Device Input - no mic option

[zulubase]

I have been using Audacity for a number of years! recently I bought a new computer & installed Windows 7 Pro(32bit) & then installed your latest version 1.3.12

Previously with WinXP your vs 1.2.6, was able to record audio from LP/Audio cassette from the microphone Input recording option(one of the Input options to the right of the Input meter) if the sound was too harsh.

However, with the new setup, I’m not getting the mic option, as per attachment & I’m not sure why?

I did have a video card in the old machine, which may have had a sound component on it, giving me the ‘mic’ input option.

The Asus Motherboard I now have: Model M4A785G HTPC is supposed to have an above average onboard audio features, obviating the need for a sound card.

The microphone input option is very important to me & I would be grateful for some help?

[steve]

Windows 7 frequently disables and hides the recording inputs making them unavailable (most unhelpful )
You probably need to go into the Windows Control Panel to enable the input that you want to use.

See here for how to do this: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel

Ideally, for recording from cassette you should record through a "Line input" rather than a "Mic input". Have a look on your computer to see if it has a "Line input" socket.
Microphone inputs are usually much too sensitive for a cassette player and also they are often mono.

The original sound card drivers for Windows 7 are frequently faulty or have limited functionality (they were produced in a rush to support Windows 7). Check that your sound card drivers are the latest available versions. For on-board sound, the latest drivers should be available from the motherboard manufacturers web site.

[zulubase]

Thanks will try update drivers etc, I find the mic input very useful, as audio cassettes & LPs output are too harsh/loud very often for Audacity to cope with using the line-input option, hence the clipping, recording through the mic option makes the recording possible & the end result very good.

[steve]

audio cassettes & LPs output are too harsh/loud very often for Audacity to cope with using the line-input option, hence the clipping, recording through the mic option makes the recording possible & the end result very good.

That's strange - it should be the other way round - they may be labelled wrong on your computer (it wouldn't be the first time) - just use the one that works.

[zulubase]

thats the problem, neither work on my new commputer, as per my original post, on the old one using vs 1.2.6/XP at least I got the 'mic' input option that worked well, now on the new vs 1.3.12 all I get is a 'Master' option which does nothing(as per my original post) thanks

[steve]

And in the Windows Control Panel (as per my previous post) you have...?

[zulubase]

well, I have discovered the LineIn/MicIn option only activates from the rear socket, as per the control panel Recording devices, once activated(by plugging in the mic) it then becomes an option in Audacity along with others, though there's no change to the mysterious 'Master' option to the right of the Input meter( where all the useful options were in vs 1.2.6/XP) Having found all this, there's still no Input sound on the Input meter! thanks for you help though

[steve]

See here for additional information regarding Windows 7 http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Windows_7_OS
In particular, note the section "Recording and playback" http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Windo ... d_playback
and the "Mixer Toolbar" information: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... es#vistacp