I am using Windows 7, Audacity 2.0.5 downloaded with .exe installer. To record a phone interview, I make the call on iPhone 5C using Sony ECM-TL3 Condenser Microphone plugged into microphone jack on laptop and earpiece in ear with iPhone speaker against same ear. I have successfully recorded and played several interviews with Audacity settings: MME, Output: Speakers and Headphones IDI hi, Input: External Mic (IDT High Def), 1. (Mono) Input Channel. Today, however, in playback, I can hear my (the caller) voice loud and clear, but barely hear the person I called. I have two questions:
- Can I edit the file to amplify the voice of the person I interviewed?
- What am I doing wrong to get a file like this when the setup has worked before?
- Can I edit the file to amplify the voice of the person I interviewed?
Yes, but not the way you would like. Using the magnifier tool, go into each word or phrase and boost it with any of the amplification tools available. If at any time you’re both talking at the same time, you’re dead. That’s why one of the valuable interviewing techniques everybody learns is to shut up. If the far voice is buried in the noise, then you have no show.
- What am I doing wrong to get a file like this when the setup has worked before?
I do it that way with the Olympus version of the same microphone.
The forum elves latch onto seemingly insignificant words. It worked before once? Or it’s worked every day for the last three weeks and suddenly this one time failed?
I have had troubles with mine when the signal is weak and the cellphone has to run at full power. The radio energy can get into the microphone system, but I’ve never had it mute the far voice.
Casting about for possible causes, do you still have your Windows machine set for Enhanced Services?
http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_recording_troubleshooting.html#enhancements
You should probably turn that off and then try test interviews again before going for the gold.
Koz
Hi, I have been successfully using Audacity for several months using settings (1) MME, Output: Speakers and Headphones IDI hi, Input: External Mic (IDT High Def), 1. (Mono) Input Channel; and also with (2) Windows Direct sound, Primary Sound Driver, Primary Sound Capture, and 1 (Mono) Recording. I am using Windows 7, Audacity 2.0.5 downloaded with .exe installer. To record a phone interview, I make the call on iPhone 5C using Sony ECM-TL3 Condenser Microphone plugged into microphone jack on laptop and earpiece in ear with iPhone speaker against same ear. Yesterday (11/13/14), however, my voice while sitting in front of the computer would record, but the Microphone did not pick up the caller’s sound. I went through Audacity’s tutorials. One took me to Control Panel Sounds, then Recording, and I can see that the Internal Mic is set as the default (I didn’t change it). The external mic icon says that “External Mic IDT High Definition Audio CODEC not available.” So I searched the Internet for this CODEC and can only find it for Windows Vista or Windows 8, NOT for Windows 7.
I don’t know what has changed. Two days ago (11/12/14) the Windows Direct sound, Primary Sound Driver, Primary Sound Capture, and 1 (Mono) Recording settings worked with my microphone plugged into the microphone jack. I checked that the jack is firmly plugged in, and even changed the earpiece that goes in my ear, but it still would not record the caller just one day after it was working fine. Is it possible that the computer’s external mic CODEC expired overnight? Do you know why I can’t download a driver for the External Mic for Windows 7? Do I need to upgrade to Windows 8 because Windows 7 suddenly won’t support an external mic anymore? Since I found under Sounds Recording that the Internal Mic is set as default, is it possible that I have been able to successfully record phone interviews and that my Sony ECM-TL3 Condenser Microphone has stopped working? (I did order a new, similar cell phone recording mic just in case, but I’m worried that for Audacity to work with this mic the setting must be External Mic.) I do telephone diagnostic interviews that must be recorded for a living. I have another interview that must be recorded scheduled for 11/16/14. I’ll appreciate all the help you can give me.
The External Mic must be available and not showing errors. It does not have to be default Windows recording device but you must select it in Audacity’s Device Toolbar.
The internal mic became Windows default recording device because the external mic is not working. The mic could have failed. You won’t know until you get the new mic.
If you want to make sure the drivers are OK, I suggest opening Windows Device Manager and uninstalling the IDT sound device. Do not reboot. Go to the web site of your computer manufacturer and download the latest Windows 7 audio drivers for your exact computer model. If you are on 64-bit Windows 7, get the 64-bit drivers. Install the drivers then reboot.
Gale
