blockader - Posted - 03/08/2011:  07:12:05

Let me preface this by saying that i am not a dumbass but i am also not very tech savvy, e.g. i don't own a cell phone. But i wanted to try and make some MP3s purely for fun.

so i borrowed an instrument mic (shure), stand, cable and and jack adapter from a friend and downloaded audacity. but when i try and record the sound input and output is extremely quiet, you have to turn the gain way up and have the speakers at max to hear my clawhammerin at a decent level. the notes barely register a blip on the wave line OWIC. I have tried both the mic jacks in the front and back of the puter with same results. i have tried adjusting the recording and mic levels in preferences/options in both the program and on the puter itself. I've tried both mikes as well. all to no avail. what am i missing?

my friend who lent me the stuff can't figure it out without being here which isn't likely in the near future. so any suggestions from y'all would be much appreciated.

Nymphadora - Posted - 03/08/2011:  07:34:49

You actually need to preamp the mic....a mic puts out very little signal, about 1/4 of what the average electric guitar pickup will put out. In spite of what computer people say, the computer's preamps are terrible. Even a micro guitar amp, about $39 will help alot in boosting your signal. MusiciansFriend.com has an ART preamp with a VU meter for about $29...they can be noisy, you have to play with them for that perfect quiet signal, but it IS there. I have one and 5 other types, as well. I'm scratch building a really good Neve clone preamp. Entry level recording is like entry level horse racing....the dollars are going to pile up one way or another. If one has a mic, the preamp is going to be the next purchase....luckily, a usable beginner's preamp is inexpensive. Hugs....

Edited by - Nymphadora on 03/08/2011 07:36:11

Stuart Bowen - Posted - 03/08/2011:  07:37:39

Sounds like you might need a preamp to convert the mic output to a level suitable for input to the computer.

blockader - Posted - 03/08/2011:  07:43:01

ah ha! like trying to plug a record player into a modern receiver, no preamp. thanks for the info.

years ago i did record some tunes in this manner but with a different puter without any problems. it must've had a better sound card/preamp. thanks again.

Nymphadora - Posted - 03/08/2011:  07:47:33

Yes, just like the record player situation. Hugs....

Stuart Bowen - Posted - 03/08/2011:  07:52:30

I'd recommend a preamp with 60 db or more gain for best results. There are some pretty good preamps available under $200. You might want to check out something like the Mackie Onyx Blackjack USB Audio Interface.

Trewq36 - Posted - 03/08/2011:  08:04:26

First check your levels in the control panel, open up "Sounds and Audio Devices" click on the advanced button and make sure the inputs and output levels are adjusted. Or if you got the speaker icon in your sys tray try that.

I just checked mine and the rear input was muted... But this is not my recording machine so who cares..

Never Play the Same Thing Once....yoR

arbogdan - Posted - 03/08/2011:  08:10:11

I have recorded myself and some live performances on a Zoom H2. Files can then be transferred to computer. I think it can also be used as a microphone for computer. So, you may want to consider something along that line (would be <$200).

Also, once file is in Audacity you may find that you still want to boost the volume of the recording. This can be easily done with using the "effects"- either "amplify" or "normalize." One last thing I found out was that although it can open MP3 files you cannot save edited files as MP3 without adding a plug-in