Audacity Records Too Fast Makes Voice Very Deep

[itisme1760]

I have a major problem. I have a standard simple setup, a computer and a headset (two plugs, one mic, one speakers) that I use to record my podcast. Before going into Audacity, my microphone works fine. But after opening Audacity, my mic seems to have dropped in tone and records at 2 - 3X faster than it suppose to (one second of recording = 3 secs in Audacity). There is something seriously wrong. Even after I exit out of Audacity, the setting stays the same, forcing me to restart my computer before continuing the podcast recording. Anybody know what's going on?

[kozikowski]

<<<Anybody know what's going on?>>>

What happens if you leave Audacity off and record your material in Windows Sound Recorder?

Windows Sound Recorder
Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> Entertainment

Does it work?

Koz

[itisme1760]

Still doesn't work. It's so weird. It leaves the very deep voice sound even after I close out Audacity.

[kozikowski]

No, I mean forget Audacity. Open Windows Sound Recorder and see if you can get a good recording and playback.

Koz

[itisme1760]

I can't, even after I close out of Audacity. I use Ventrilo / Teamspeak as a VOIP solution to talk to some friends. I talk fine and my voice sounds normal but right when I open Audacity during my VOIP session, everyone hears me as very deep in tone and very slow.

[steve]

I have a standard simple setup,

I use Ventrilo / Teamspeak as a VOIP solution

A bit of a contradiction there

Anyone know anything about Ventrilo / Teamspeak?
Do they have a support forum?

So you're trying to record the VOIP conversation?
Can you record a bit of it with "Windows Sound Recorder" (as a test)? (Audacity NOT OPENED at any time during the VOIP session).

Audacity uses the same sound system (the Windows Sound System) as Windows Sound Recorder. If you can not record with Windows Sound Recorder, then Audacity will not be able to do it either.

[itisme1760]

No, I use that to talk, that was just a base line thing to say to compare audacity to. I don't record over that, I use Skype to record. During this time before opening Audacity, my voice is fine and isn't affected. But whenever I go into Audacity to start recording, it records really fast (1 sec = 2-3 secs of recording) and playing back the material makes my voice very deep. If I use a Skype plugin to record, it records fine and it doesn't change my voice to a deep voice.

[steve]

Not wanting to sound like a stuck record, but what happens when you record with "Windows Sound Recorder"?
(NOT using Audacity. NOT opening Audacity. JUST opening "Windows Sound Recorder" and recording something.)

[itisme1760]

Works fine if I do not open audacity at all.

If I ever do open it though, to reset the audio settings, I would need to do a reboot of the machine. Which is very annoying.

[kozikowski]

<<<I would need to do a reboot of the machine.>>>

Audacity is not inherently unstable, however, because it's work can have a very large footprint, machine troubles can show up that don't show up any other way--or at least not in an obvious way. How full are your hard drives?

How many other audio applications do you have installed? Skype in particular does Not Play Well With Others. It likes to go out and grab services to insure a good, two-way communications channel--to heck with what everybody else is doing.

Another possibility is a damaged Audacity install. Audacity 1.2 on a Windows machine is a trial. Audacity kept its setups and preferences inside the Dreaded Windows Registry and it's really difficult to treat a broken install. I would probably uninstall it via the Windows Control Panels and try a fresh install. If your new Audacity wakes up from first birthday with its preferences already customized, then the Windows Registry settings may be scrambled.

Abandon Hope All Ye...

Koz