Variation in sound level due to hardware?

Audacity Help Forum Windows
1

I recently recorded something using Windows WASAPI and loopback by playing it in another program. I get this funny alternating pattern and I’m wondering if it’s the hardware. I also tried the exact same thing on another computer and got a quieter, different waveform. It looks like overall there are still quiet and loud spots, but they’re not as pronounced.
Alternating-Wave.jpg
Alternating-Wave-1.jpg
Alternating-Wave-1.5.jpg
First of all, is computer 2 the best recording of these? Is computer 1 somehow clipping this? Next, why the different volumes; is this a function of the hardware or is there some volume that can be adjusted? (The volume of the program playing the audio was set to max.) I read a little about WASAPI, and I’m guessing it’s “connected” more with the program playing the audio (which is why the microphone isn’t available in Audacity)? Finally, to fix the audio, I suppose I would just normalize by section?

Mostly I’m just curious as to why I’d get these results. Thanks for your analysis. :slight_smile:

Computer 1: 2.0.5 Windows 8.1 x32
Computer 2: 2.0.5 Windows 8.1 x64

2

What’s the show? What are you recording for three hours?

Unless you intentionally bought hardware that changes volume by itself, it’s highly unlikely that’s what’s causing problems – assuming it’s working OK. The software, on the other hand, is a very different story. Did you turn off Windows Enhanced Services?

http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_recording_troubleshooting.html#enhancements

Koz

3

You can try Compressor to reduce the dynamic range in the track.

Does the softer section sound of worse quality than the louder (or vice-versa)?

We have not released WASAPI support for real inputs yet because it has quite a lot of technical problems.


Gale