I’m running Audacity 2.0.5 on a new Dell with Windows 8. I’ve tried recording off of a couple of microphones and every time I have a sustained note while recording any vocal parts the recording (waveform included) jumps down to almost muted volume. This semi-muted recording volume will continue until I stop singing and start on a new note (it won’t go back to normal if I sustain and move between notes). I have tried messing with different settings but I"m kind of a noob and therefore have no idea where exactly to begin looking. It’s very frustrating.
Please let me know if you need any more specifics.
Check that the Windows sound enhancements are turned off (disabled): http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_recording_troubleshooting.html#enhancements
Also check this: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_playback.html#muted
There is no “enhancement” tab, and the “levels” tab has no sound effects to mess with. I set the things right on the communications tab but it didn’t work.
You’ll have to look around on the computer for the cause - Audacity isn’t doing it. Open the Windows Control Panel (Hardware and Sound) and look for the control panel for the sound device you are using. Turn off all the sound effects and enhancements.
Are you playing tracks either in Audacity or elsewhere while you are recording? What are the host, output and input device settings in Device Toolbar ?
Gale
Sorry to be a bother. I looked through my sound settings and sound devices, right clicked and went through properties, and even looked through setup items. Sadly I could not find any “sound effects” tabs or enhancements. The audio host is Windows DirectSound. The output is running through my Conexant speakers, and the input is running through a webcam microphone. I know that isn’t at all the ideal recording device, but at the moment it’s all I have. The only things playing while I’m recording are the playback tracks that are I’ve recorded previously (I layer vocal parts to compile a cappella songs). When I’m recording there is no interference as I have headphones on. Just in case that was the problem I recorded a longer sustained note in a new project and the same thing happened.
Are you sure you have looked in the Windows Control Panel for the Conexant Control Panel? If you have the original Windows 8 (not Windows 8.1) you will have to click the Windows icon bottom left then find the Control Panel in the Start Screen, or move your mouse pointer top right to show the Search “charm” then search by typing “Control Panel” (without quotes).
Is this a USB web cam or a built-in web cam? Please open Help > Audio Device Info… , right-click, choose “Select All”, then right-click again, Copy, and paste the audio device information in your reply.
Also please give the exact model number of the Dell. Is it 64-bit Windows 8? Did the computer come with that version of Windows 8?
Gale
Dell Inspiron 660 running Windows 8.1, which was provided with the computer (was not entirely aware if it would have made a huge difference before. Sorry for not mentioning it). 64-bit. I’m using a USB webcam (Logitech HD Webcam C615). I went into the control panel, clicked on “Hardware and Sound” and clicked on “Sound.” I then right-clicked on “Speakers” (Conexant SmartAudio HD), went to enhancements and made sure that they were all disabled. Then I right-clicked on “Microphone” in the “Recording” tab and found no enhancements in the “levels” tab or anywhere else. I also went into the “Dell Audio” application before clicking on “Sound” and made sure that all sound enhancements on speakers and microphones were disabled. Sadly I do not know how to find Audio Device Info. I tried taking a screen shot of the window that popped up when I chose properties for the webcam, the microphone within the webcam, and the speakers I’m utilizing. It wouldn’t paste into the text window. If you would like I can screen shot and attach the shots of the windows so you can have more information about the devices.
Attached is a sample clip. I’ve also tried recording in stereo and the same thing happens. Let me know if this helps. (at least there should be a file attached)
OK. As the waveform tails off and it’s a USB recording device then I assume the issue is with the web cam.
Follow the steps at: http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/25904/section/troubleshoot/crid/405/lt_product_id/8041/tabs/1,3,2,4,5/cl/us,en#WIN7 to ensure you have installed the Logitech drivers for the web cam. Make sure that Device Manger does not show a yellow “!” or red “x” for the web cam.
Make sure the microphone is selected in the Logitech Webcam Software (LWS): http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/20729/section/troubleshoot/crid/405/lt_product_id/8041/tabs/1,3,2,4,5/cl/us,en#selectmic .
If you need help or run into issues with the above, contact Logitech directly: http://logitech-en-amr.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/24430/section/troubleshoot/crid/405/lt_product_id/8041/tabs/1,3,2,4,5/cl/us,en .
When the drivers are correct, go back to the “Recording” tab of Windows “Sound”. Make sure that you right-click over the web cam microphone and not any built-in or other microphones. Right-click over the web cam, choose “Properties” then look around for effects or enhancements to turn off. If you updated to Logitech drivers there may be new effects or enhancements options.
OK. To ensure there are no playback issues in Conexant, in Audacity, choose Generate > Chirp… . Play that entire Chirp. Does it sound like a bird chirp that rises in pitch and also gets quieter? If you hear cutting off and sound effects/echoes then you may have to dig further into control panels or possibly reinstall the Conexant drivers.
The audio drivers you should have are “Conexant Smart Audio Driver 8.50.12.0, A00” from http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/inspiron-660 (change the Operating System drop-down to Windows 8.1 64-bit to see the correct drivers).
That is in Audacity. Click the Help menu top right and choose Audio Device Info… . Right-click, choose “Select All”, then right-click again, Copy, and paste the audio device information into your reply.
Nothing was attached. Please see https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/how-to-post-an-audio-sample/29851/1 for how to attach an audio sample.
Gale
Here’s the device info:
==============================
Default capture device number: 1
Default playback device number: 3
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Microphone (HD Webcam C615)
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Output
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: Speakers (Conexant SmartAudio H
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
352800
384000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: Primary Sound Capture Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: Microphone (HD Webcam C615)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: Primary Sound Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: Speakers (Conexant SmartAudio HD)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
8000
9600
11025
12000
15000
16000
22050
24000
32000
44100
48000
88200
96000
176400
192000
==============================
Device ID: 8
Device name: Speakers (Conexant SmartAudio HD)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.003000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.010000
Supported Rates:
48000
==============================
Device ID: 9
Device name: Speakers (Conexant SmartAudio HD) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 10
Device name: Microphone (HD Webcam C615)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 1
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Selected capture device: 10 - Microphone (HD Webcam C615)
Selected playback device: 8 - Speakers (Conexant SmartAudio HD)
Supported Rates:
48000
Unable to open Portmixer
And just so you don’t think this is “Evil Magic” or something, communications software tries to suppress room noise, air conditioning noise and other sound problems that compete with your speaking (not singing) voice. They figure any sustained sounds (or musical notes) is interference and tries to cancel them out. This can happen on cellphones, too, particularly in conference mode.
You described exactly correctly what happens when one of those services grabs your slow musical notes, so that’s why we insist you find the system that’s doing this. If it walks like a duck… etc.
That and Audacity doesn’t do a thing to recording sound. It can only run effects and filters in post production. So if you get a bad recording, it’s just shy of 100% certainty that the computer is doing it.
Koz
It could be the software burned into your webcam. Koz
Thanks. So we see you only have one output device enabled in Windows - Speakers (Conexant SmartAudio) - and only one input - the Microphone (HD Webcam C615).
Please post again when you’ve ensured you have the Logitech drivers for the web cam, rechecked its properties on the Recording tab of Windows “Sound” and tested the Chirp playback in the Conexant speakers.
Gale
Gotcha! That makes a lot of sense. I will have to see if I can find the controls for background noise filters.