Can hear other person in recorded audio when recording Skype call

Hey guys,

I record a podcast with my friend via Skype. We both use Audacity for recording our separate tracks and mix them together afterwards.
The problem I have is when I record my audio track it seems like my friend’s sound is being recorded into it too with very low volume and I can’t figure out why it happens. It is a problem because when we mix both tracks together we can hear echo of his voice because of this “shadow” recording of his voice in my track.

We use Skype (I have 8.59.0.77), I’m on macOS 10.15.4, Audacity 2.3.3.
I use Blue Yeti microphone (USB microphone) and listen to sound using headphones connected to the Mac directly (not to the microphone).
When I’m recording I select “Yeti Stereo Microphone” as record device in Audacity.
My “Preferences” → “Recording” → “Software playthrough of input” is checked off.

The problem was there with prior versions of both macOS and Audacity.
I did research of the problem and, sadly, still can’t fix it myself :frowning:
Please advice!

Perhaps the mic is picking up a bit of sound from your headphones.
Fully enclosed headphones usually have less “spillover” than ear buds or open back headphones.

You could try reducing the sound level in your headphones (while recording) and see if that gives any improvement.

What he said.

Both sides should be wearing wired, sealed-on-the-head headphones. You are listening to Skype noise cancellation and echo processing errors.

https://www.kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/DavidGreene_RE-20-650w.jpg

There’s other ways to lose this, but that’s the main one.

Koz

Are you recording from the Yeti? I don’t know what the Yeti “looks like” in the Audacity selector window, but it might be something like “USB Sound Device.” It doesn’t have to say “Yeti.”

This Shure microphone preamp actually has a USB name. Many don’t.

Screen Shot 2020-05-13 at 10.11.23.png
One way to check is disconnect it and Audacity > Transport > Scan Devices and watch for it to vanish—see if it’s still in the list.

Connect it and scan it again to put it back.

Koz

Here’s a note. It might be called USB Advanced Audio Device.

Koz