuner/amp that controls output.

With digital (streaming or USB) you are simply "capturing" the digital audio stream and Audacity won't change it. (There are Windows settings and "enhancements" that can affect the signal before it gets to Audacity.)

Ah, this probably explains why my YouTube audio recordings came out so clear, without clipping, even though I couldn't control the audio level.

If the digital signal is low you can use the Amplify effect after recording. If the signal is clipping it can't be fixed and the analog signal should be reduced before it's digitized. With digital recording it's good to leave plenty of headroom and amplify after recording. (If you remember analog tape you wanted a hot signal to overcome tape noise but that's not the case with digital recording.)

Didn't know about this effect. I still had one of the "test" projects open in Audacity, so I'm trying this. I've selected All. Now it's asking me to input Amplification, recommends 0.089 dB, which I will accept. Now it asks for New Peak Amplitude, with 0.0 entered, which I'll also accept. I'll OK this, then remake WAV and MP3 and see how it comes out ...

I assume you have a desktop/tower computer with a "regular soundcard" and line-in?

Yes.

Even after Amplifying or Normalizing (AKA "maximizing") digitized records & tapes can be somewhat quieter than modern digital recordings. Most older recordings weren't victims of the "loudness war" so they are more dynamic and quieter overall. Then the vinyl cutting & playback process makes some peaks higher and some lower (without affecting the sound of the dynamics) so when it's "maximized" the overall loudness is lower.

Broadcast radio stations add their own dynamic compression & limiting so the recordings should be louder and more consistent.

The popular streaming services use linear volume matching so they don't mess with the dynamics. Usually this is a volume reduction and in cases where it needs boosting they won't boost into clipping.

Very good to know. Still lots to learn. Thank you again for great help.

Lyndon