Pre Record Audio Metering

[kozikowski]

If you click inside the red audio meters while you apply audio to the system, Audacity will cheerfully indicate to you what the level of the incoming audio is--even before you press record. This helps you set up your audio pathway, insure quality, and is an insanely handy tool.

How do you tell when it's running?

If you're using Audacity as a test instrument, the display for a fresh Audacity is exactly the same as Audacity in the monitoring mode with a broken microphone.

What everybody--no exception--does in the face of audio problems is click inside the red meters rapidly 50,000 times, give or take a few. Quick, did I click an even or odd amount of times? Is Audacity in Monitor Mode or not?

What's the capitol of Montana?

Koz

[alatham]

I think the meters should always monitor the currently selected recording source. It should also be more than 2 channels. There is no reason to have to click on it to get it to start monitoring.

What everybody--no exception...

Also, please don't presume to know how I use my computer.

[kozikowski]

<<<I think the meters should always monitor the currently selected recording source.>>>

So do I, but they don't.

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Normally the meters are only active when you are playing or recording audio. However, you can also monitor input when you're not recording - to do this, either select "Monitor Input" from the input meter's pop-up menu, or else just click on the input meter. If you have a microphone or other input source attached, you will be able to watch the level of the audio before you start recording.
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That's from the Meter Bar instructions. What it doesn't say is what happens when the metering doesn't succeed--what is your indication that you're monitoring a dead input? Again, as an extension of that, How many times did you click, and how many times did the people before you click and which mode are you in right now (the original question)?

This leads to some interesting clicking because every time you change the microphone or change the battery, or cable, or adjust something, you have to click twice to make sure you're in the monitor mode.


<<<Also, please don't presume to know how I use my computer.>>>

It's my job. My hat says "Presumer." If I didn't do that, I'd be useless in troubleshooting. Nobody is going to wait for me to do advanced analysis of the problem. This only works if I presume to know how you use your computer.

Go ahead. Confess. You've had a dead microphone and you've clicked multiple times. I won't tell anybody.

Koz

[waxcylinder]

I think the meters should always monitor the currently selected recording source.

Yes I agree - you must remember those lovely old tape recorders and cassette decks that had meters that did just exactly that - wasn't it a great idea ...........

Hmmmmm, why does technology go backwards sometimes?

And, Koz, what IS the capital of Montana.

WC

[alatham]

Personally all of my equipment works and I can't remember a single time I've had to click madly on the meters.

But I agree in spirit.

[kozikowski]

<<<And, Koz, what IS the capital of Montana.>>>

Billings??

<<<Personally all of my equipment works>>>

That's good. Can I tell people about you? They won't believe you either.

Koz

[archiegood]

After using A for nearly two years I find this out!!!!!!!

What other pearls of wisdom have I missed?

Thanks, Koz.

[alatham]

That's good. Can I tell people about you? They won't believe you either.

Ouch.

Look man, I'm not trying to get into an argument with you or anything, but you should go around saying things like "What everybody--no exception--does in the face of audio problems is click inside the red meters rapidly 50,000 times, give or take a few."

It's simply not true. No doubt it happens to many people, but I've got lots of experience with stuff like this and it's never been an issue for me.

I also don't take kindly to being implied a liar.

[kozikowski]

<<<50,000 times, give or take a few.>>>

Theatrical exaggeration. The point is I've sat in the corner and watched four people trying to troubleshoot a broken audio pathway and they all clicked inside the red meters at least five times--each. It would be insanely handy for something visible to happen when you're in monitor mode. We've been known to use Audacity as a system diagnostic tool to help us figure out what happened to the sound--and then turn it off--that was the whole task, so this is a big deal for us.

Audacity gives great meters although I could talk about the RMS readings. It might be more valuable to have the lower meter be US C16.5 VU meter. RMS is an interesting engineering number, but VU and Peak are the two that are always getting confused.

<<<I also don't take kindly to being implied a liar.>>>

Not at all, but I think you may have a bad count. You never had Windows do "something funny" to you that was only attributable to the Redmond Gods frowning at you? Or worse yet have a bad driver take the machine away from you?

<<<Personally all of my equipment works>>>

I believe you.


Fargo?

No, that's in South Dakota.

Koz

[alatham]

Ok, I still agree that the meters should be always active. I should also add that they should unambiguously tell you which input they're monitoring.

I'm sorry that this post got a bit out of hand, but I'm an engineer. Theatrical Exaggeration is not as useful to me as objectivity. Others may, of course, disagree. We don't want a forum that is spot-free, lab-coat boring.

And to answer your other questions, Windows hasn't done anything truly perplexing to me in a long time. XP never has. Whenever I'm confused, the answers are only a google search away.