What do Windows Volume Mixer levels mean?

In Vista, what do the audio levels that go from 0 to 100 mean? That is, to what attenuation/gain do they correspond?

To put it in a more practical way, if I want to record from the Stereo Mix without any attenuation or gain, to what level should I set the output volume? Also, if I want to record on the Line In from an analog source, what input level prevents attenuation and/or gain on the computer side?

Thanks.

 

Those would be the actual volume controllers for the audiocard itself. There's no way too add extra gain to a audio signal in windows itself. Recording without any attenuation is pretty much impossible...the full volume of the file your playing is what you get when you open the volume in windows at 100.

 

There are external programs that allow you to adjust the volume recording levels for inputs. I used to use Steinberg's Wavelab and the various plugins when I was in the music biz.

 

I can't tell you exactly what "audio level" 0-100 mark represent because it's different for every audiocard. 100 mark means the maximum and 0 means mute.

Practically, When recording from the stereo mix on a computer,I would just play the audio at 50 volume and turn of all post processing (EQ..etc). Setting the volume too high will increase the signal to noise ratio.

 

Yes, for the Stereo Mix I would think 100 represents 0db. But when recording from an EXTERNAL source, I am not sure what setting would represent 0db when adjusting the input recording level. As others have said, I think it varies depending on the audio card.

The only way to REALLY find out is to use a test signal that outputs at 0db, then use a program like Audacity to monitor the input signal and set the levels to match 0db. If you want to know the correct setting within the Windows level controls use the windows recording app and set the Windows recording level to a test position where you think it might be 0db, record a small section, then boost the gain by 2 or 4 db and record another section. Repeat this a few times bumping the level each time. Then play back the recording in Audacity which will let you see which of the settings actually translated to 0db.

Gary

 

Yeah exactly...i'd set the input opened full and get it at the right level with another app, or preferrably even externally before it even enters the laptop.
If you're serious about your recording (don't know what it is you want to record) i'd get an external soundcard anyway because pretty much all built-in ones are crap

 

I'm not so sure I'd set the input to 100%, until I knew if the card happened to have some actual gain capability. Setting it to "full open" MIGHT mean you are adding some gain. That's why I suggested starting with a known 0db source and calibrating the settings on the PC so you KNOW what you are getting.

Gary

 

hmmm...you're right, a line-in could easily have some gain, like a mic-pre sorta.

 

Update:

After a lot of searching and some very helpful hints from all of you, I found some documentation for a card that is similar to mine and here's what it says:

The output volume control adjustment range is from 0 dB to -95 dB in .75 dB steps. For MIC input, the input volume control adjustment range is from 0 dB to 22.5 dB in 1.5 dB steps.​

So an output volume of 100 provides 0 dB attenuation and a Line In volume of 0 has no gain. The former makes sense, but the latter doesn't seem very intuitive, does it? One would think that a volume of zero on a scale from 0 to 100 would mean "mute" in any case, but I tested it in Audacity and it checks out.

Thanks for all of your insight.

 

lumberbunny,

The thread was closed about that 10 year old MMO that you played but I wanted to ask if it was named Legends of Kesmai?

It was on AOL and Gamestorm around that time, and it had many of the same qualities that you spoke of.

http://www.legendsofkesmai.com/

Hope that helps.

 

old thread is old...zombies FTL