Dell Computer Generates Recording Hiss

What is the name of the filter in Audacity and/or is it located in effects?



Mosquito-Killer4.ny (363 Bytes)

Or you can get it from the site/archives.

This sound error (formerly known as “Yeti Curse”) produces tones in multiples of the USB data rate. The tool selects how many mosquitoes (harmonics) to filter out. 8 is usually enough. If you need more than that, forget the filter, change the computer.

There is a caution. The tool is sucking out musical tones right down the middle of the desirable voice frequency range, so it’s not “free.” It is creating some sound damage, but version 4 of the plugin is pretty good about not creating additional problems.


The Blue Yeti, an insanely popular microphone, got tarred with that label because it doesn’t have any battery processing. It uses the raw USB voltage to run the electronics and sensor. So every sloppy computer on the planet suddenly appeared with what looked like “Yeti” problems.

Wrong place and time.


tones in multiples of the USB data rate.

The standard data rate. If you’re USB doesn’t use the standard protocols, this isn’t going to work. Jury’s out on USB-C.

Koz