Yeah, if its in the Red zone on playback then it was in the red on recording. When you are recording, try using the volume settings to bring the dB down to a level where they are not banging against the far end of the meters, you can monitor the sound through headphones or speakers so that it is to your desired liking before you go ripping in with all guns firing at full tilt and every adjustment control of the editing program wound up to number 11! Audacity and Cool Edit Pro come with a very detailed User Guide built into the User Interface.
Hit the Help tab and read up. As you don't seem to be a Natural Born Maesto at the Mixing desk, you need some training experience. Read up and learn your tools capabilities.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.