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Main Toolbar Edit Toolbar Input/Output

Mixer Toolbar

I/O Sliders and Input Selector
Output Input Input Selector

These sliders control the mixer settings of the soundcard in your system.

The sliders will jump to zero (left most position) if the drivers do not expose these functions. This is the case with some digital I/O cards from RME and possibly others as well. Generally most cards that have a custom mixer application rather than the standard OS volume control won't work with this function of audacity. On these cards you will not be able to control the anything with these sliders, and you will need to set up the recording levels and the recording source using the card's mixer program.

Output Slider

This is the left hand slider that lets you control the output level of your soundcard. It actually controls the output setting of the soundcard driver.

Should your output sound distorted, this is not the first place to look. You might get lucky though, so give it a quick slide. Usually however, the distortion comes from the mix of your project clipping. You actually need to reduce the level of your tracks. It is suggested you reduce every track by the same amount.

Input Slider

This is the right hand slider that lets you control the level of the input selected in the Input Selector. It actually controls the recording level setting of the soundcard driver.

What you record is also determined in the mixer settings on your soundcard. There you can switch certain sources on and off, such as the Line Input, the Microphone Input or the CD Audio.

After selecting the corresponding input source with the Input Selector, you can control the level of the recording with this slider. Use the VU Meters on the Meter Toolbar to get the correct recording level.

Should your input sound distorted, you should lower this slider until no distortion can be heard, and the VU Meters do not hit the end of their travel.

Input Selector

Pick the input source you wish to record from. All these items are exposed by the soundcard driver, so the this of options will vary with different soundcards.
Input Selector drop down list Here is an example of an ESS 1969 soundcard with the Line In input selected.
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