----- Original Message -----
From: Juhana Sadeharju <ko...@ni...>
Subject: Re: [Audacity-devel] New features available
> When I connect a gear to input, I calibrate the level once
> and permanently. After calibration it does not help to raise
> the input level for a weak signal, because the problem is in
> the weak signal. One just raises the noise level up.
Some people have microphones with fixed pre-amps in them.
In fact many computers are supplied with cheap microphones
with no pre-amp in them at all - and no shielding on the input
cable either. Many of our users are just starting out on using
sound and do not have professional sound systems. As you
say they will get noise, but they need to set the input gain
high to even hear/see their signal!
People with an adjustable pre-amp will want to use that and set
the input gain quite low on the scale to minimise input line
noise. So they need our mixer-input setting too, even if they
don't touch it once they have the levels right.
Tony: Is there currently anything in the manual about setting up
your sound system? I'm sure there are all kinds of tips that
would be generally useful that should make it to the manual.
> Likewise I calibrate the output once for the output gear (amplifier,
> say). If I need to raise the volume, I use a digital gain at the
> output signal and the amplifier volume knob.
I use headphones directly off the sound card, so this
wouldn't work for me. I need an output volume control.
> What we need are the hardware mute buttons only, and a digital
> gain at the input and at the output.
I am not understanding you. The Output Volume and Input Volume
controls *are* digital gains. That's what they actually do.
Perhaps there should be a preferences setting which changes the
displayed units to be in decibels and changes the word 'Volume'
to 'Gain'?
Is that what you are saying? Is that the change you want?
> Summary: take the hardware input/output level faders out, and
> replace them with the software digital gains.
Are you saying you want a numerical input for greater precision in
setting?
I need to understand whether we are talking about a big
difference in functionality or a small difference in how the existing
functionality is presented. At the moment it sounds to me as if
it's only the presentation that is an issue.
Are you saying we need (option of) much larger gains than currently,
with some over-driving protection, which we can easily apply
temporarily to very quiet sections of a track to make fine adjustments?
That sounds like a big feature, one more for professional users than
newbies. I don't think good over-driving protection is easy. We'd
need to review what other sytems do and discuss, e.g. how it fits
in with amplitude envelopes that can amplify as well as attenuate.
If it happens a new feature like that would be post 1.2.0.
--James.
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