recording volume
Forum rules
Audacity 1.3.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.1.x version.
The final version of Audacity for Windows 98/ME is the legacy 2.0.0 version.
Audacity 1.3.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.1.x version.
The final version of Audacity for Windows 98/ME is the legacy 2.0.0 version.
recording volume
How can I decrease the recording volume. I have the volume control on the program turned down as far as I can and the volume on the input tape player or tuner turned all the way down and the volume is still excessive and distorted.
Re: recording volume
It depends on how you have connected the tape player to the computer.
If you have it plugged into a microphone input on the computer it may not be possible to set the level low enough to avoid distortion because a microphone input is expecting a very low level mono signal from a microphone rather than a much higher level stereo signal from a tape player. A tape player should be plugged into a stereo "Line level" input.
On a desktop computer the "Mic" input is often colour coded pink and the "line in" is oftn colour coded light blue.
If you are connected to a line level compatible input on a Windows 7 or Vista computer it may be necessary to go into the Windows Control Panel and in the "Sounds" setting, set the input to "Line" rather than "Mic", or just adjust the recording level really low.
Is it be possible to adjust the output level from your tape player any lower?
If you are connecting the tape player to the computer via a USB sound card, it may be possible (depending on the USB sound card) to adjust the input level of the sound card.
Sorry to be so vague but you have not given us much information to go on.
Also, the recommended version of Audacity for most machines is Audacity 1.3.14 (Unicode) which you can get here: http://audacityteam.org/download/
If you have it plugged into a microphone input on the computer it may not be possible to set the level low enough to avoid distortion because a microphone input is expecting a very low level mono signal from a microphone rather than a much higher level stereo signal from a tape player. A tape player should be plugged into a stereo "Line level" input.
On a desktop computer the "Mic" input is often colour coded pink and the "line in" is oftn colour coded light blue.
If you are connected to a line level compatible input on a Windows 7 or Vista computer it may be necessary to go into the Windows Control Panel and in the "Sounds" setting, set the input to "Line" rather than "Mic", or just adjust the recording level really low.
Is it be possible to adjust the output level from your tape player any lower?
If you are connecting the tape player to the computer via a USB sound card, it may be possible (depending on the USB sound card) to adjust the input level of the sound card.
Sorry to be so vague but you have not given us much information to go on.
Also, the recommended version of Audacity for most machines is Audacity 1.3.14 (Unicode) which you can get here: http://audacityteam.org/download/
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Re: recording volume
Thank you for your reply. I have connected from the play output of the tape player to the line in (light blue) connector on the back of my computer and am now able to control the volume and the quality of the sound is better. However, now I am getting an echo in the sound as it is recording. Do you have any suggestions for eliminating this extra sound? I also updated my version of Audacity. I am running Vista home premium with a Realtec HD sound card. Thank you. Keith
Re: recording volume
I've moved this topic to the Audacity 1.3.x part of the forum.klritchie wrote: I also updated my version of Audacity.
What options do you have selected in the Device Toolbar?
What other options are available?
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)