Lesson 7

7. How to Adjust Input Levels in Audacity

Resource Type:

Tutorial Video

Duration:

3 minutes

Outcomes:

Learners are expected to:

SO 3.5.            adjust the input levels in Audacity

Evaluation:

Learners can be evaluated through the completion of the following activities:

My First Recording

Make Your Voice Sound Like a Chipmunk

Multitrack Recording in Audacity

Interview a Superhero

Radio Play

Procedure:

The quality of your recording depends on many things and the input level is one of the most important. If your input level is too high your recording will ‘clip’ and cause distortion. If your input level is too low then background noise will be heard.

Audacity provides an input level meter to help you set your levels. To turn on the input level meter you need to click on it. If your microphone is configured properly you will begin to see the input level meter indicate your input level. You can adjust the input level by moving the Input Volume slider to the left (down) or right (up). By watching your meter and speaking or playing into your microphone your meter will show your level. Make adjustments to the Input Volume slider until your signal never goes above 2/3 of the way up the meter.

Now that your level is set you can do a test recording to see how it looks in the track waveform. You need to try and get a thick waveform that does not touch the top or bottom limits of the track.