Audacity Forum

USB is not the most reliable interface where continuous data exchange is required. Check that the USB cable is secure in the sockets at both ends. Avoid stressing the CPU during the recording. Set power management to keep the machine awake during the recording session. If the problem still happens, ...

Gale Andrews wrote:Perhaps a little dropdown arrow in the Timeline where you chose which track provided the reference time of day for the Timeline?

and if you pause during the recording, the numbers on the timeline show a sudden increase at the point where the pause occurred?

Is it possible to show the timeline as the 'actual time of the day', ie have the start of the session show (for example) "12:11:40" rather that having it start as "0"?? (using version 2.1.2 on Windows 7) What would the Timeline show if you record a track, and then record another...

I think you're asking for "scrubbing": http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/scru ... eking.html

As I said, there's nothing in Audacity that can do what you describe, so I'd guess that it is something to do with your playback system. How are you listening to it? What sound card do you have?

Is Skype running in the background? (or other voip app)

Does the effect happen if you close and restart Audacity, then create a project with a constant generated tone (Generate menu > Tone) rather than recorded audio?

Don't use MP3.
A limitation of the MP3 format is that there is always a bit of "padding" at the start.
If you must use a compressed format, try OGG, otherwise use (uncompressed) WAV format.

Does "USB" feature in this problem?

When i click play it should start sharp at full volume but for some reason the sound fades in I agree, playback should start immediately rather than fading in, but it's not Audacity making it fade in. Audacity can't do that unless you specifically tell it to (by applying the "Fade In" eff...