Windows 7 Laptop- bad sound :(

[gentleman]

I've been using audacity since 2006, and always managed with my desktop microphone. However, my desktop computer broke the day windows 7 came out, so I decided after a week to actually buy something new for once

However, on my new laptop, audacity doesn't record well at all. The inbuilt microphone is fine, if very low quality, but my desktop microphone always has terrible fuzzy sounds in the background- even if I mute the microphone! (there's a volume button attached to it)

I have tried this on my dad's laptop (XP) and found similar results- except his worked fine for a few hours before becomming fuzzy. I have a backup microphone, and used that too- with the same results on both laptops! (the backup microphone I had used on my PC until 2008)

Does anyone know why this could be? It means I can't record anything that doesn't hurt to listen to


also... UNRELATED PROBLEM: Audacity often crashes on my new laptop if I've been recording for more than about ten seconds- it just says "audacity has encountered a problem and has to close, sorry for inconvenience".

This never happened on my desktop, no matter how unreliable it was otherwise... (the laptop and my dad's laptop are seemingly very reliable except for recording)

Is this something inherently to do with laptops? Sound cards perhaps? I'm very confused, please help...

-Patrik

[kozikowski]

<<<However, on my new laptop, >>>

Which is a what? Be specific.

<<<but my desktop microphone>>>

Made by whom? Model numbers?

Koz

[gentleman]

Sorry, I didn't realise the problem could be so specific- as i tried it for 2 laptops and 2 microphones I presumed the problem was universal

The microphone is a Samson G-Track GM1U
( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samson-GM1U-Con ... B0015MJE22 http://www.samsontech.com/products/prod ... rodID=1917 )

however I use audacity, not cakewalk as implied by the amazon page

The laptop is an Acer 5738 15.6" widescreen laptop, and the product Code is 738415
( http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/738415 )

thanks again

[steve]

The laptop is an Acer 5738

Ooh, very similar to this one

The microphone is a Samson G-Track GM1U

The most important thing about this for fault diagnosis is that it is USB - that makes a lot of difference.

The inbuilt microphone is fine, if very low quality,

on my laptop the microphone works but the sound quality is appalling.

my desktop microphone always has terrible fuzzy sounds in the background-

This is probably a USB problem - check to see that you have USB 2 drivers installed - also check that they are up to date and suitable for Windows 7.

I have a backup microphone, and used that too- with the same results on both laptops!

Is the backup microphone also USB? If not, does it work if you unplug the USB microphone and reboot your computer?

UNRELATED PROBLEM: Audacity often crashes on my new laptop if I've been recording for more than about ten seconds-

If it's a USB problem, then it is probably not unrelated. Audacity can not run without being connected to a sound card, so if your computer looses connection to the microphone it is very likely to crash, or hang Audacity.

[gentleman]

^Yes, my backup microphone is a USB microphone too

Also, the Samson G-Track makes itself the sound card when you plug it in, but I can change it... perhaps this is significant?

Thank you for the advice, I'll see about the USB2 when I get back home (in about 2-3 hours), but I'm sure my desktop computer had USB1 as it used to pop up saying "upgrade to USB2 for faster connection" when I plugged my Mp3 player in but I ignored it