Volume Problem

[cyberkey]

I had been running an older version of Audacity on my old XP computer without any problems. I just replaced the old computer with a new Win 7 64 bit machine and installed a new version 1.3.13. It seemed to work fine “right out of the box” until I converted to MP3 and played back the result. The volume is very low - just barely audible with the volume and speakers turned all the way up. Here’s how I’m recording:

From Stereo Mix
Software playthrough deselected
Recording device - Realtek specific
Channels - 2 stereo

That has always worked for me before, but on the new machine, the volume is gone. Turning up the stereo mix volume or Audacity input volume does nothing other than adding a ringing echo chamber effect. I must be doing something wrong, but I can’t figure out what it might be.

Any help appreciated....

[kozikowski]

You probably should deselect Stereo Mix and return your machine to a straight recorder and player. That bit about odd echoes means your sound pathway isn't what you think it is.

Also make sure Windows isn't trying to help you by setting sound quality for you.

Windows Enhanced Sound
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 79&start=0

Koz

[cyberkey]

Okay, maybe this isn’t supposed to work, but it did.

First, I routed around for anything that might be considered a Windows or sound system “enhancement” and disabled/unchecked it. No improvement. Then I went back into the Stereo mix controls and unchecked “listen to this device” (but kept it enabled), and the problem was solved. I’m using all the same settings, but now have full control of the volume control, both in the stereo mix output and the Audacity input.

Anyway, it’s now recording just as it did on my old machine.

[Gale Andrews]

I went back into the Stereo mix controls and unchecked “listen to this device” (but kept it enabled), and the problem was solved.

Thanks for letting us know.

"Listen to this device" should never be enabled for stereo mix. It's software playthrough just like that in Audacity and will give you similar echoes recording from stereo mix.



Gale

[Gale Andrews]

What Koz means is that by default most Windows Vista/7 systems will turn on echo cancellation and noise suppression effects that are mean to improve sound when making internet phone calls but are unsuitable when you want to record high quality audio. See:
http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/FAQ: ... hancements

Gale

Moderator note: previous spam post removed from thi sthread - Gale's response retained as it expands on Koz' explanation.