Recording Level minimal with VU meter reading correctly & Solution

[Bryan_2023]

Hello,

My issue was resolved, but posting this in case someone else may find it useful information.

Yesterday I started having an issue recording with Audacity 3.3.3 via USB Analog to Digital Converter on Windows 11. Previously it was working fine with no issues. The VU meter was reading an accurate volume, however the recording waveform was very low, sometimes not visible. Only with a high amplification was I able to here the audio.

The problem was due to a recent (July 18th) windows update of IntelliGo Extension, and audio processing object. This app is AI based noise reduction and was automatically enabled for the ADC device. On my system the app name is IntelliGo Neptune.

Once I set the noise reduction to Off for the ADC, the recording level in Audacity returned to normal again.

Hope someone finds this is helpful.

[kozikowski]

Thanks for posting back with your solutions.

I have a question or two. Are you using custom colors for your edit display? Ordinarily nobody cares but during troubleshooting, that can become a problem. When I starting talking about the size of the blue waves, you have to convert to “orange waves” because that’s what your editor looks like.

We note that the “bouncing sound meter” will display everything down to -60dB, but the “blue waves” are generally only visible down to about -24dB to -30dB. This can lead you to make contradictory assumptions about your sound volume. It is totally possible to switch the sound meter to greater sensitivity and that’s what I do. You can even switch it to -96dB and it will display everything. This is a good deal less handy when I have to match what I’m doing with a forum post.

You used to be able to switch the waveforms to log mode, but that may no longer be available. That shows you everything, but most valuable production happens in the loudest 30dB, which is really tiny in Log mode.

What is your A to D converter? What’s the show? How would I recognize it if I walked into your house cold? You never posted a name. I was wondering when AI was going to arrive to “help us.”

We have to be able to recognize production hardware and processes for when someone posts with problems. Did your solution show up on IntelliGo Neptune web pages or other information? You can’t be the only person with this problem with a Windows Update.

I am more and more attracted to the idea of not live recording on the computer.

That’s a Zoom H1n recorder.

Koz

[Bryan_2023]

When the problem started I had the default colors selected. While looking through the preferences I saw the option for dark mode and had selected it. Blue waves, orange, and I think you can select red, green, and grey for the waveform as well.

The analog to digital converter is a really inexpensive item I got from Amazon a few years ago, probably on prime day, V-Top AV202-B, USB Audio Capture. Aside from the red & white RCA connectors I doubt it would be noticeable. The device is about 2 x 1 inch black plastic box, with a small blue led. I didn’t mention it because it wasn’t the cause of the issue, the windows update was.

As for how I found the problem, I saw the windows update run and the odd name, IntelliGo Extension, raised my suspicion. While the update was running I googled to determine what it was being installed.

Sunday or Monday I had done some recording and Audacity was recording fine. Then yesterday this problem started. After checking though the preferences, and then windows settings for sound devices, some web searches for audacity and low recording level. Checked a few and then I decided to check this IntelliGo thing. Honestly I probably should have done this first. I typed intelligo into the windows search, which lead me to the application name, ran the app, saw the setting to turn the noise reduction off… well worth a try, yes?

Right, being a windows update, I thought it was likely someone else could encounter the issue as well. These kind of things can be a real pain to sort out. With automated updates it is very likely for a user to not even see it being installed. This is not the first, second… time a windows update ‘broke’ something on me.

I had thought about a dedicated encoder, but I am only digitizing a small number of vinyl singles I had from 98-2000. I was thinking of a better analog to digital converter, but not sure for the amount of recording I will be doing that is worth the cost.