Static while recording podcast

Audacity Help Forum macOS
1

Hello,

I’ve been using Audacity just fine for a while but suddenly, there’s pretty intense static during the recording. I’m using an AKG condenser mic, Scarlett 2i2, Mac 10.11.5 and Audacity 2.1. I’m making a voice recording.

I’d love any advice.

Thanks!

2

Minor quibble. Audacity doesn’t make a 2.1 version and some bogus and bad versions have odd numbers.

Post some of the work. Drag-select about ten seconds of noisy recording. File > Export Selected Audio: WAV (Microsoft) and post it here.
Scroll down from a forum window to Upload attachment > Browse.

If you have a mono recording (one blue wave) you can post twenty seconds.

fine for a while but suddenly

Right about the time you did a Mac update?

Koz

3

Koz,

It’s attached.

The puzzle is:

  1. I made one set of recordings with static.
  2. Changed Audio to Buffer from 0 to 100. A few recordings were fine. But then in the middle of a recording, the static began and continued for the next couple of recordings!? This clip is around the time where it starts.
4

If Audio to Buffer is relevant, it is probably better below 100. See this FAQ http://alphamanual.audacityteam.org/man/FAQ:Recording_-_Troubleshooting#mac_crackle but please note that is in the Manual we are writing for the next version of Audacity.

The current Manual is at http://manual.audacityteam.org/.

Notice on https://uk.focusrite.com/usb-audio-interfaces/scarlett-2i2/downloads

MAC USERS

The Scarlett 2i2 runs in class-compliant mode on a Mac. No driver is required. Simply plug and play.

If you have previously installed the Focusrite USB driver and are experiencing glitchy audio on Mavericks you can put your unit into class compliant mode by following the instructions > HERE

I don’t know if that is still generally the case on El Capitan, but at least one person on El Capitan has said it helped to go class compliant.

Also your recording level is rather low. Although you don’t have much background noise apart from the clicks, it may sound crisper if recorded at a higher level.


Gale

5

Thanks, Gale, I think updating the FocusRite driver has helped (so far!).

What should my recording level be and where do I change it?

Thanks!

6

Which helped, going back to Apple’s driver?

Aim for 0.5 peak in the blue waves in Audacity. There is an input gain knob on Scarlett and Mixer Toolbar in Audacity, recording slider on the left:





Gale

7

No, to the one you recommended:


MAC USERS

The Scarlett 2i2 runs in class-compliant mode on a Mac. No driver is required. Simply plug and play.

If you have previously installed the Focusrite USB driver and are experiencing glitchy audio on Mavericks you can put your unit into class compliant mode by following the instructions HERE

Thanks for your support!