Audacity Forum

I just started using The Ripper (USB input) on W2K machine and all goes well...then suddenly white noise starts on both channels as recording is progressing. Finally got through with one 4 minute recording and started the next track and the noise appears again. Running 1.2.6...last good W2K version?
Any info is appreciated.
Kevin

The most likely cause for this is a poor USB connection.

You are not plugging this in via USB hub are you? If so try using a direct USB input on your PC.

If you are alreadty plugged directly try firstly removing and replugging the USB plug - or (gently) wiggle it in its socket. If that doesn't work try your other USB ports. If you have an alternate PC available, try that too. If none of them work then it is likely that the device is broken. In which cas you need to send it back for a replacement or your money back.

There is no reason for Audacity not to work with USB devices - I started out with a USB turntable and then upgraded to a pre-amp and USB soundcard for digitizing my vinyl - and I have not had a USB problem like that on either of my PC's (he says touching wood quickly ... ).

One thing I do note from looking at your device on t'interweb is that it appears to be a fairly expensive device to do that job. For example it's about twice as expensive as the ART device http://www.artproaudio.com/products.asp ... t=9&id=128 I use an ART phono pre-amp with an Edirol UA-1EX soundcard - and these give excellent results with my vinyl digitization.

BTW I would seriously consider upgarding to the Beta version of Audacity 1.3.8 - despite the dire warnings of unstable software and for advanced users only, 1.3 is now nearing potential release status - we expect 2.0 later this year. So you may find it better to learn the new features from the start rather than upgrading later this year. 1.2.6 is so ancient now that Noah would have used it before the flood ...

You can get the beta from here: http://audacityteam.org/download/beta_windows just make sure that you download Audacity and not one of the paid-for pieces of software that advertise on the site.

WC

Yes, the noise is likely the USB bitstream becoming corrupted during the transmission. Do write back and tell us what you found.

With machines that old, are you sure you don't have a USB mismatch? One of my Win2K machines only supports USB 1.1 and doing transfers with that one is really painful and probably not good for live sound (although they may claim it is).

Also with those machines, you have the problem of "Everybody Knows." Everybody knows the back USB ports work a lot better than the front, etc.

Live audio (or video) immediately points to failures you didn't know you had. If you have data corruption on an external hard drive, the drive will just keep trying until it gets it right. You may or may not notice a slowdown. Audacity will collapse. There is no wait.

Koz

Thank you both for your replies.
I do have a 4 port hub installed (internally powered) which seemed to be transferring pictures fine, but.....
I will try the back side USB connection.
I did also encounter the noise using Nero. I got about 3 to 4 minutes in and then sounded like I switched to FM static but could be closer to white noise. Both channels pretty much peg out.
I built and just started using The Ripper and am presuming it is correct. So maybe the USB connection, or The Ripper. Now to some testing.
Thanks,
Kevin

USB Hubs have never worked right with live production. Any equipment in the pathway that has to stop and think about it every so often is deadly to real-time production.

Koz

Last night seemed to be normal, using the back motherboard USB connection and successfully recorded a 35 minute test.
Thanks to all for the information and advise.
Regards.