Mixer Settings For Audacity

[Programmer In Training]

OK, I've read the mixer man page, the mic is set as recording source,
yet even with mic playback and (apparent) sensitivity to max, I barely
get anything recorded using Audacity. Am I missing something? Do I need
to use mixer -s =rec mic (I set it with mixer -S =rec, though it seems
either one does the same thing).

Mixer vol is currently set to 100:100
Mixer bass is currently set to 100:100
Mixer treble is currently set to 100:100
Mixer synth is currently set to 100:100
Mixer pcm is currently set to 100:100
Mixer speaker is currently set to 100:100
Mixer line is currently set to 100:100
Mixer mic is currently set to 100:100
Mixer cd is currently set to 100:100
Mixer igain is currently set to 100:100
Mixer ogain is currently set to 100:100
Mixer monitor is currently set to 100:100
Recording source: mic

The above is my playback options for the mixer. I'd like to adjust the
sensitivity for the mic when recording and not just for playback
(ideally I'd like playback to be zero - or as close to it as possible -
and recording be at max).

I've found a few posts on the subject[0][1] but nothing really dealing
with my problem (the closest they get is Audacity, but both are written
from a Windoze POV), though I did get some good ideas from the first one
(setting up a project with some default tags and the like).

I'll record, with the mic at 100% for playback, a sample and toss it up
on my website[2] in wav format so you folks can hear what I'm dealing
with. Any suggestions would be appreciated (I'm sure it's something
rather obvious I'm missing, it usually is (I've got my snakebite kit
ready, jic)). The recording was made with the mic right in front of the
mouth, with me talking at normal volume (which is pretty loud according
to most folks I know) and playback sensitivity at max. The audio was
recorded at 44100Hz, 32-bit floating point and straight-exported as a
wav. Reported size (by web server) is 1.5MB (YMMV).

[0]: http://brainwagon.org/2004/09/27/howto-produce-your-own-audioblog/
[1]:
http://www.jakeludington.com/podcasting/20050222_recording_a_podcast.html
[2]: http://www.joseph-a-nagy-jr.us/audio/test-01.wav

[Programmer In Training]

Post by Programmer In Training

G'day, Programmer In Training!

OK, I've read the mixer man page, the mic is set as recording source,
yet even with mic playback and (apparent) sensitivity to max, I barely
get anything recorded using Audacity. Am I missing something? Do I need
to use mixer -s =rec mic (I set it with mixer -S =rec, though it seems
either one does the same thing).

<snip>

Try to use monitor as record source. (mixer =rec monitor)
At least for my laptops it's required to provide my microphone to skype.

Same thing, barely any pickup by the mic.

[Polytropon]

Post by Programmer In Training
Same thing, barely any pickup by the mic.

Is the microphone working, and is it compatible with
the connector (condenser / dynamic)? Does it provide
a sufficient output level, maybe to be tested with
other equipment? Just an idea - because I recently
had a similar problem with a partially defective
microphone. :-)

[Programmer In Training]

Post by Polytropon

Post by Programmer In Training
Same thing, barely any pickup by the mic.

Is the microphone working, and is it compatible with

Yes

Post by Polytropon
the connector (condenser / dynamic)? Does it provide

Yes

Post by Polytropon
a sufficient output level, maybe to be tested with

Yes

Post by Polytropon
other equipment? Just an idea - because I recently

Was on a Windoze box with an Audigy 2 sound card, worked like a dream.

Post by Polytropon
had a similar problem with a partially defective
microphone. :-)

I'm using the builtin C-Media sound card (for some reason FreeBSD
doesn't want to detect my SB Audigy even with the km loaded for it) The
mic is a Creative boom mic (I call them boom mics, just your standard
desktop fair).

Audacity (and Skype) both picked up the mic very, very well using mic as
rec source on my parents Windoze box (XP SP3). I'd like to keep
everything on here (though the latest version of Audacity (1.3.x)
supports flac output while what's in ports (1.2.4b4. I updated ports
like two days ago) doesn't so I just might use their computer if I can't
get my mic working here).