Hello,
Recently, I encountered the common “Error: Cannot Open Playback Device”, or “Cannot Open Recording Device”. My main use for Audacity is to record Desktop audio, not my microphone. This is actually a problem I encountered years ago, but was unable to find a fix for it, and I still cannot find a fix for it. What happens is that, after I get a very specific set-up, I can record audio just fine, but I cannot play it back. The Recording and Playback Setup is this:
Host: Windows WASAPI
Recording: Speakers/Headphones (Realtek(R) Audio)
Playback: Speakers/Headphones (Realtek(R) Audio) (loopback)
Stereo or Mono works.
If I use any other combination of Host, Recording, and Playback, one of the three will happen:
A. No sound is recorded at all, and the little red triangle that records things doesn’t move.
B. Sound is recorded, but very quietly and as if it was recording through a microphone, where you need to raise the volume of your computer to raise the volume of the recording. I am confident that Bluetooth was turned off and no microphones or webcams were connected with wires.
C. Sound is recorded at the proper volume! But you cannot play it.
The thing is, Audacity worked just fine for me many years prior, so I did some experimenting, and I found that every version up until 2.3.3 works completely fine! If you use 2.4.1 or later, that is when the issue will happen. However, on another device of mine, a laptop, every version works. My Computer Tower, which is connected to speakers, doesn’t.
Maybe there is a combination I’m missing, or it’s something in the code that was added in 2.4.1 or later. I wouldn’t mind sticking to 2.3.3, but the issue is I feel that I would still be missing out on new updates and features.
This is the gear I am using:
My Computer Tower (the one which Audacity doesn’t work for when using 2.4.1+)
Dell - Inspiron Desktop - Intel Core i7 - 12GB Memory - 256GB Solid State Drive
YAMAHA Powered Speakers YST-M15
LG 32" FHD IPS Monitor with FreeSync™
My Laptop (the one that works with every version)
Lenovo - IdeaPad 3 15" HD Touch Screen Laptop - Intel Core i3-1115G4 - Intel UHD Graphics - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Almond
I am currently using the speakers connected to the monitor instead of the computer, because when it was connected to the computer, turning up the volume with play a B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BRM sound.