How to set up Audacity
From Audacity Manual
Setting Up Audacity
Click on to bring up the Preferences dialog. Click on the Devices tab. Under Recording, make sure that the device you selected in your computer's sound control panel corresponds to what is displayed in the "Devices" popup menu - if not, click the Device popup menu and the select the option that corresponds to the setting you made in your computer's sound control panel.
If you are using a USB device (such as the iMic, or a USB turntable), set this as the Recording Device in the "Devices" popup menu. When using one of these USB devices, the Audacity Mixer Toolbar input selector will not be in use, although you'll need to set the line/mic toggle switch on iMic to "line". Also, it is possible that the recording level control on the Mixer Toolbar will snap to zero and be non-functional - in this case you will need to set the input volume level in your computer's sound control panel. You will also need to set the Playback Device to be your computer's on-board soundcard - otherwise you will not herar any sounds at all including your computer's systems sounds and the output from other applications
In the "Channels" popup menu choose to record in stereo (2 channels).
If you want to listen to the music through your computer while you are recording, go to the Recording tab of the Preferences dialog and check "Software Playthrough". Note that the sound with software playthrough will be heard after a slight delay, and causes some extra load on the computer.
Click the "OK" button to accept the settings you just made.
Monitoring
Set the volume level of your recording input. Click on the downward pointing arrow in the right hand (red) VU recording level meters:
and click "Start Monitoring".
While playing a loud part of your tape or record, adjust the input level slider (the one beside the microphone symbol) on the Mixer Toolbar
so the recording meters are almost reaching the right-hand end of the scale. Don't let the meter bars actually reach the right edge, or the red hold lights to right of the meter will come on, indicating you'll have distortion in the recording. If the recording level meters are not visible, click . As noted above, if you are using a USB device the recording level control in the Mixer Toolbar may be non-functional - if this is the case go to your computer's sound control panel and adjust the volume there, or if your USB device has a gain control (volume control) you can adjust the signal level there.
Links
> Forward to: Basic Recording, Editing and Exporting
