Long time searching. Between my laptop, windows 10, Audacity, my M-Audio FastTrack interface, and cheap headphone with 1/8 to 1/4 converter, I was getting intermittent, short and painfully loud bursts of static at the beginning of recording and playbacks. Though it worked after burst. With the age of all of the components I was losing hope for a solution.
Today I asked Chat GPT. It took two tries to clarify my query and generate the answer that I needed. (Mismatch in Buffer Size settings.) Magic.
Query:
What causes burst of static on headphones at start of listening to audacity playback to fastrack?
Answer:
The burst of static on headphones at the start of listening to Audacity playback through a Fastrack could be caused by a few different factors. Here are a few things to consider:
-
Buffer underruns: If the buffer size in your audio interface (in this case, the Fastrack) is set too low, it may not be able to keep up with the audio data being sent from Audacity, resulting in a burst of static at the beginning of playback. Try increasing the buffer size in the Fastrack’s settings to see if that helps.
-
Latency: If the latency (the delay between when the audio is played and when it’s heard through the headphones) is too high, it may result in a burst of static at the beginning of playback. Try adjusting the latency settings in Audacity or in the Fastrack’s settings.
-
Audio driver issues: If the audio drivers for the Fastrack or the computer are outdated or corrupted, it may cause static at the beginning of playback. Make sure you have the latest drivers installed and try reinstalling them if necessary.
-
Audio cable issues: If the audio cables connecting the Fastrack to the headphones are damaged or not properly connected, it may cause static at the beginning of playback. Make sure the cables are in good condition and properly plugged in.
-
Interference: Other electronic devices in the vicinity may cause interference with the audio equipment, resulting in static at the beginning of playback. Try moving the Fastrack and headphones away from other electronic devices to see if that helps reduce the static.