Version: 2.0.3 (Zip version)
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
Hey guys, i have this problem with Audacity. I recorded it and uploaded it to YouTube. Can you please help me fix it? The audio is not just terrible, it’s extremely slow too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZCBoZ4qeOI
Thanks,
Atif
You need to fill in the holes. How did you shoot it? What’s it supposed to be? If it’s far enough off, we can’t tell what the original show was. Are you trying to record a training video? Koz
Well, it’s just a tiny audio clip of me playing guitar. I just shot it with my camera to show you guys the problem.
Anybody???
OK, so how did you record it? What equipment? What settings? Model numbers can be useful.
That’s not the point, i just shoved that old audio clip in Audacity to show you guys what was happening. It worked fine before. That really distorted sound and slow playback is what i’m getting now when i’m trying to record and edit other stuff.
The first part of troubleshooting problems is to gather as much information as possible about the problem.
So far, all we know is that the audio is terrible and playback is extremely slow.
Sadly that is not enough information to work out the cause of the problem or the solution.
Okay well… My main set up is my ESP LTD EC-100QM → Boss ME-20-> Electro-Harmonix Metal Muff → Vox VT30. If i’m recording something, that’s the stuff i use.
If you’ve not tried already, try rebooting your computer - shut down, switch it off completely then restart it (it’s surprising how often that fixes things).
Assuming that rebooting does not fix it:
If you open Audacity and from the Help menu select “Audio device info”. Wait a few moments for the info to appear, then copy and paste the information into your reply. That’ll tell us a bit about your soundcard.
Also, if you could say what setting you have selected in the device toolbar.
And check in the Transport menu that “Software Playthrough” is off (not selected).
Yeah, i’ve tried rebooting and have turned Software Plathrough off. I cannot remember exactly what settings i had since i played about with them when the problem started to try and fix it myself. Here’s the audio device info:
==============================
Default capture device number: 1
Default playback device number: 4
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Microphone (2- Microsoft LifeCa
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: Microphone (Realtek High Defini
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Output
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: Speakers (Realtek High Definiti
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: Primary Sound Capture Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: Microphone (2- Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000.)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 8
Device name: Primary Sound Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
==============================
Device ID: 9
Device name: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
==============================
Device ID: 10
Device name: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.003000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.010000
Supported Rates:
48000
==============================
Device ID: 11
Device name: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 12
Device name: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010159
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 13
Device name: Microphone (2- Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000.)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Selected capture device: 2 - Microphone (Realtek High Defini
Selected playback device: 4 - Speakers (Realtek High Definiti
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available capture sources:
0 - Master
==============================
Available playback volumes:
0 - PCM
==============================
Capture volume is native
Playback volume is native
I doubt that it will make any difference, but it needs to be ruled out. Please disconnect your web cam and reboot again, then see if you can get Audacity to play back correctly. Also, ensure that you don’t have Skype or other conferencing type software running - not even running in the background.
Ahh that still doesn’t work 
. This is very frustrating!!
How do you normally play audio files?
If, for example, you play an audio file in Windows Media Player, where does the sound come out (and does it sound normal)?
Both my laptop speakers and sometimes my other desktop speakers if they’re plugged in. Sounds perfectly fine!
Try setting the playback option in the device toolbar to “Microsoft Sound Mapper” and see if that works.
That doesn’t work either? Maybe it’s something to do with the recording part rather than the playback?
Are you trying to record when this problem occurs? I thought you were just trying to play an imported file. Please enlighten me.
Actually, it maybe be both then. I don’t know. Even when i add a click track, each beat is distorted and is still extremely slow. I.e, it takes forever for it to get to the first beat even when the tempo is at like a crazy 200 bpm
Any ideas?
My guess is that there is a problem with your sound card drivers. It’s a pain if that is the problem, so let’s try something else first.
Reinstall Audacity 2.0.5, and watch for the option to “Reset Preferences”. Select that option when it appears, and complete the installation. When you start Audacity it will ask you to confirm that you want to reset preferences. Confirm that you want to reset preferences.
When you have done that, without changing any settings from the defaults, generate a click track and try playing it. Still the same?