Where does Audacity save data while recording?

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

I use a Yamaha keyboard to input into Audacity running latest version on a Windows 11 desktop with both traditional and SSD hard drives. However, while recording a piece, Audacity will stop recording and report I am saving to a slow EXTERNAL device. The only external device connected is the Yamaha. If I shut it off, the recording plays thru Windows sound card, so clearly the data is saved on the computer, not the Yamaha. Why does Audacity see my system using an external device?

2

Edit → Preferences → Directories

…I don’t know why you’re getting the error.

3

What is the full and complete error message?

4

That would be good to know. Audacity has always had troubles with external drives because it has no way to analyze their performance. I wish it could do what yours did. Chances are terrific you’re either not using Audacity, or you’re using one very highly modified and from a non-official supplier.

Koz

5

Answering my own question: Having searched the Audacity source code, the only possible source of that error message is this code:

         ShowWarningDialog(&window, wxT("DropoutDetected"), XO("\
Recorded audio was lost at the labeled locations. Possible causes:\n\
\n\
Other applications are competing with Audacity for processor time\n\
\n\
You are saving directly to a slow external storage device\n\
"
         ),
         false,
         XXO("Turn off dropout detection"));
      }

which returns this message:

Recorded audio was lost at the labeled locations. Possible causes:
Other applications are competing with Audacity for processor time
You are saving directly to a slow external storage device

Notice that the message is indicating some “possible causes”, and is not saying that you definitely are using an external drive.

As to where Audacity saves data while recording:

  • If the project has not yet been saved, the audio data is written to Audacity’s temp folder (See “Preferences > Directories” for the exact location).
  • If the project has been saved, then the audio data is written to wherever the project .aup3 file has been saved.
6

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