Audacity stops recording after few seconds

[svobodam]

If I'm recording sound via microphone in audacity, it works in the beginning normally but after 4 seconds (time is always the same) It stops without any reason. No error message occurs, nothing. I started with audacity today and I like it, but this is bit stupid for me...
Any idea?

thanks

[stevethefiddle]

You should be using Audacity 1.3.x (preferably 1.3.9 or later).
It is most likely a set-up problem - try different recording input/device options.
You have given no information about your operating system or your sound system (Ubuntu 9.04 with standard ALSA and PulseAudio installed)

[Argh]

Well, mine stopped after about 1/2 second. Reading around, I found that changing my default sampling rate to 48,000 and unchecking playthrough makes it work. At least it shows that it's recording.

Now playback won't work. You press play and the cursor just sits there flickering.

[stevethefiddle]

If you give enough information you may get a useful reply.

[Argh]

If you give enough information you may get a useful reply.

Thanks, Steve. I gave up after trying about a two-dozen suggestions from this list:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&clie ... f&oq=&aqi=

I think it's an ubuntu problem. I've had Audacity issues with it since they moved to the ALSA sound system. As a fix, I just made the recording it with my XP machine and Audacity. I hated having to go back to XP, but I really needed to get it done.

Again, thanks for asking for more info. I just don't have time to do any troubleshooting this week.

[stevethefiddle]

As a fix, I just made the recording it with my XP machine and Audacity. I hated having to go back to XP, but I really needed to get it done.

I know what you mean.
For recording, Microsoft did well with XP - very usable.
Ubuntu can be something of a pain to get going, but works very well in the end.

When you've more time for some trouble shooting, drop by again and I'm sure we'll get you up and running.

[woddfellow2]

I have the same problem with Audacity 1.3.9 in Xubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala. I do not have PulseAudio installed. How do I fix it?

[stevethefiddle]

Do you have ALSA installed and working?
If so, in "Edit menu > Preferences > Devices" set "Host"=ALSA and the devices to either "default" or "hw:0,0"

By the way, this part of the forum is for Audacity 1.2.x, not 1.3.x

[woddfellow2]

Host is set to ALSA.

Devices are set to "Default" and "Default".

[Zenith88]

This is most certainly not Ubuntu thing. I just switched from Fedora12 to Ubuntu Studio 9.10 and had exact same issue under both: Audacity will only record 0.4-0.6 seconds from the mic attached to Audigy2 card. I too tried the methods from the linked page above and nothing seemed to work.

My system is i854E chipset mobo (MSI 845E Max-L) with P4-3.06 (HT on and off), GF6800, Audigy2 (onboard sound turned off in BIOS).

Under Fedora12 I ran its stock 2.6.30-5 kernel and my custom 2.6.32-rc8 kernel. Same problem under both of them and under Ubuntu Studio 9.10 with stock kernel. One thing: I am also using Skype, and to get it working with mic I had to remove Pulse audio completely. With or w/o PA Audacity captured exactly same amount of time, which is understandable.

Another issue I noticed last night while playing with Audacity under Ubuntu was that if I recorded in 96kbit and played back voice sounded like chipmunk, i.e. it was time compressed.

If you require more information please let me know commands and config file names and I will be happy to provide. Also, I can arrange to ship Audigy2 to your lab so that you could debug with a real card at hand.