worked until now, whats changed.

Windows 10- audacity 2.1.3- .exe install.
I’ve used audacity for a few years now with very few problems, but when I opened it today the recordings all sound like Darth Vader. I installed one app recently [ gimp, a photo app ] which I have removed, but audacity is still bad. I have uninstalled audacity and reinstalled to no effect, and I have tried restarting my laptop. Any suggestions would be welcomed

This looks relevant … Mono recording = Darth Vadar - #9 by Chekov

Thanks for that but, after trying all the suggestions, nothing has changed. Apparently the mike is working correctly [ according to windows ]

I have tried restarting my laptop.

How?

Shift-Shutdown, wait a bit and Start. Regular restart doesn’t shut down and reset all services and settings.

Apparently the mike is working correctly [ according to windows ]

Windows will say the mic is OK as long as it can reach it and maybe transfer data. That’s what you have now. Did you make a recording in the Windows Recorder?

This has been a sticky problem with no obvious solution. Post back if you get it to work.

Koz

Do you have and/or use Skype?

Koz

Hi, thanks for the interest. I only did a " restart" so I will try a full shutdown and wait a bit. I do have Skype installed but haven’t used it for months. I have had a little success by changing from mono [ my preference ] to stereo, but it’s been set on mono for over a year without any adverse results [ the problem only started 3 days ago].

Hi again Koz, just tried the full shutdown but with no improvement. The mike test was with Windows sound recorder and it worked ok with that so I’m assuming the mike is ok. The improvement on stereo is markedly better but still has some distortion. It’s driving me up the wall not knowing whats changed.

The mike test was with Windows sound recorder and it worked ok with that so I’m assuming the mike is ok.

That’s good troubleshooting. Divide the system in half or change portions of the system and write down what happens.

You can mess with Audacity by adding plugins or other software that Audacity doesn’t like.

The desperation method is reinstall Audacity and tick the box that says Reset all Preferences and Settings. You can get a fresh Audacity 2.1.3 from here.

It will be interesting to see if that helps—or changes. Either is valuable.

Koz

I opened it today the recordings all sound like Darth Vader.

Are they the right duration? If you record one minute, are they still one minute and just have sound distortion. Or did they also get longer in time?

The error is upside down from the defect. If your show got longer/lower pitched, then Audacity was recording too fast or a higher sample rate.

You create “Slow Motion” in film by running the movie camera too fast.

Koz

Yes they are all of the same duration. They distort as I said,is like Darth Vader. Stereo has made some difference but the distortion is still audible.

This is where I slowly back away. I’m not a Windows elf.

Whoever writes back is going to ask you the same things:

when I opened it today the recordings all sound like Darth Vader.

All your old recordings and music? Are you getting this error when you fresh record your voice with a microphone? Which microphone? How is it connected if it’s not obvious?

What are you recording—in detail.

If you have non-obvious problems, we have to build your environment in our heads so you need to tell us enough to do that.

Koz

I think I missed the obvious one. Is Windows applying voice conferencing corrections and echo cancellation? Might this have happened since the last Windows Update?

http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/faq_recording_troubleshooting.html#enhancements

Koz