Audacity Forum

I seem to be having a problem with my recordings. I've tried 2 different microphones and 2 different versions of Audacity and I'm still getting the same problem.

More often than not, when I'm recording a track the quality suddenly goes down. And when I go to listen to it, it goes from a normal, half-decent sound to a tinny, barely audible state. I can't understand what it is. I'm hoping it's not my computer but I don't think it is because it doesn't always do this. Just 9 times out of 10. So I'm holding hope that perhaps it's a messed up setting. Also, a lot of times when I'm done with a track and hit stop, it tells me that Audacity has made an error and needs to shut down. I don't know if it's related but I thought it might help to give a clue.

Somebody please help me out. This situation is really pissing me off.

We need to be able to visualize the system.

<<<I've tried 2 different microphones and 2 different versions of Audacity and I'm still getting the same problem.>>>

Which two versions and which microphones? How are they connected? What type of computer? Model number?

We do this help business by building your system in our heads and then "watch" you use it, making suggestions and asking questions along the way. So we need your shopping list.

Koz

Oh okay, let's see. I have an HP Pavilion dv6000 laptop. The mics are actually identical, both 10 dollar ones from Logitech. The two different versions of Audacity are versions 1.2.6 and the 1.3 Beta. Any more questions, just let me know.

Oh and I forgot to add, that I've also tried using the built-in mic on this laptop and it also gives me the same problem.

Hello? Anybody?

rocker3438 wrote:More often than not, when I'm recording a track the quality suddenly goes down.

How fast/slow does it do this? Are we talking seconds / minutes / hours ?
Does the recorded volume level also change at the same time?

As a test, if your computer can record "Stereo Mix", could you try recording something that way and see if you get the same problem.

It's pretty much instantaneous. Sounds all good for about 6 seconds and then all of a sudden it sounds like crap. And I'm a little unclear what you meant with the second question. If you're asking if I have a previous track recorded before and I record again over top of it and both tracks lose quality simultaneously, then no.

I will try this stero mix thing tomorrow. It's late and I don't want to wake my neighbors. Hopefully this helps. Thanks for the help so far, guys.