Grainy sound

[csgoss]

I am using Stereo Mix and want to record streaming audio. I use Sound Recorder, and everything records fine. It is crystal clear upon playback. However, I have 4 GB RAM on my XP computer, and so when I hit stop or want to record longer than 60 seconds, I get the whole "Not enough memory available to complete this operation. Quit one or more applications to increase available memory, and then try again" error. Okay, so Audacity allows me to record longer than this unhindered. So I go to record, making sure it is on Stereo Mix, and it is distorted and grainy when I play it back. I figure something is wrong with the levels of input, but I don't know the combinations/methods to try to correct this. Frankly, there should be an easy default setting. I really don't care about the other levels. I would appreciate any help on this. Do I really have to try to correct the levels by trial and error? This seems like it would complicate things more, especially for me, because I don't really know what I'm doing with that.

[steve]

I use Sound Recorder, and everything records fine

That's good. It means that your sound system is set up and working correctly.

when I hit stop or want to record longer than 60 seconds, I get the whole "Not enough memory available to complete this operation.

Windows Sound Recorder is set to a default maximum recording length of 60 seconds. This is not a "fault", it is a "feature".

Since WSR works correctly, go back to WSR and check that it is still working correctly (for a 30 second recording) - this is just to make sure that nothing has changed.

Now open Audacity and Select "Preferences" from the "Edit" menu.
On the "Audio I/O" tab, select "Windows Sound Mapper" as the recording and playback devices. This will set up Audacity to use the same settings as WSR.
Set the number of recording channels to "2 channel (stereo)"
Now go to the "Quality" Tab and set the sample rate to 44100Hz and the bit depth to 16 bit.

Recordings in Audacity should now be identical to WSR.

[csgoss]

Thanks very much, this appears to have fixed the problem.

[kozikowski]

Turns out there is a way to force Windows Sound Recorder to go over 60 seconds, but it's beautifully painful. You have to do multiple 60 second blank recordings, stitch them all together, import them, and then record over them.

I'm entering this in the Painful Computing Hall Of Fame.

Koz

[steve]

Turns out there is a way to force Windows Sound Recorder to go over 60 seconds, but it's beautifully painful. You have to do multiple 60 second blank recordings, stitch them all together, import them, and then record over them.

Yes, there is. I made a post about it a while ago: http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic ... 054#p10344