Audacity Forum

We just have to guess since we don't have the original file... However the sufficient improvement in quality of the heavily distorted files stood in contrast to the decline in quality of the good quality mp3s. Sorry, what? Converting with VLC also resulted in distorted files, unless exported as raw....

I really don't know if it's better to run noise reduction before EQ or the other way around. Maybe someone else has some advice... The thing you don't want to do before noise reduction is to make different changes to different parts of the recording, and you shouldn't apply compression which tends t...

16-bits is fine, and you can keep the same sample rate (kHz) as the MP3. The sample rate is shown in the lower-left of the Audacity window, and it will match the 1st file you open. (So you don't have to do anything with the sample rate.) Also, will I lose anything if I mono the audio? Is it stereo n...

Make sure to select the USB mic as your Recording Device. ...You might have selected an option that includes other sounds and/or you may have created an internal feedback loop.

MP3 is lossy compression but the "loss" happens during compression when data is thrown-away to make the file smaller. No further damage happens when you decompress. The file is automatically decompressed when you play it and of course it's decompressed if you convert it to WAV. Then, it's just like...

Uncompressed "CD quality" files (16-bit, 44.1kHz, 2-channel stereo) requires about 10MB per minute. Audacity projects (and Audacity's temporary storage) use 32-bit floating-point, so double that. Plus add the space required for your exported file. ...If you know there are 8 bits in a byte it's easy...

MP3 is lossy compression but the higher quality settings can often sound identical to the original. What settings did you use? Particularly the "Quality" or "Bit Rate" setting? Did you do any "processing", like using the Graphic Equalizer? ...If you boost the level above 0dB (peak) you can get clipp...

Check the analog outputs. It might be an analog problem.

How bad is it? Is it a background noise or loud and closer to the loudness on the tape?

Do you hear it when you stop/pause the tape? Have you tried a different tape?

either a Motu or Focusrite usb interface If you already have an interface with an S/PDIF input I'd certainly try it! I've never had a DAT machine but a lot of people seem to have trouble with digital transfers so you'd be taking a risk if you buy one. Or, most of these interfaces have switchable mi...

I can explain why it's happening, but I can't explain why it didn't happen the day before... MAYBE it's a Windows mono/stereo setting or some other Windows setting... You have a 2-channel (stereo) interface - If you record in stereo with a microphone on the left and a guitar on the right, both chann...