Audacity Forum

Hi,
I'm trying to record my voice, but the playback sounds distorted, almost like I'm talking underwater. I'm using an Emkay headset, which has a microphone built into it. I have tried various pitches and they all sound distorted, except when I whisper. I'm using Windows ME.
I appreciate any help.
Thanks,
John

I've always said Audacity is the window through which you can view your broken computer.

Has any of this ever worked? Have you used the headset with any other application? Has the sound card in your computer ever worked right?

I can think of at least five different places this could be broken. You hit the jackpot with the radio microphone. Those can be serious magic.

Do you have an iPod?

Can you post ten seconds of the distorted voice somewhere so we can download and hear it?

Koz

Hi Koz,
Thanks for replying. I appologize for missing your reply to my original post of this subject. (I don't know what happened there.)
To answer your questions. I have two, similar types, of headsets, and they both produce the same result. I have NEVER been able to produce a satisfactory recording. As far as I know my sound card works fine. I really only use it for playing music, and listening to some oneline current affairs shows. It's a Via AC97. I don't have an ipod. Where can I post a clip?
Thanks,
John

OK.

Strikes one through four and Via AC97 won't Google. Get a cup of coffee, this may take a while.

Describe your machine. Deskside or laptop? Look in the back and see if you have LINE-IN and MIC-IN connectors to plug things into (usually blue and pink, but not always). Does your machine have a ratty built-in microphone?

Do you have a portable CD player, Sony Walkman? Anything you plug headphones into to listen to music? How close is Radio Shack?

Oh, none of this has anything to do with Audacity. I'm curious why your machine doesn't work right.

Koz

Hi Koz,
I finally was able to find a site to upload my sound file to. Here's the shortcut .......
http://www.4shared.com/file/30206249/a9 ... 00000.html
The file is called "b00000.au". It's rather loud, I know, but at lower volume the distortion is just as evident. Please let me know if this doesn't work.
My machine is a desktop. It does have a mic in connector. It does not have a built in Microphone.
Thanks,
...... john
P.S. If you scroll down to the bottom right of the page, you'll see a download link.

<<<"b00000.au".>>>

Right away we're in trouble. Those aren't sound files. Those are Audacity project segments and the first one or two of them in the /data folder aren't even sound. They're pictures.

Don't worry about it. This burns everybody.

So, back to your timeline, export a WAV or MP3--WAV is better and post that.

Koz

Hi Koz,
I have NO idea what you mean. I only uploaded one file, and when I open it in Audacity it plays my voice. However, I'm sure you know what you're talking about, even if I don't, so I have tried to do as you suggest. There should be two more file on this site, an mp3 and a wav, called b00000.mp3 and b00000.wav
http://www.4shared.com/file/30245850/23 ... 00000.html
http://www.4shared.com/file/30245967/97 ... 00000.html
Thanks,
john

Is this posted somewhere else in addition to here? I swear I posted a reply. I don't see it. But I do see a signpost up ahead....

I hear a radio microphone being interfered with by--probably--your computer.

How far apart can you get the audio base station and the computer? Across the room is good. I bet a lot of the trash goes away. You're going to give me "that look," but I hear no voice distortion. I do hear a radio system fighting for its life in a room with a lot of radio garbage flying through the air.

I have a PC that will destroy FM radios at six feet, so no, I'm not making that up.

Koz

Hi Koz,
I think I posted this somewhere else, maybe the Source Forge forum, but that was way back, before I started talking to you.
My speakers are connected to an amp, which I think is causing the hum.
By 'radio base station' do you mean radio, as in 'radio'? There are no radios nearby. Could the problem be the speakers amp?
Thanks,
.... john

<<<By 'radio base station' do you mean radio, as in 'radio'? >>>

I mean radio as in Wireless Headset. Remember this?

<<<I'm using an Emkay headset>>>

Emkay makes wireless headsets. How about you find the exact model number of your headset?

Koz