I’m new to Audacity. I’ve read posts on similar topics but I haven’t seen anything that addresses my problem(s). I apologize, though, if this is redundant.
I’m running Windows 11. I installed Audacity a few weeks ago and made some recordings from old reel-to-reel tapes using a Behringer UCA222 USB adapter. Recording and playback worked well … until it didn’t.
Today I installed the latest version of Audacity, and I have the same problems.
Playback: where I once got good volume, now the playback volume is way low, barely audible. When I play the file (converted to mp3) through Windows Media Player, the volume is just fine. I have tweaked all the settings I know to tweak to adjust the volume in Audacity, and I’ve not had any success.
At the same time, Audacity is not recording. The recording level meter shows activity, but the recording is inaudible no matter what I do.
Just to clarify… Do you know that the playback volume slider is now “hidden” behind the playback meters?
…And the recording level slider is behind the recording meters, but usually you can’t adjust the recording level (digitally) with USB devices.
And if you are on Windows make sure Windows “enhancements” are turned OFF. They can can cause all kinds of strange problems.
Also in Windows Media Player?
OK just to be clear. When you were using the older version of Audacity, it worked exactly correct and the shows were perfect with good volume and tall blue waves.
You did nothing at all and suddenly started getting low volume and damaged recordings.
Which was the older Audacity? What did you do in the middle? General-Use computers can have tons of other applications and many of them have sound services. Unfortunately, many of them take over your sound based on the idea that, obviously, they are the only important application in the world [cough-Zoom-cough].
What other applications do you have? Games? Skype? Meetings? Are you the only user on your machine? If I took your machine away from you right now, which programs or services would you be missing right away?
There can be Windows 11 problems, too. Win11 seems to have made decisions, let’s say, I would not have made.
The Elven Guild requires me to ask if you did a Clean Shutdown of your machine? I mean that special one that can take a long time. Not “Shutdown” or “Restart.”
Wow! You folks are the best! I mean, quick, helpful responses.
I didn’t know that the volume sliders were “hidden” behind their respective meters! I adjusted the playback volume with an existing file, and it worked like a charm! It’s a miracle!
As for the recording volume, I’ll have to wait until tomorrow or Thursday to try that, but I did find that the recording slider was fairly low, so I raised it. We shall see.
I’ll let you all know how this turns out, but again - thanks for these quick responses.
For the record, the problems started showing up before I downloaded the latest version. I’m not at all sure what I did - but I’m sure it was something I did.
Also for the record, I’m the only other user, I don’t use Skype, I don’t do meetings. I have a bunch of other apps but nearly all of them come with Windows.