Basic help with Audacity.

[PDOGG]

Ok, my problem here with Audacity is that when I use my mic (the mic works fine) audacity picks up just about nothing. I have to up the gain on the little recording slot on the screen and crank my speakers ALOT to hear anything (and that gain jacks with the sound). I was wondering if anyone else has run into this little problem and how they remedied it. Thanks alot.


One more thing, (assuming I can get this working), is it a good a idea to pre-amp a mic used for recording an amp? And if so, should it be set similarly to vocals? (im new to this home studio stuff)

[The Flash]

The first problem happened to me too. All I did was wait it out and audacity picks up the sound from my mic fine now. Sorry I couldn't be of much help but for me it was just a matter of time.

[PDOGG]

was it gradual like u left the mic plugged in or did audacity adjust over a period of weeks or something?

No apologies neccesary BTW, any help is appreciated. thank you.

[PDOGG]

Ok, I have one more probably dumb question for you guys. I know im a worthless noobie but I'm about to invest in some recording equipment and I don't particularly feel like wasting any money because I miscalculated something somewhere.

The Sennheiser vocal mic I have now came with a cable that plugged directly into the mic on one end (female XLR) and the other end was the same size as a headphone plug. My computer has in input designated for mics this size (headphone plug size). I can plug my mic into that and it'll go through (not particularly well with audacity as i've said though), but I can't seem to find any other cables with both those ends. This leads me to believe that this may not be effiecient for recording. I can't really make out any alternatives though. What kind of cable did anybody else use for mic'ing on their comp?

A noob such as myself very much appreciates any and all assistance, so thank you very much ahead of time.

[innerdark]

Ok, my problem here with Audacity is that when I use my mic (the mic works fine) audacity picks up just about nothing. I have to up the gain on the little recording slot on the screen and crank my speakers ALOT to hear anything (and that gain jacks with the sound). I was wondering if anyone else has run into this little problem and how they remedied it. Thanks alot.


One more thing, (assuming I can get this working), is it a good a idea to pre-amp a mic used for recording an amp? And if so, should it be set similarly to vocals? (im new to this home studio stuff)

go to volume control, click options, check advanced options, turn up the mic, you should be fine

failing that, test it with sound recorder.

[the_uber_penguin]

My soundcard has three female jacks (that's an odd image)...

I found one is headphones out, one was low gain and one was high gain.

I had exactly the same problem as you, which was fixed just by switching from the low gain to the high gain input.

Check your soundcard, and see if theres another input next to where your plugging the mic in.

[PDOGG]

go to volume control, click options, check advanced options, turn up the mic, you should be fine

failing that, test it with sound recorder.


I cannot find volume control........:confused: