Audacity Forum

Audacity Version: 1:2:6
Operating System: XP

I have downloaded Audacity all fine, loaded up an MP3 and tested it out with a vocal (not nice!) via the built-in laptop microphone etc, all WAS fine.

Now anytime I load up an MP3 track and press 'record' I get the following message pop up:-

"Error while opening sound device. Please check the input device settings and the project sample rate"

I have scoured the help file but cannot find anything about it; I have also deleted Audacity and reloaded it and still the problem persists?

Many thanks

Look in "Edit menu > Preferences > Audio I/O"
What settings are available and what settings are selected?

stevethefiddle wrote:Look in "Edit menu > Preferences > Audio I/O"
What settings are available and what settings are selected?

I have tried various combinations of the following; this is the current selection - Still the same problem persists

Item: Enabled:
Autoscroll while playing *
Always allow pausing *
Always allow playing *
Update spectrogram while playing *
Enable Edit toolbar *
Enable Mixer toolbar *
Enable Meter toolbar *
Quit Audacity upon closing last window
Enable dragging of left and right selection edges
Enable ergonomic order of Audio I/O buttons *

stevethefiddle wrote:Look in "Edit menu > Preferences > Audio I/O"
What settings are available and what settings are selected?

Playback
Device = Microsoft Sound Mapper - Output

Recording
Device = Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input

Channels: 5

Play other tracks while recording new one
Software Playthrough (Play new track while recording it) *

I have also tried various combinations of the above still no luck

Change "Channels" to "2 (stereo)", then click OK, then close and restart Audacity.

stevethefiddle wrote:Change "Channels" to "2 (stereo)", then click OK, then close and restart Audacity.

Thats cured it!! Can't think how that changed from the original (and no doubt default) setting? Too many exploring fingers possibly!!

I'm sure there will be a multitude of other question as i've not even started experimenting with the effects (presume I can import others?) and mixing levels etc etc etc............!

Watch this space.

Gawd Bless Ya Steve

yaketysax wrote:Can't think how that changed from the original (and no doubt default) setting? Too many exploring fingers possibly!!

It's good to experiment - a great way to learn - and even better when you remember what you did

Another suggestion/recommendation is to try Audacity version 1.3.12. Don't worry about its "beta" status, it is a mature and stable beta and contains loads of enhancements over the old 1.2.6 version, and even contains a pretty comprehensive help file. There are also links to "Tips" and "Tutorials" at the top of this page that are worth checking out.

Have fun experimenting

stevethefiddle wrote:

yaketysax wrote:Can't think how that changed from the original (and no doubt default) setting? Too many exploring fingers possibly!!

It's good to experiment - a great way to learn - and even better when you remember what you did

Another suggestion/recommendation is to try Audacity version 1.3.12. Don't worry about its "beta" status, it is a mature and stable beta and contains loads of enhancements over the old 1.2.6 version, and even contains a pretty comprehensive help file. There are also links to "Tips" and "Tutorials" at the top of this page that are worth checking out.

Have fun experimenting

Thanks again Steve - It is indeed very addictive! I presume the Beta version will allow me to import what I have already done in the former version? What about the effects? I have been told they are not very subtle; Can effects be downloaded/imported also? Any suggestions?
Regards
Paul

Yes the 1.3.x version can import projects that have been created in 1.2.x, but not the other way round. Projects saved in Audacity 1.3.x cannot be opened by Audacity 1.2.x.

yaketysax wrote:What about the effects? I have been told they are not very subtle

Most of the standard effects are the same, but some have been considerably improved (for example, the Equalizer is much easier to use, the Compression effect is much better). "Subtlety" is more a question of how you use the effects rather than the effects themselves. The standard effects that are included provide the majority of essential tools, but additional "plug-in" effects can be added if required. http://audacityteam.org/download/plugins
Support for VST effects on Windows still has some limitations, but it is considerably enhanced from the 1.2.6 version.