Acid music studio help

[take_a_jimi_thing]

it might just be my mic, but everything i record is realllllly low. and i cant figure out how to get to settings either in my comp or in the program to like turn it up. help me please!

[RunsWithBuffalo]

What kind of mic are you using? Most decent mics require phantom power to produce desired results. If you don't have phantom power but your mic needs it, your recordings will be real low.

Also, how are you connecting the mic to the computer? If it is with the "line in" or "mic" port then go to the windows volume options and make sure it is turned all the way up.

I don't know acid all that well, but my guess is the program is not the problem, though you should be able to boost your signal if acid has a compressor that allows you to boost the gain.

[take_a_jimi_thing]

thanks man i got it up loud enough to where i dont have to turn my volume all the way up to hear it. thanks alot!

[BenPezzner]

Sometimes I have the same problem. I don't know why it does what it does, but through much time spent trying to fix it, I have come up with the following algorithm:

1) open start -> accessories -> entertainment -> sound recorder
1a) drag sound recorder all the way to the left of the screen, so you can barely press the 'advanced' button under 'microphone'
2) under 'microphone' in sound recorder, hit 'advanced'
2a) drag the 'advanced' menu all the way to the right of the screen until you can just barely check the 'mic boost' checkbox. make sure the box is checked.
3) now, open acid in window mode (not in maximized mode), and when expanding the window, leave space on the right so that you can have acid open and still be able to check that 'mic boost' checkbox
4) hit record, play something into the mic and watch the levels
4a) if the levels are good, then press start and record as usual
4b) if the levels are extremely low, FIRST hit start, THEN (while recording) check the 'mic boost' checkbox off and on quickly, THEN start playing into the microphone

The reason you have to do 4b in this order is if you fool with the checkbox in sound recorder after you open the record menu but before you start recording, then it won't record. However if you've already started recording, then checking the box off and on again will reset the levels but not screw up the recording in progress.

Sometimes you just have to do it once and it stays for the rest of the session. Other times you have to keep doing it. Why does this happen sometimes? I have no idea. Does this solution work? Yes. If you do this then you won't have to screw with the gain levels and compression settings in Acid.

Good luck,
Ben