PITCH OF VOICE PROBLEM (SOLVED)

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
41

Also could you please tell me the difference between recording in 48,000 Hz and 44100 Hz please.

Again, this has nothing to do with your pitch problem.

The quality of your sample rate conversion “Fast Sinc Interpolation” or “High Quality Sinc Interpolation” also has nothing to do with your pitch problem.

You have a hardware problem.

At 48,000Hz you are sampling (or “taking a snapshot”) of one point along the waveform, 48,000 times per second. Remember “connecting the dots”? There’s essentially no difference between the two in sound quality. Ideally you should use whatever your hardware is using, so the driver doesn’t have to make a conversion, but in practice you’ll never hear any difference. If you go down to 8kHz, that WILL make an audible difference… Your audio will only go to 4kHz, and you have “telephone quality”.

If there is resampling, the “quality” of the resampling is related to the theoretical sound quality, not the pitch-accuracy. And, you’ll never hear the differece between the different resampling algorithms… You can measure the difference, but any decent resampling algorithm is better than human hearing.

42

Much driver detection software is a scam in my opinion, just like tune up software. You do not need to pay them money to update the audio device drivers. And given your comment below, it seems that from version number, you already have the latest drivers provided by the computer manufacturer.

Thanks for checking. However, the drivers could still be corrupted in some way, which would be solved by uninstalling the drivers and reinstalling them as described. Until you do that, you can’t be sure that the drivers aren’t the cause of the pitch problem.

As previously explained, if your only tracks are recorded tracks, and you use “Windows DirectSound, 48000 Hz Project Rate, Exclusive Mode”, there will not be any sample rate conversions. If there are no sample rate conversions, the “Real-time Conversion: Sample Rate Converter” setting (and the corresponding “High-quality Conversion: Sample Rate Converter” setting) have no effect.

If you import a second track into a project and it has a different sample rate to the project rate, then those settings will apply. Changing Real-time sample rate conversion to “high quality” may make the sound break up if your computer is not fast enough to run the higher quality conversions. So don’t say we did not warn you.

There is no such thing as “high time conversion”.

The Dither settings for both “Real-time” and “High-Quality” conversion are independent settings so are not tied to each other.

The Dither settings are not about sample rate conversions (one Hz rate to another) but about sample format conversions from one bit depth to a lower bit depth (such as 32-bit float to 16-bit). Setting Real-time dither to other than off may cause playback breakup. So again, don’t say we did not warn you.

Also if you have set Default Sample Format to 16-bit then the dither settings will apply whenever you are processing audio effects in Audacity. This is because Audacity converts to 32-bit to process the audio, so if the track is 16-bit then Audacity must convert down to 16-bit to return the processed audio to the track.

Those are un-necessary multiple additions of dither noise, therefore it is recommended to leave Default Sample Format at 32-bit float then dither can be applied once only when you export to a 16-bit audio file format.

As previously explained, bit depth conversions will not change the pitch of the recording.


Gale

43

It shouldn’t have anything to do with it. If the USB mic analogue to digital converter is broken in some way, 48000 Hz project rate, Windows Direct Sound Exclusive Mode “might” help.

The poster can easily test by recording like that, then record again with 44100 Hz project rate and see if Realtek plays the two recordings at the same pitch.


Gale

44

Yes i think that is definitely true.

And its not a problem, I will reinstall them on saturday as I am currently going through bad internet problems. Can I check if the drivers are corrupted in anyway, for instance in windows settings or properties.

And Ok, I thought the real time conversion and high quality conversion controlled the quality of the playback of tracks and exporting tracks rather than the sample rate.
And if I witness any problems I will decrease the settings again, dont worry :laughing:

Sorry I meant High Quality Conversion, and I meant I would like the real time conversion (playback in audacity) and high quality conversion (exporting tracks) to sound exactly the same in quality, etc
And ok in that case, i might change it back off, i merely wanted it for the purposes explained above, but it seems I have gone wrong somewhere - thanks for warning me though :smiley:

And so when exporting audacity converts audio to 32 bit float anyway then.

And so would recording in 48,000 Hz be slightly better quality than recording in 44100 Hz then.

I hope my mic is not broken :open_mouth:

45

48000 is the sample rate used by digital television. 44100 is the sample rate used by Music CDs. 48000 carries very very high pitched sounds slightly better. Most humans can’t tell the difference. Your dog and very young women might be able to appreciate the increased quality.

I regularly shoot and deliver 48000 sound files because I know my client’s systems run at 48000. It’s pretty much the only reason. The files take up slightly more room.

Koz

46

Research has failed to show that any human can (though in the early days of digital audio there may have been a detectable difference - technology has moved on since then).

47

You can’t tell whether the driver files are corrupted. There is a chance they are. It could be the Realtek sound device has a hardware problem. Try reinstalling the drivers first.

They control sample rate conversions and sample format downconversions (if there are any).

No, not unless you choose a 32-bit export format. Audacity processes audio within the project at 32-bit float.


Gale

48

Ok so which sample rate would be best to use in terms of music quality, if there is no detectable difference. I dont see how making my music tracks sound like digital television will be better than making them sound CD.

Ok, they should be installed soon. There is also another audio driver that I have as well called Intel(R) High Definition Audio HDMI. I dont know if this helps.

And i have rechanged the settings back then, it seems I have miscalculated this programme lol. However I still do not fully understand why the settings (dither, sample rate converter)between real time conversion and high quality conversion are different.

And ok how do you choose your exporting format please (for future reference), and sorry I read your point wrong from before

Audacity processes audio within the project at 32-bit float.

I’m guessing that this means if when I add effects and change audio within audacity it automatically changes all audio back to 32 bit then.

49

If you want to avoid sample rate conversions and maximise the chances of your USB mic recording correctly you should use 48000 Hz project rate, Windows DirectSound, Exclusive Mode. It is best to record at 48000 Hz because that is the native rate of that mic. There is no reason to do otherwise.

If you have an HDMI output and HDMI speakers you could try that output.

Unfortunately we are all volunteers so do not have time to make the same explanations over and over again. It is safest to choose the default settings which you can see here: Audacity Manual .

Please read the Manual: Audacity Manual .

If you use 32-bit Default Sample Format as recommended, the track will already be 32-bit so there will not be bit depth conversions inside Audacity. There will be a single downconversion to 16-bit (with dither applied just then) if you export as 16-bit WAV.

What are you going to do with your recordings? Burn them to CD? Or play them in Windows Media Player? Do you have to put them on a web site or send them to somebody else? This may determine the export format you need.


Gale

50

What do you mean by the native rate of my mic, if you mean the default setting when recording - this was 44100 Hz.

I do not have any extra speakers apart from the ones on my laptop therefore ill just try and reinstall the drivers when I can.

The link you just sent me also states that 44100 Hz is the default for CD’s etc. And im going to leave the dither in real time conversion on none although it does say that on triangle it concentrates less on the higher frequencies which could be the cause of my pitch problem.

And I always export in WAV - so this is 32 bit quality isn’t it.

Also most the backings I import into audacity are 44100 Hz at 16 bit (MP3) which is why I think raising the bit depth is pointless and a waste of space.

After I record, I edit within audacity until I’m happy with it, then export as wav and then make it into a video using windows movie maker and upload onto youtube straight after. They are also played on windows media player

51

There really is very little sound quality difference between 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz sample rates. For the perfectionist there are marginal benefits to using one or the other, depending on what you are doing and what equipment you are using. If you’re using MP3 files as your “source material”, then you are clearly not worried about “perfection”, so don’t worry about it - use 44100 or 48000 Hz sample rate.

No that has nothing to do with the pitch problem. It is talking about something completely different.
Unless you have a well founded reason to do otherwise I’d highly recommend that you leave the Audacity preferences at their default setting - particularly those setting that you don’t understand. The defaults have been carefully chosen to produce optimal results for the majority of cases.

Yes, 44100 Hz is the sample rate for audio CDs. It is not “the default” for audio CDs, ALL "audio CD"s use 16 bit, 44100 Hz sample rate 2 channel stereo, it is the standard for audio CDs.

A “normal” exported WAV file is 16 bit - the same as CD format. Audacity uses “32 bit float” format internally. By default, when Audacity imports WAV and MP3 files, the audio data is automatically converted to 32 bit float format. You will see this written in the track information on the left end of the Audacity track. By default Audacity will export as 16 bit (PCM) integer WAV, which is a high quality format and compatible with most other programs. It is recommended to use these defaults.

Yes, you should definitely export as “WAV”.

52

True, but we come back to the “native rate” of the USB mic which is stated as 48000 Hz on the web page of the product.

Therefore In my opinion, the user needs to do at least one recording, with no other tracks present, at project rate of 48000 Hz, Windows DirectSound, Exclusive Mode. At 44100 Hz project rate, resampling will (not might) occur. Although the mic should easily cope with resampling without any audible problem, we need to rule out a mic fault as the problem.

I suggest the the user records:

  • one track at 48000 Hz project rate, Windows Direct Sound, Exclusive Mode on (both boxes checked)
  • in another project window (File > New), record another track at 44100 Hz project rate, MME, Exclusive Mode off (unchecked), Default Format in Windows set to a mono 44100 Hz choice.

If both recordings sound off pitch when played to the Realtek device in Audacity, then almost certainly the problem lies with the Reatek.


Gale

53

If the “voice pitch” problem is still happening, then I totally agree.

54

I have not seen the user say that it isn’t still happening. Can you please confirm, bwywvgvc ?


Gale

55

So which one would be best to use in my situation - I am looking for the best quality in my music.

Ok I have changed that all back.

So shall I use this 44100 Hz as it is obviously standard in music production which means it might be best quality.

And when I import into audacity on the left side I usually see 44100 Hz, 16 bit (not 32 bit).And so does audacity export in 16 bit then, If so everything may as well be left on 16 bit then.

Also could someone explain what the native rate of the Mic is please, If this is the default of the Mic then the default was 44100 Hz 16 bit before I changed it.

56

And to be honest when it comes to this sample rate, I am a perfectionist since I want best quality and best playback in the majority of systems.

57

You are not getting best quality/perfection if you use lossy MP3 files as backing tracks.

You are not getting best quality/perfection if you play back your recording and it is off pitch.

You are not getting best (theoretical) quality if you record at 441000 Hz when you have a 48000 Hz mic. It should not make any audible difference but the theory is clear - record at the same rate that your hardware (the mic) uses. That rate is 48000 Hz.

The issue is quite clear. Do you still have the off-pitch problem - yes or no? If yes, then reinstall the Realtek audio device using the drivers from Packard Bell, and record one track at 48000 Hz, Windows DirectSound, Exclusive Mode. All the rest about 16-bit or 32-bit or types of sample rate conversion is irrelevant to the off-pitch issue. Please do not waste our time by questioning that further. Let’s address the off-pitch issue, by having you reinstall Realtek and record as above, then we can sort out what the theoretically best preference settings might be.

We already have explained that at least three times. The rate of the mic is 48000 Hz. That is how the mic has been designed.

If you set the Audacity project rate to 44100 Hz, there WILL be resampling and there WILL as a result be theoretical loss of quality. That loss WILL occur whatever you do with the other Audacity settings.

Because your recordings seem to be off pitch you need to record at 48000 Hz, Windows DirectSound Exclusive Mode to make sure that not doing so isn’t causing the problem.


Gale

58

Yes but I dont think you understand that I can change the rate that my mic records in which is why i’m asking which rate is the best quality to record in music wise (A simple question)

Yes I do have the pitch problem still since nothing has been done to resolve it yet. The drivers are being reinstalled today as I explained earlier. And I asked about the bit because if audacity exports in 16 bit, then everything may as well be left on 16 bit (another simple question I asked)

And as I keep trying to tell you the mic rate can be changed it does NOT just record in 48,000 Hz, it can also record in 44100 HZ, etc. The mic rate goes up to 48,000 Hz. This is WHY I want to know which setting has the better quality - 44,100 Hz or 48,000 Hz.

59

The best rate to use is the one that works best. This depends on many factors, including hardware, drivers, the task in hand and whether or not the system performs correctly. In this case the system is not performing correctly because you say that you have a problem with the pitch being wrong. Until that problem is resolved, further discussion on the pros and cons of different sample rates, bit depths, dither types or anything else, is irrelevant.

If recording “at 48000 Hz with Windows DirectSound Exclusive Mode” solves the incorrect pitch issue, then “48000 Hz with DirectSound Exclusive Mode” is without doubt the best option.

60

We don’t have your mic so can only go on what you tell us and what we can find on the internet.

Where can you change the rate of the mic? According to the information online, the mic can only record at 48000 Hz, has no control panel of its own, and there is no control on the mic to change the sample rate. Is that correct?

If that is correct, then the only places you can change the sample rate of the recording are in Windows or Audacity. If so, then any sample rate choices you make other than 48000 Hz will cause resampling and thus theoretical loss of quality (and possibly, your pitch problem). To ensure this is not the problem, the suggestion that you use 48000 Hz project rate Windows DirectSound Exclusive Mode stands. Incorrect pitch recording on Windows Vista and later can and does occur with external recording devices exactly because resampling is occurring somewhere and the device cannot cope with that.

You could test now recording at 48000 Hz project rate Windows DirectSound Exclusive Mode without reinstalling the Realtek drivers. That would be a better test, because if it makes no difference it establishes that the problem lies with Realtek.

That question has been answered several times already, but you seem to be ignoring the answer beause you have your own theory that you should have default sample format at 16-bit. The answer remains the same. If you want to run effects on your recording then in theory you are better to leave the Audacity Default Sample format at 32-bit float. This way, dither noise will only be appllied once when you export to 16-bit.

And as everyone keeps telling you, this is irrelevant to pitch problems, which is the main issue you need to address.


Gale