Need help with changing dB/Vertical Scale

Hi there everybody, I was wondering if there’s anyone that could help me out in advanced audio editing, and I’ve encountered an issue when trying to record off from a VHS tape via EasyCap VCR capture device.

https://i.imgur.com/HrSu0s0.png
I’ve noticed that the dB isn’t on the black line which in other recordings I’ve made off from the audio cassette recorder always works normally with the frequency around 0.0 dB. And it makes this strange audio pop whenever the recording is paused or unpaused.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1kEtLGHERLDIlZdrx_PXCAy2-Cpu9eQDU
An example being this.

https://i.imgur.com/tfWZOa8.png
(Bottom is how normally it’s suppose to be, top is the abnormal problem.)

So in short, is it possible to edit the decibel frequency?

This problem is called “DC Offset”.
https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/dc_offset.html


What that means is that the audio is off-set vertically by a constant amount. In your case it is offset massively, which indicates either a hardware or a sound card driver problem.

Did your “EasyCap VCR capture device” have drivers included, or is it expected to work with standard Windows drivers?

I’m not sure exactly, I’ll have to look into a bit later, but do you happen to have a full-depth guide on how to fix this issue even if likely it’s probably outside of Audacity?

If it’s a hardware problem, then the only fix is to replace the device.
One way to test this is to try the device on a different computer, and / or with different software. If you are able to get the device working properly on another computer, or with different software, then we will know that it isn’t a hardware problem.

If it’s a driver problem, then you could see if the manufacturer provides an updated (fixed) version of the driver.

This is a defective audio interface which doesn’t sink to zero during silence. It can be sneaky because you can cut, edit and do production all day long as long as you do it to its own sound, but you get a pop or click if you try to switch to anything else which isn’t broken. Also, as you’re finding out, you get a pop if you stop or start a recording.

There may be some post-production software solutions, but you’ll spend more time fixing the damage than editing the music. It’s totally possible the damage is affecting the sound. With problems like this, you can’t tell.

You should start with a perfect transfer and then edit to your final shows, not start the process with damage control.

Did your store have a good return policy and do you have your receipts?

There is a sister forum posting where someone apparently has a broken microphone. We found ways with a lot of work to “fix it later in post,” but they want to use it live, in real time on a podcast. Not with that microphone, no. Send it back.

Koz

but do you happen to have a full-depth guide on how to fix this issue even if likely it’s probably outside of Audacity?

Check the link Steve gave you. (Use the Normalize effect).

I’ve made off from the audio cassette recorder always works normally

You should be able to use the same hardware to record the audio from a VHS tape (unless you’re using a USB cassette machine).

I got the issue fixed! Thank you so much everyone!