USB mic was working fine for an hour and now it flatlines immediately when I hit record

I have been recording with Audacity for several years and I don’t recall this ever happening.

I was recording vocals on a USB mic one minute and the next, I only get a flatline and no audio.

The Device Toolbar appears to still recognize the mic. I can record using other gear through the same port and won’t work if I switch the mic port.

I’ve unplugged the mic and plugged the mic back in before restarting my laptop which runs Windows 10.

I’m at a loss. Any suggestions would appreciated.

The most common cause of “weird problems” is Windows “enhancements”. Make sure they are turned OFF. (Sometimes a Windows update or another will turn them on. Audacity doesn’t touch the settings.)

Also check the recording volume slider which is now “hidden” under the recording meters.

And make sure you’ve selected the USB device as your recording device.

I will check these ASAP - thank you!