Audacity Forum

Gale,

I apologize for being so long to pick up the thread of this conversation. Life intervenes, and now I need to get the Audacity volume up so I can go back to work.
In the meantime I discovered:

1. That the volume is low on my computer EXCEPT when I use my headset for playback and then it is loud and clear.

2. When I have a phone session with a client via Skype using Pamela to record, there is no issue with the volume.
So when Audacity isn't involved, the sound is fine.

3. In light of this, I uninstalled and re-installed Audacity. However, when I said where I wanted to find it on the computer, it told me there was already an Audacity folder there. And when i brought up the "new" Audacity after restarting my computer, all the files were still there! (I don't need them on the program as they are permanently saved elsewhere). I don't understand this.

I sincerely appreciate any help you can give me to resolve this issue so I can work!

Maridel

mLeebowes wrote:now I need to get the Audacity volume up so I can go back to work.

Do you mean the recording volume, playback volume or both?

mLeebowes wrote:I discovered:

1. That the volume is low on my computer EXCEPT when I use my headset for playback and then it is loud and clear.

Does this headset connect by USB cable? If so, it is a separate sound device from the one that you are connecting your external microphone to.

mLeebowes wrote:2. When I have a phone session with a client via Skype using Pamela to record, there is no issue with the volume.
So when Audacity isn't involved, the sound is fine.

Skype creates a hostile environment for other recording software.

If you want to record Skype, use Pamela.

If you want to record something other than Skype using Audacity, you should turn Skype off, at least until the configuration problem is fixed.

Have you checked for a boost or AGC control for the mic in Windows Sounds and Audio Devices? This may be behind an "Advanced" button. Enabling this would make the mic record louder.

Have you chosen the external mic as input Device in Device Toolbar ?

mLeebowes wrote:In light of this, I uninstalled and re-installed Audacity.

That is pointless unless you chose "Reset Preferences" in the installer.

mLeebowes wrote:However, when I said where I wanted to find it on the computer, it told me there was already an Audacity folder there. And when i brought up the "new" Audacity after restarting my computer, all the files were still there! (I don't need them on the program as they are permanently saved elsewhere). I don't understand this.

Please give the full names and extensions of some of the files you are referring to. If these are Audacity .AUP project files and the _data folders that go with them, you can delete those if and only if you have already exported a satisfactory audio file from those projects.

Reinstalling Audacity achieves almost nothing unless you reset Preferences in the installer. It just replaces the files needed to make Audacity work correctly. Any files of your own you had in the Audacity installation folder would be left as they were.

So we know we are addressing the correct problem, please launch Audacity, then do Generate > Tone, choose 5 minutes duration and click OK. Now play the track by pressing the green Play button. Does the big blue block of waveform disappear?


Gale

Gale Andrews wrote:

mLeebowes wrote:now I need to get the Audacity volume up so I can go back to work.

Do you mean the recording volume, playback volume or both?

I THINK IT IS THE RECORDING LEVEL AS THE WAVE FORM BARELY GOES ABOVE THE VERTICAL LINE.

Gale Andrews wrote:

mLeebowes wrote:I discovered:

1. That the volume is low on my computer EXCEPT when I use my headset for playback and then it is loud and clear.

Does this headset connect by USB cable? If so, it is a separate sound device from the one that you are connecting your external microphone to.

NO, THE HEADSET DOES NOT CONNECT BY USB. IT USES TWO PLUG INS, A PINK AND A GREEN ONE.

Gale Andrews wrote:

mLeebowes wrote:2. When I have a phone session with a client via Skype using Pamela to record, there is no issue with the volume.
So when Audacity isn't involved, the sound is fine.

Skype creates a hostile environment for other recording software.

If you want to record Skype, use Pamela.

I ONLY USE PAMELA WITH SKYPE

Gale Andrews wrote:If you want to record something other than Skype using Audacity, you should turn Skype off, at least until the configuration problem is fixed.

I ONLY HAVE SKYPE TURNED ON FOR THE DURATION OF A PHONE CALL USING PAMELA.

Gale Andrews wrote:Have you checked for a boost or AGC control for the mic in Windows Sounds and Audio Devices? This may be behind an "Advanced" button. Enabling this would make the mic record louder.

YES, BUT ON XP THERE IS NO MIC BOOST. IN THE ADVANCED SECTION THE ONLY CHOICES ARE: 1.PC SPK MUTE and 2. SPDIF INTERFACE

Gale Andrews wrote:Have you chosen the external mic as input Device in Device Toolbar ?

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOCATE THIS. i PASTED URL INTO BROWSER BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE ME ANYWHERE RELATED TO THE ISSUE

Gale Andrews wrote:

mLeebowes wrote:In light of this, I uninstalled and re-installed Audacity.

That is pointless unless you chose "Reset Preferences" in the installer.

GOOD TO KNOW, BUT I WOULDN'T KNOW HOW TO RESET PREFERENCES

Gale Andrews wrote:

mLeebowes wrote:However, when I said where I wanted to find it on the computer, it told me there was already an Audacity folder there. And when i brought up the "new" Audacity after restarting my computer, all the files were still there! (I don't need them on the program as they are permanently saved elsewhere). I don't understand this.

Please give the full names and extensions of some of the files you are referring to. If these are Audacity .AUP project files and the _data folders that go with them, you can delete those if and only if you have already exported a satisfactory audio file from those projects.

I AM REFERRING TO ALL FILES: AUP, PROJECT FILES AND MP3 FILES. BUT NOW UNDERSTAND WHY THEY REMAINED.

Gale Andrews wrote:Reinstalling Audacity achieves almost nothing unless you reset Preferences in the installer. It just replaces the files needed to make Audacity work correctly. Any files of your own you had in the Audacity installation folder would be left as they were.

So we know we are addressing the correct problem, please launch Audacity, then do Generate > Tone, choose 5 minutes duration and click OK. Now play the track by pressing the green Play button. Does the big blue block of waveform disappear?

NO THE BIG BLUE BLOCK OF WAVEFORM DID NOT DISAPPEAR.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR QUESTIONS AND HELP, GALE.
MARIDEL

mLeebowes wrote:I THINK IT IS THE RECORDING LEVEL AS THE WAVE FORM BARELY GOES ABOVE THE VERTICAL LINE. THE HEADSET USES TWO PLUG INS, A PINK AND A GREEN ONE.

OK, thanks.

mLeebowes wrote:

Gale Andrews wrote:Have
you checked for a boost or AGC control for the mic in Windows Sounds and Audio Devices? This may be behind an "Advanced" button. Enabling this would make the mic record louder.

YES, BUT ON XP THERE IS NO MIC BOOST. IN THE ADVANCED SECTION THE ONLY CHOICES ARE: 1.PC SPK MUTE and 2. SPDIF INTERFACE

That sounds like the playback section. Did you click "Volume" in the "Sound recording" panel when you checked that, which shows you volume sliders for each input? There is some help here: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/index.php? ... ssues#xpcp .

mLeebowes wrote:

Gale Andrews wrote:Have you chosen the external mic as input Device in Device Toolbar ?

I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO LOCATE THIS. i PASTED URL INTO BROWSER BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE ME ANYWHERE RELATED TO THE ISSUE

It's exactly related, because (to keep it simple) you must make sure you have the third box in Device Toolbar set to the external mic.

You can also make this choice in Audacity at Edit > Preferences, choose "Devices" on the left then choose the external mic in the "Recording Devices" box. Then click OK.

mLeebowes wrote:NO THE BIG BLUE BLOCK OF WAVEFORM DID NOT DISAPPEAR.

Good, so at least Audacity can read your drive properly for its temporary data.


Gale

Good news, Gale!
You were right about the mic boost being in the "Sound Recording" panel and it was unchecked.
I now have volume and a normal-looking wave form!
Thank you so much for your expertise and your patience.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate it.
Maridel