Is there a way to monitor listening during recordings? 1

[daveoasis]

I use Cybercorder & Audacity to record stuff. I usually do a test recording first with the microphone of my choice and adjust the volume as needed.

Is there a way to monitor listening volume during recordings? On a laptop also?

Thank you, Dave

Should Tek-tips have an audio forum?

 

[norty303]

Do you mean monitor via a meter or via the speakers?

Its hardly worth listening to it as it won't tell you the level you're recording at, it'll depend entirely on how loud you've got the speakers turned up at the time. Ideally you want to be peaking at about -3db on a meter but i'm not sure if your software has that.

As with any recording you're after a high signal to noise ratio to keep the recording as clear as possible.

Maybe a bit more info about what you're trying to do?

 

[daveoasis]

Hi norty303 - mostly via headphones during a live recording, but perhaps Audacity will let me do that as I recall.

Main use now is to record board meetings in a classroom. A good mike has helped about 200% so far. Maybe if I put in a pre-amp that might help. Looking into a wireless mike or dual mike setup, since people are about 20+ feet apart.

Thanks, Dave

 

[norty303]

If your software has one, or supports plugins you should try using a compressor. That way you can turn up the input gain above normal levels so that the quiter voices (people further away) will still be intelligible. the compressor/limiter will stop the louder ones from clipping and distorting. Worth a try but they can be very fiddly to set up right.

I definitely recommend using a meter to set your levels. You may be having a very weak input signal that seems loud purely because you've got your headphones cranked up. Something like Soundforge has good input meters and also has tools that will allow you to maximize the levels afterwards in case you were a little low