As already stated the preferences you mention are nothing to do with your pitch problem. Please read the Manual for what those preferences do. You can ignore the Spectrograms settings altogether unless you are actually viewing the track as a spectrogram.
A lot less latency on Windows XP. Not much less latency on Windows Vista and later, so that applies to Windows 7 too.
We’re assuming (probably correctly) that the pitch problem is due to a different (wrong) clock rate on the built-in sound card.
It could instead be that sample rate mismatches are making the USB mic record at the wrong pitch. If you use Windows DirectSound host and enable Exclusive Mode in Windows then you can eliminate that possibility, because Exclusive Mode will make sure that the mic is asked to record at the project rate set in Audacity.
To set Exclusive Mode, right-click over the speaker icon by the system clock, then choose “Recording Devices”. Right-click over the USB mic then choose “Properties”. Then click the “Advanced tab”, check both “Exclusive Mode” boxes and click OK.
It means what it says. If you want to do overdub recordings you must use only one device for recording and playback.
No two devices will have exactly the same clock rate unless they are synced to a master clock. Failing that, your first recorded track will be fine. When you record your second track while listening to the first one, your second track will never align with the beat in the first track because the first track is playing at a slightly different rate than the rate the second track is recording at.
If you don’t want to record while listening to the beat on the first track, then you don’t need to worry about any of that.
It depends. The clock rate of two USB devices is likely to be much more similar than the rate of a USB device compared to the built-in sound device.
If the issue is a seriously incorrect clock speed on the built-in sound card, and you don’t want to record overdubs, then adding the USB sound card to play back your USB mic recordings may well solve the audible problem.
If the issue is a seriously incorrect clock speed on the built-in sound card, and you don’t want to record overdubs, then adding the USB sound card to play back your USB mic recordings may well solve the audible problem.
Would that not throw the timing off? We did that test. A minute of performance results in a minute of show.
Music recorded with a sample rate of 43000 and played at 44100 would throw both off.
The manual does not explain the difference between Fast Sinc Interpolation (Real Time Conversion) and High Quality Sinc Interpolation (High Quality Conversion).
Also should my Meter/Waveform db range not match with the sample bit that I am recording at?? This is also not explained in the manual.
But will there still be less latency in the current sytem that I am using if I use the Window DirectSound??
To set Exclusive Mode, right-click over the speaker icon by the system clock, then choose “Recording Devices”. Right-click over the USB mic then choose “Properties”. Then click the “Advanced tab”, check both “Exclusive Mode” boxes and click OK.
I cannot find this setting anywhere, I have right clicked everywhere. Could you please send me an image or something of where to click??
Also when I have selected the Windows DirectSound option - which output device should I select - the Realtek speakers or the Primary Sound Driver??
And ok so are you trying to say that I SHOULDN’T record while listening to a pre recorded track??
If you want to do overdub recordings you must use only one device for recording and playback.
How do I set audacity to use only one device for recording and playback??
If the poster doesn’t want to do overdubs then the timing doesn’t matter, as long as the rates are not so different so as to give an audible pitch difference.
Of course if the poster also requires to sing for 10 minutes 25 seconds and 22000 samples and have the recording be exactly 10 minutes 25 seconds and 22000 samples long, (s)he will have to use only one professional sound card (with a master clock) for both playback and recording.
I don’t read it that the poster needs identical or near identical length, just that the audible pitch difference arising from a severe sample rate difference be corrected. But (s)he should say what the aims are.
The manual does not explain the difference between Fast Sinc Interpolation (Real Time Conversion) and High Quality Sinc Interpolation (High Quality Conversion).
Mosts people don’t have problems that would require heavy system changes like this, so you have a celebrity problem. I recommend extraordinary measures to keep us from going round and round. I would recommend trying the microphone on a different computer – and not in Audacity. Use Windows Sound Recorder. Only change Windows enough to get the microphone into Sound Recorder. This may be a setting in Control Panels; I’m not a habitual Windows user. Let us know if your voice is OK if you do that.
Yes. Make the USB mic the default Windows recording device on the Recording tab of “Sound” in the Windows Control Panel. That should be right-click over the speaker icon by the system clock, then choose “Recording Devices”.
Another way into “Sound” is Windows Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Sound (if you’re using an “icon view” there’s a direct link to “Sound” in the Control Panel).
Once you are on the Recording tab of Sound, right-click over the USB mic and choose “Set as Default Device”.
If you need to, you can then right-click over the USB mic again then choose “Properties”. Click the “Advanced tab”, put a checkmark (tick) in both “Exclusive Mode” boxes and click OK.
If you have an external sound device with a low noise level then you may set the range to -96 dB or lower so you can see the low level (quiet) noise. Otherwise, quiet noise below -60 dB would not be visible in the recording or playback meter.
With the USB mic, probably yes. You can do your own Latency Test to determine the actual latencies.
If the Realtek device is more or less broken it can and will do what it likes with no rhyme or reason.
If you only have one playback device (Realtek speakers) then Primary Sound Driver is the same choice (Realtek speakers). If you have more than one playback device then Primary Sound Driver is whatever is the Windows Default Playback Device as set in the Windows Control Panel (see above).
Do you want to do that? If so, it’s pointless at the moment given the recording and playback speeds are so different that you hear the pitch difference. Unless you want to make a special effects demo with the beat drifting out of sync.
A golden rule for overdubs is use to one sound device for playback and recording. A USB interface or a USB microphone that has its own headphones port are good.
You only have one playback device at the moment. So the only way to use the same device for playback and recording is to record with the Realtek device using a mic (or connector) that has a 1/8 inch jackplug. Do you have a decent mic that could connect to the 1/8 inch mic port on the computer? If you don’t then you need to forget about the Realtek device.
So the Meter/Waveform db range is just how quiet the sound has to be for the microphone to pick it up?? So it enables the microphone to pick up sounds in more volume??
Ok i think I am going to use the Windows DirectSound with the output setting RealTek Speakers since as stated this is my only playback device available.
Also I think I have found the cause of the pitch problem. The RealTek Speakers have a Default Format of 24 bit, 48000Hz (Studio Quality). Should I change this to the option 16 bit, 44100Hz (CD Quality)??
I have also enabled both exclusive mode checkboxes on the speakers. I’m guessing this ok??
Do you want to do that? If so, it’s pointless at the moment given the recording and playback speeds are so different that you hear the pitch difference. Unless you want to make a special effects demo with the beat drifting out of sync.
A golden rule for overdubs is use to one sound device for playback and recording. A USB interface or a USB microphone that has its own headphones port are good.
I would like to however my USB mic does not have its own headphone port. Also I am using separate devices for recording and playback so I’m guessing I couldn’t do it.
And no my USB mic has no jackplug.
And could you please explain what the functions and differences of these are please?? - Fast Sinc Interpolation (Real Time Conversion) and High Quality Sinc Interpolation (High Quality Conversion).
That range control does not affect how the mic records or how it sounds when you play it back. It merely affects how playback and recording are displayed in Meter Toolbar. Namely, that control changes the bottom range at which Meter Toolbar displays playback and recording.
Once you have enabled Exclusive Mode in Windows and chosen Windows DirectSound host in Audacity, the sound card will disregard the Default Format settings in “Sound” for sample rate and bit depth. The choice for stereo or mono in Default Format will still apply.
I suggest you open the Quality Preferences in Audacity and set Default Sample Rate to 48000 Hz (which appears to be the native rate of your USB mic). I suggest you leave Default Sample Format at 32-bit float. The Default Sample Format should not affect pitch and 32-bit float will give you better quality and faster processing when you edit your recordings.
Another thing you could do is see if you have proper drivers for this Realtek device. See: Missing features - Audacity Support . You could go to the web site of your computer manufacturer or motherboard manufacturer to get the latest Windows 7 sound device drivers for your computer model. If you have the wrong drivers for the Realtek it could be the reason the speed is so wrong - if the diagnosis is correct that the Realtek is the problem.
To diagnose further I would try recording the USB mic with Windows DirectSound and Exclusive Mode, 48000 Hz Default Sample Rate as described above. Also make that same test on another Windows Vista or later computer.
High Quality is for writing audio data (like when you export). Leave it on Best Quality (slowest).
Real Time is for live playback. Leave it on Medium Quality.
High Quality and Real Time settings are only about how fast and how accurately sample rate conversion calculations are done (when required). Those conversion decisions do not cause or correct the problem you have where your recording and playback devices are running at different sample rates.
If you use Windows DirectSound, 48000 Hz Default Sample Format, Exclusive Mode there will not be any sample rate conversions so the High Quality and Real Time settings would be irrelevant.
I’m not sure I should do this because my mic records in 44100 Hz and 16 bit so I think I should keep everything at this default sample rate, including the playback in the realtek speakers.
My drivers are up to date.
High Quality is for writing audio data (like when you export). Leave it on Best Quality (slowest).
Real Time is for live playback. Leave it on Medium Quality.
I dont have the options “Medium Quality” and “Best Quality (Slowest)” - I only have the options “Fast Sinc Interpolation” and “High Quality Sinc Interpolation”
Oh yes your right, sorry. I originally thought this because Editor Keys told me to change the Audacity settings to 44100 Hz, 16 bit so I gathered this was what the mic recorded in.
I’m going to change the Audacity settings and playback settings to 48,000 Hz 16 bit - this is purely to match the input recording of the mic.
And I am going to go on the Realtek website now and check, because contral panel in windows told me the drivers were up to date.
I have installed the new audacity, I have a new audio host called Windows WASAPI- should I use this - is it any better, what is the difference of using it
Also i have looked EVERYWHERE for audio driver updates and I can’t find any, not even on the real tek website, there is just no where that I can download these updates, I dont know what to do. Do you know a website I could download it off
Realtek only supply a generic audio driver. It will not be matched to your computer or motherboard. It may be better than a broken driver (if yours is broken) or a Microsoft driver (which would be even more generic).
What is the exact make and model number of the computer?
Is Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit? To find out, Windows Start, right-click over “Computer”, choose Properties. If it does not say 64-bit then it is 32-bit.
Finally, I have changed all playback, recording, and audacity to operate in the Default sample rate of 48000 Hz and 16 bit so they all match each other. I hope I have done the correct thing by doing this.
Yes, you want to try the drivers from Packard Bell (as above) first. I suggest you go into Windows Device Manager (from the Windows Control Panel). Click on the arrow to left of “Sound, video and game controllers”, then right-click over the Realtek sound device and uninstall it.
Then install the drivers from the Packard Bell download above and reboot the computer.
Take it from there.
I think all that matters is Default Sample Rate = 48000 Hz, Host = Windows DirectSound, both Exclusive Mode boxes checked in Windows “Sound” for the Realtek device.
Note: After installing the suggested drivers, you may have to go back and re-enable Exclusive Mode.
One of the softwares was called Driver Detective and the other one was a Winzip software.
Also the software version on the link given is the same version as the drivers I already have, (I checked in properties) I think this means my drivers must be up to date.
And ok, this is what I have done - 48000 Hz on everything 16 bit and exclusive modes enabled on everything.
Also I have changed the real time conversion to High Quality since I want my playback in audacity to be quiet high in quality and also I changed the dither to Triangle (this is because the dither is triangle on high time conversion and I want playback to sound the same within audacity as it would when I export the file)
I also hope this ok as well.
Also could you please tell me the difference between recording in 48,000 Hz and 44100 Hz please.
I ask this merely because I just had to change the settings on microphone properties as it was recording in 44100 Hz. I changed it to 48000 Hz, but I would like to know the difference