Error Code - 9986

Audacity 3 Help Forum macOS
1

Hi,

In the past my devices have worked fine for recording.

I am trying to connect the Rane SL2 audio interface to my Macbook 10.11.6 to use Audacity, the newest version.

The device is being recognised but when going to record the error code - 9986 Internal PortAudio Error pops up.

I suppose this is an issue with the SL2 interface but I am not sure what, it does not say it need firmware updated in its application.

Error Information -
{
“timestamp”: 1668299310,
“event_id”: “b20b7215b52e44c8bb54fe7c7acee37b”,
“platform”: “native”,
“release”: “audacity@3.2.1”,
“contexts”: {
“os”: {
“type”: “os”,
“name”: “Macintosh”,
“version”: “10.11.6”
}
},
“exception”: {
“values”: [
{
“type”: “Error”,
“value”: “Error opening recording device.\nError code: -9986 Internal PortAudio error.”,
“mechanism”: {
“type”: “runtime_error”,
“handled”: false
}
}
]
}
}

Please help!

From - desperate DJ :slight_smile:

2

What conditions did it all work last? Older Mac OS? Older Audacity? Can you go back to both of those?

desperate DJ

If your world depends on all this kit working, you might be more careful about changes. It’s possible to “upgrade” yourself right out of a job.

Koz

3

I know of a legacy problem where Audacity wouldn’t connect to an interface if the MONO/STEREO didn’t match. Also you can run into troubles if the sampling rates don’t match. 44100, 48000, etc.

Stereo, 44100 is a generic, ordinary setting. It’s a good starting point even if you don’t intend to actually run everything at those settings.

Koz

4

Try Transport > Rescan Audio Devices.

5

I am running OSX Monterey 12.7.4 on MacBook Pro and Audacity 3.4.2

I must RESCAN input device every time I want to record a new track. If I do not, I get the same error that this OP described every time. My workaround is to do just that; rescan every time before recording.

I’ve checked the sound settings on both Audacity and the MacBook Pro and made sure all recommendations have been followed when researching suggestions on this forum and elsewhere.

Anyone have other ideas? Thanks.