Weird problem I can't figure out

[koolaid]

I just started using Audacity yesterday and I have to say so far it's been very buggy. For starters no matter what I set my output to I couldn't get any sound, but when I tried plugging my headphones in it would play through them, and if I took them out THEN it would play through my speakers. Today (after starting my computer again this morning) that problem seemed to be gone, and I could listen through the speakers regardless. I previewed some recordings and exported some as WAV onto my desktop to use in another program, which worked, but now when I go back to preview other recordings, OR preview the ones exported on my desktop which worked just fine hours before, I get an error message. Lol well what do you know, I won't be able to tell you exactly what the error message is because now it is working. Very buggy. I remember it mentioned something about my output and sample rate, none of which actually helped. I'd appreciate anyone's input because I'm sure the problem will be back, and I'd rather not just have to hit and miss inbetween times that it works. If it happens again I'll be back with more information.

[koolaid]

Okay the problem is immediately back. Previewing the file on audacity worked, previewing it after exported as .WAV worked, opened my LMMS (Linux Music Making Studio) to transfer the file onto it (which I have successfuly done twice) and it was blank, I went back to check on the originals and I got the following error message from audacity: Error while opening sound device. Please check the output device settings and the project sample rate. And this error message from windows media player: Windows Media Player encountered a problem while playing the file. For additional assistance, click Web Help. Now I know that audacity must be at fault in what it says because it worked just fine 10 minutes ago without having to change anything.

[steve]

I just started using Audacity yesterday and I have to say so far it's been very buggy.

You mean that you have had difficulty with it. That is not necessarily the same as "bugs". If this is all down to bugs then we can not help you, you'll just have to wait for the developers to fix the bugs. Fortunately I think most of the issues are set up problems, so hopefully we will be able to get you up and running.

For starters no matter what I set my output to I couldn't get any sound, but when I tried plugging my headphones in it would play through them, and if I took them out THEN it would play through my speakers. Today (after starting my computer again this morning) that problem seemed to be gone, and I could listen through the speakers regardless.

So what is different?
Are you using USB headphones?
What operating system are you using?
What settings do you have for the record and playback devices in Audacity?
What are the default record and playback devices in the Windows Control Panel?
What sort of sound card do you have?

I previewed some recordings

In what? In Audacity?

and exported some as WAV onto my desktop

16 bit (Microsoft) PCM WAV? What sample rate?

to use in another program, which worked, but now when I go back to preview other recordings, OR preview the ones exported on my desktop which worked just fine hours before, I get an error message.

What's this "other program"? Does it support the type of WAV that you are exporting?
What's the error message?

I won't be able to tell you exactly what the error message is because now it is working.

Could you write it down next time - error messages will sometimes indicate what the problem is.

I remember it mentioned something about my output and sample rate, none of which actually helped.

It may have helped if we knew what it said.

Previewing the file on audacity worked, previewing it after exported as .WAV worked, opened my LMMS

How did we suddenly switch to Linux?

I'd appreciate anyone's input because I'm sure the problem will be back,

I would love to help, but you are not telling us the information that we need. Hopefully the questions that I have raised will give some idea of the kind of things that we need to know.

If someone has never ridden a bicycle, and falls off the first time that they try, it does not mean that the bicycle is faulty. There are people on this forum that will be happy to help you learn, but you should expect to master it immediately. There are links at the top of this page for "Tips" and "Tutorials that provide a lot of information and advice about getting started with Audacity.