Audio Line-In Input: Not Reading Sound
So here's my problem:
I tried recording some stuff I was doing in my DAW using Quicktime's Audio Recording option. My understanding is that I simply start a new recording, choose my input device, and start recording (by which I chose "Built-In Input: Line In"). I chose that option thinking, "Oh hey, I obviously want the highest quality sound for a recording so my friends can hear what I'm doing...why not have them hear what I'm hearing in my headphones?" Turns out, after I listened back to the recording....NO SOUND. I triple checked but the audio clip had no sound...just silence. Then, I went to system preferences, checked to make sure the correct Audio Input was selected...yes: "Line In: Audio Line-in port," NOT "internal microphone." Ok...so what now?
Then I went into the AUDIO MIDI SETUP in Utilities to make sure everything was okay there. Everything's fine...except the master volume on my Built-in Input is set to "0." The left and right faders are at a moderate level but the master is simply 0 (and it won't let me adjust it...it's just grayed out). The weird thing is, when I go back to system preferences, I have the Built-In Input level turned up. Why are these two levels different if they're the same input? Is this why I'm getting no sound when trying to record things like: music coming from my DAW, or simple audio tracks on my mac, or other recordings? I should emphasize: I AM hearing sound through my output, BUT I am NOT able to record that sound with a recording device. I've tried multiple things: Line In application, Audacity, restarting comp, changing to audo interface, checking DAW settings, etc. Why is my Line-In Input getting no signal? Thanks guys!
My specs:
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)