# Distorted Playback of Audacity Recording

**URL:** <https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/distorted-playback-of-audacity-recording/154775>\
**Category:** Audacity 3 Help Forum\
**Created:** [November 1, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/distorted-playback-of-audacity-recording/154775 "2026-11-01T15:11:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SMcClintock](https://forum.audacityteam.org/user_avatar/forum.audacityteam.org/smcclintock/32/33240_2.png) [@SMcClintock](https://forum.audacityteam.org/u/SMcClintock)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 3:11pm UTC](https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/distorted-playback-of-audacity-recording/154775/1 "2026-11-01T15:11:46Z")

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Hello!

I recorded material yesterday, very routine. The acoustics were clear.

When I played it back, it is heavily distorted.

Nothing has changed on the settings.

I noticed the levels were pinned on the playback. That’s unusual. I don’t overdrive the inputs. I expect it is the distortion.

I’m using Firefox, and it wants an restart. The source was through FF.

A) Can it be cleaned up, and how?

B) Can I prevent this from happening again?

I have a sample, will upload.

Win 10; Aud 2.2.1.

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**Author:** ![SMcClintock](https://forum.audacityteam.org/user_avatar/forum.audacityteam.org/smcclintock/32/33240_2.png) [@SMcClintock](https://forum.audacityteam.org/u/SMcClintock)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/distorted-playback-of-audacity-recording/154775/2 "2026-11-01T15:12:58Z")

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[/uploads/default/original/3X/b/2/b237638e2511ae998bce6d402ceaf476775f4346.wav](https://forum.audacityteam.org/uploads/default/original/3X/b/2/b237638e2511ae998bce6d402ceaf476775f4346.wav)

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**Author:** ![billw58](https://forum.audacityteam.org/user_avatar/forum.audacityteam.org/billw58/32/32255_2.png) [@billw58](https://forum.audacityteam.org/u/billw58)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 3:47pm UTC](https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/distorted-playback-of-audacity-recording/154775/3 "2026-11-01T15:47:20Z")

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Is the waveform clipped? Did you accidentally turn up the volume slider in the Track Control Panel?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SMcClintock](https://forum.audacityteam.org/user_avatar/forum.audacityteam.org/smcclintock/32/33240_2.png) [@SMcClintock](https://forum.audacityteam.org/u/SMcClintock)\
**Post date:** [November 1, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/distorted-playback-of-audacity-recording/154775/4 "2026-11-01T15:51:34Z")

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Hi Bill.

No.

I also refreshed FF and tested a new recording, same source. Clear as a bell.