Subject:Record Levels

Posted by: paul_richards

Date:10/15/2004 11:38:22 PM

The record meters on SF have stopped working. When I started using SF again after an enforced break my first attempt at recording showed relatvely low input levels and a large imbalance between right and left channels. I hit calibrate and the level monitor showed no input whatsoever.

I realise that this might be a problem with my sound source but is there any explanation which might implicate SF or anything I can do to check if SF is the problem?

Thanks

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:10/16/2004 5:33:52 AM

My first guess is that the recording inputs for your sound card have been changed.

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: paul_richards

Date:10/17/2004 7:21:05 AM

Any idea how this might have happened?

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: rraud

Date:10/17/2004 7:51:56 AM

Sometimes settings change for no reason at all,... that's Windows...... aside from getting a Mac,... which is not without it's own quirks...
Access your sound card settings:

- In Windows: Double-click the Windows speaker icon. Select Options>Properties>Recording. Under Show the following volume controls, check mark the box for Line. Click OK. Adjust the line volume control for optimal record levels while viewing the Sound Forge record window meter.

- Open Sound Forge: from the main menu, select: Options>Preferences>Wave. Select the desired soundcard for Record and Playback. Click OK Select: Ctrl+R, to open the Record ready window. Make sure the monitor check box is checked.

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: paul_richards

Date:10/18/2004 10:18:45 AM

Thanks - I'll give it a try

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: paul_richards

Date:10/22/2004 10:57:59 PM

I looked around for the Speaker icon to check and I couldn't find it.

So I went into the Control Panel/Sounds & Audio Devices and tried to increase the volume for the SB Audigy under Audio/Sound Recording. I got a message "Windows cannot execute SndVol32.exe. Use Add/Remove programs to instal".

I did a search for SndVol32.exe and found it tucked away in C:\Windows\Last Good\System32. No idea how it got there. Anyway clicking on the program brings up the volume control but after adjusting the record levels there was no change in the record level problem in
Sound Forge.

Would this SndVol32.exe be related to the SF record level problem and if so how do I fix it?

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: rraud

Date:10/23/2004 5:49:56 PM

Yes indeed, that could be the problem. Do you have one or more sound card drivers installed?
How many sound card options show up in the Muti-media audio settings window?
I beleve SndVol32 should be located in the C:\Windows (root) folder.
Do a Copy/ Paste and see if that fixes it. If not un-install and re-install the SB Audicy drivers.

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: MJhig

Date:10/23/2004 6:31:52 PM

I'd look in Start > Programs for the Creative mixer, Creative does strange things with it's software and drivers, they install their own mixer.

I don't have the Audigy but have plenty of experience with SB cards over the years on client systems, if you don't see a Creative/speaker icon in the systray or the Creative mixer from Programs fails, the first thing I'd do is reinstall the Creative software, if fact I'd check for a newer version on their site.

That said, if you intend to do even somewhat remotely professional audio, you had better run, not walk (or click links) to get a real audio recording soundcard.

Attempting to do "pro" audio with a Creative soundcard is like drag racing a Funny car with four temporary spare tires on it.

MJ

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: paul_richards

Date:10/24/2004 12:55:22 AM

To rraud and MJhig -Thanks - I'll try out your suggestions

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: paul_richards

Date:10/24/2004 8:44:30 AM

Here's what I've done

(a) uninstalled the Audigy
(b) reinstalled the Audigy off the original CD
(c) applied Audigy driver updates

The result? No change - there is no sign of input via the SF level meters on record (but if I play a .WAV file from SF then the level meters bounce up and down as they should and sound comes out of the speakers)

Not sure what I should do next.

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: MJhig

Date:10/24/2004 7:30:15 PM

What input are you trying to record, Line in, Mic?

Now that you reinstalled the Creative software did you go into it's Mixer software and select the correct input in the RECORDING window and adjust the recording level there?

MJ

Subject:RE: Record Levels

Reply by: paul_richards

Date:10/25/2004 11:02:12 AM

That's done it - I had the incorrcet channel selected for recording - I needed Aux2 so problem solved. Many thanks for your suggestions.