Prior to capturing and/or editing sounds on a Windows-based computer,
it is important to get familiar with the settings and control windows
that manage the way your computer's sound card works. This tutorial
will use screen examples and terminology that would be used with
a Windows 95 and newer operating system.
1. In the lower right hand corner of your taskbar (bottom of screen)
you will find the "system tray". Next to the "time" display
are usually several small icons. Locate the  and
click it once. This will display the basic volume control slider. Adjusting
this slider will change the output volume of whatever is currently
plugged into the "speaker out" port. This port is located
on the sound card, which is accessible from the back of your computer.
It may have speakers, headphones, a line to an external sound amplifier,
or nothing, plugged into it. After adjusting it to the desired position,
click anywhere else on the screen to hide it again.
2. Next, go back to the same sound icon, but this time double-click
it. This will open the "Volume Control" window. It will
look similar to this:
3. These sliders control the output volume for the "source" that
is identified above each. The first (left-side) slider is usually
the "Volume Control" master, which means it will adjust
the volume to the output port (usually the headphones or speakers)
in general. The other sliders are used to individually set output
volume for only that particular source. For the beginner and average
user, it is a good rule-of-thumb to set these sliders to approximately
2/3 - 3/4 maximum volume settings. This will help insure that enough
sound is being outputted (sent) to the output port (spkrs., etc.)
Normally, the only exception to this would be if you see a slider,
with this group, identified as "Microphone". It is generally
best to check the box below the microphone slider to "mute".
The reason for this is to avoid "feedback" through your
speakers or headphones, when you are using a microphone to record
live sounds! If you do not see a slider identified as "Microphone",
then you don't need to worry about muting it.
4. With the "Volume Control" window still open,
go to the Options menu, near the top, and select "Properties".
A window will appear similar to the one to the right.
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5. Click in the bullet beside the word "Recording", near
the top left of the "Properties" window. For general use,
make sure that a check is present beside the words: Microphone,
Line, and CD Audio. See below for an Example. (What you are doing
here is telling the computer which "input" (sounds coming
in) ports and sources you want it to be able to record from when
designated.)
6.To gain access to the "Recording Control" window, make
sure the bullet beside the word "Recording", is selected.
Now click the OK button. This will open the "Recording Control" window.
It will look similar to this:
7. You will notice that the "Recording Control" window
is now displaying the sliders for the three "input" sources
that we chose above. These sliders work just like the ones in the "Volume
Control" window earlier, however, now you are adjusting the
amount of sound that the computer is letting in (inputting) through
the input ports, instead of the amount of sound it is letting "out" (outputting)
to the speakers!
The same general rule, of placing all three sliders to the 2/3 -
3/4 maximum mark or higher, still applies. This time it is to help
ensure that enough sound is being "inputted" (received)
by the input port (microphone in, line in). Other than trying
to record from a poor quality original, not having enough input sound
strength (volume) level, is the most common reason for getting poor
results when digitizing sounds!
Finally, you will notice that there are check boxes, labeled "Select",
located under each slider in the Recording Control window. These
are very important as they tell the computer which "input" port
you want it to record from. Whatever is checked, is the only port
it will "hear" or record from at that time, when you activate
your recording tool software, such as "Sound Companion"! (This
is also one of the more common issues to check on if you are experiencing
problems when trying to record from a microphone or your internal
cd-player!)
Therefore, to setup your Window's Recording Controls for recording
with a microphone, you would check the "Select" box under
the "Microphone" slider. Close the "Recording Control" window
and proceed with your recording session. (See the section of this
web site titled, "Recording "live" audio with a microphone" for
complete step-by-step details on this.)
To setup for recording from an "external" source, like
a jam box or vcr's audio, you would check the "Select" box
under the "Line" slider. For preparing to record sounds
from your computer's internal CD-ROM drive, then you would check
the "Select" box under the "CD Audio" slider.
(All of the scenarios have step-by-step details in their respective
areas of this web tutorial.)
Happy digital recording!
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