Unable to set recording above -30dB

bigcitydave wrote on 12/4/2020, 4:51 PM

When pressing record, the input indicators barely reach above -30dB. I have the listening volume on Spotify at maximum and the speaker volume at 46. The resulting recording image is almost a straight line and only shows an image after normalizing. The result is a tinny sound with little volume.

I am running Magix ACl 17. I have a HP Pavilion dv3 notebook running Windows 7 Professional (Version 6.1 build 7601 (version 6.1 build 7601 with Service Pack 1). Disc Drive is Multicard USB device. Processor is Intel(R) core (TM) 2 Duo CPU. Sound card IDT HDA CODEC. There is 4.00 RAM and 64-bit Operating system. Recording using Stereo Mix (IDT High Def), only option available. I have the same problems on my other HP with similar settings. I had good performance and no problems when running Vista. Hope someone can help. It has to be some thing simple, I just don't what.

Comments

bigcitydave wrote on 12/11/2020, 1:05 PM

I have two different sound cards in my two computers, an IDT and a Realtek neither of which can adjust in input signal on the Vu meters to an optimal level without distortion.

 

emmrecs wrote on 12/11/2020, 1:54 PM

@bigcitydave

I see you are still running Win 7 so I don't think you are being hobbled by the fact that Microsoft disabled the ability to record "What you hear" or "Stereo Mix" in later versions.

However, for both computers you should have an individual audio control panel, but I suspect the Record level in the Windows Mixer is actually set low.

Go to Control Panel>Sound>Recording and check that your selected device is the default. Click on it and go to Properties and then the Levels tab and ensure it is "turned up". You might also wish to check the Advanced tab that the sample frequency is whatever you wish to use.

HTH

Jeff

Last changed by emmrecs on 12/11/2020, 1:54 PM, changed a total of 1 times.

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bigcitydave wrote on 12/17/2020, 4:08 PM

Hi Jeff

I applied your suggestions to my HP Envy with a Realtek sound card. I Increased the recording levels from 30 to 50. I then set my windows sound for listening to 21%. With these settings I got a Vu meter response of about -20db and just at the lower end of the optimum scale. The progress line during recording was very small. I normalized at 50% and the resulting image showed a graph filling the entire area in height with no "clipping". Since the volume adjustments work simultaneously, you have to find the right balance. If you turn the the volume up to listen, it increases the audio input volume and causes distortion. If you turn the recording volume up, you have to turn the listening volume down, actually to an almost inaudible level. Hope this makes sense. I'm happy with the recordings, just a lot of setting changes that really don't make sense.