Using a Logitech Blue Yeti, the volume levels have been doing this for months since I got it and been in contact with their tech support.
The system volume level keeps getting bumped down, even a minute after setting it. I see the volume level also indicated in Audacity toolbar.
I’ve upped the hardware gain and try to keep checking the Windows system setting, but it keeps going low again.
Sidenote
Also considering some new headphones, but might post on a headphone forum. Currently the RHA MA750 is discontinued. Lots of stuff going wireless nowadays.
Gotta consider plans for building a studio also. Maybe setting the laptop outside the booth and use external peripherals (because of the fan noise). Still practicing methods to reduce mouth noise, and good posture, etc, and got Izotope RX now.
Check Windows “Enhancements”. Sometimes there is automatic volume control or noise-gating, etc.
Not so much for “studio use” and you might get more latency (delay). I believe the Yeti has a headphone jack for zero-latency direct-hardware monitoring (where you aren’t monitoring through the computer). That avoids lots of headaches.
Noise is usually the toughest issue for home recording.
Some people do that but of course then it’s better if you have an “engineer” to operate the computer.
Another option is a fanless computer (with a solid state drive).
I agree. Stay away from that for studio use. That’s OK for bicycling or running on the beach. This isn’t fluffy entertainment. You’re using this for Quality Control Analysis.
If you have recording sound changing volume by itself, it can be Window settings, or Skype, or Zoom, or other chat settings running in the background. Make sure all that stuff is closed and not sleeping.
Also if you’re really lucky, you may be sharing your computer with someone on the internet. Disconnect from the internet and/or do that virus check that takes all night.
Chat and telephone applications take over the microphone and you have nothing to say about it.
Record your voice on a separate machine. I use a Zoom (extra confusion, please) H1n Stand-alone recorder for good quality voice work.
I can go for 10 minutes on why that is an idea microphone stand. Others are using H2, H2n, and H4 machines. All work well because recording good quality sound is their job. They also have the advantage that they give you perfect quality backup recordings on their memory chips.
It should say Sound Recorder, not Voice Recorder. Voice Recorder can stick you with built-in processing and filtering you can’t turn off. ACX Audiobooks hate that.
You still have to record in a quiet room with no echoes.
Ok I got a Tascam DR07 but I might have to get an adapter to put it on the boom arm. And using headphones in that makes a lot of cable fumbling noise while recording.
So I’m not quite sure how to record on a portable while also speaking close enough to the computer mic. Maybe two boom arms, but use headphones in the USB mic.
I officially can’t picture your job. ACX insists that your book be available for me to buy on Amazon before you submit your sound files. Also, it’s only relatively recently that they allowed production theater in place of just plain reading your book out loud into a microphone.
Are you two or more people reading a book in tandem? Each performer records their own character into their own microphone with the coordination going over Zoom (the service, not the microphone). That might work.
I can think of some amazing headache-inducing problems with doing that.
In general, proper microphone spacing is about a Hawaiian Shaka (hang loose).
Much closer than that and you start popping your P’s and recording mouth noises. Much further away and your voice becomes quiet and noisy for no good reason. If you push the microphones opposite your cheeks instead of right in front, you might be able to use both—but you would have to be careful not to move around too much.
That would be oblique positioning (B).
I still don’t see you recording an audiobook and hosting a Zoom session at the same time.
Also does anyone have advice for making Audacity not revert to another generic input device? I not only have to keep resetting the Windows setting, but also Audacity settings.
And in online voice call, it seems to override control regardless what input or output device I choose for the browser audio. I tried installing EarTrumpet but seems to be for output volumes only.
I wonder if getting an XLR mic with a USB interface or getting a Mac might fix anything. Or a registry tweak for the audio drivers.
I adjusted the volume bar on Audacity. Is that directly tied to the Windows volume? It seems so. So at least maybe I don’t have to open Windows settings to adjust it.
I wonder exactly what is changing the volume. Sure, probably something in the online call overriding audio controls. But is that, itself directly changing it, or using some Windows function…
Perhaps I could make a request to change which calling platform I use for the call. I can try another Blue Yeti but I’m guessing it will be the same. Software and firmware compatibility between multiple brands can be a bit tricky or unintuitive.
Another thing not quite related, but another audio problem
In Audacity or other editing software, when I click play, there is half a second of buffered audio from whatever system sound or other playback I had just listened to, right before the audio plays now.
And the other audio editing software is lagging the cursor from the actual time being played, so I have to contact support for that.
But I’m wondering if this has anything to do with installing an EQ or a DAW.
Firmware and drivers isn’t fun is it when this happens
Ok it might be the standalone EQ software. I just wanted to tone down some levels while editing.
Yep probably the EQ
Noticing a line across Spectral view, like the recording is ok but there’s some frequency that it’s light on, missing a bit
Ok the volume is extremely low again recording
I just added a bluetooth device, but I’m not sure that affects this
I checked Audacity is set to the correct microphone. Sometimes seems to get changed if I unplug it or something.
I checked the volume settings.
I upped the hardware gain.
Recording is not going up at all. Usually it’s that setting. Should I open the other Blue Yeti here or keep it sealed?
Seems to be recording from laptop audio, but that isn’t selected
The audio is poor quality
I can reboot, maybe restore a backup or reinstall OS, but this is gonna keep happening or what
This isn’t smooth sailing
Rebooted
It’s working again with the Blue Yeti
Wish there was a way to work between Audacity and Izotope RX editor, like to crossfade and record and import it easier
Since I can’t crossfade any easy way I can find in Izotope, to smooth the ambience transition another recording
But it works to export and import I guess
and I guess I could use a DAW or do a second pass for crossfades in Audacity after
Compression is also good. I haven’t fiddled with tweaking it much.
got a bottle of dry mouth rinse, but it’s mostly glycerin
heard mixed reviews about green apples
If I get a more insulated setup, there won’t be as much natural ambience
I can just add some white noise and bird chirping mixed back in (I’m joking…or am I)
Guess that’s all for now
Thanks
As I said up the thread, Zoom got to be the hero communications program by working no matter what. They do that by taking control of the sound system away from you, the inexperienced user. Some people rolled up their sleeves and ripped control back away from Zoom only to discover that the person on the far side had trouble hearing the host now. Everything is hooked to everything else.
I’m getting a headache thinking about all the sound pathways you need to do this job.
I did something similar on Skype.
The computer on the right is doing Skype. Full Stop. Skype has no idea about the rest of that bench.
The computer on the left is recording the voice mix and playing back music. Warning, this is an engineering test and is completely scrambled.
Denise is four time zones away. She sounds like she’s sitting on the sofa behind me.
If I did this again, I would probably record the two voices Left and Right and mix everything later.
That mixer has Mix-Minus. Denise is listening to the whole world minus her own voice.
