audio import options apparently not recognised

[idgraham]

First, I promise I have looked at the help-files, manual, FAQs, the relevant wiki article and posts here. I can see my problem is a form of a known one, but I still need more help.

I have used Audacity for years, easily and successfully, on my main PC and its predecessor. Now I want to use it as well on another PC which is solely part of a music-keyboard set-up. It is running Win XP and well-specified.

I'm having a problem getting Audacity to pick up the sound stream going through the PC's audio system - usually a cinch. There is some 'contact', but a lot of distortion - basically a stutter that doubles every identifiable element of sound.

In Audacity, at the top of the Mixer Toolbar drop down list, it says 'Wave Out Mixer'. Now I don't recognise this as anything on the PC, and searching the PC with both Windows and 'Everything' has not found a match. Is this an Audacity default or 'Audacity doesn't know' setting ?

I've been the Preferences>Audio route, and there I can see two potential inputs which are on the PC, but whichever I choose has no impact on what shows in the Mixer Toolbar drop down list, or on the actual performance.

I have uninstalled Audacity, deleted a surprising number of files which the uninstall left behind and reinstalled, and the situation remains exactly as described above.

Any help on getting Audacity to pick up one of the 'real' input options would be much appreciated. (As far as I can remember, this was not an issue in previous installations on my desk PCs. )

Best wishes to all audiophiles

Ian Graham

[steve]

What sound card are you using?
Can you record successfully in Windows Sound Recorder? (WSR is a standard part of a Windows installation - it only records 60 seconds, but it is a useful tool in trouble shooting).

[idgraham]

Hello, Steve - "pleased to meet you".

I'll check those points and come back.

Ian G.

[idgraham]

Hello again, Steve, and possibly others.

I think the sound card is a SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio. (The PC is a Sony Vaio model)

The Windows Recorder works fine - I recorded sixty seconds of the Roland VSC software rendering a midi file.

I saved the file, and opened it in Audacity, and it played fine there as well.

I then tried again to record in exactly the same way with Audacity and got the pulsing interference noted in my first posting - recognisably derived from the sound I was trying to record, but very dirty.

I then tried looping the PC audio out into the line in, selected Line In in Audacity, and tried recording again. The result was different but with similarities. Again there was this pulsing distortion, but principally on one channel, and it was progressive - it just built until the scrolling display in the channel was solid - no visible edges at all.

(The odd thing, 'historically', is that I now remember that last February I actually recorded 4 tracks from my midi equipment on this PC, using the Audacity installation I've just uninstalled and replaced. I have installed and removed various music softwares in the meantime, but the core of my usage remains the same, and in the same installations - Biab, Notation Composer and Onemanband. )




Ian G.

[steve]

The Windows Recorder works fine

Good. Check it again to make sure that you have not altered anything, then close WSR and open Audacity.
Click on "Edit > Preferences"
Go to the "Audio I/O" tab and select "Microsoft Sound Mapper" as the recording device and the playback device.
Restart Audacity.

Cross your fingers and try recording the same thing that you recorded with WSR.

[idgraham]

Well, Steve, I did exactly as you said. But my heart sank somewhat went I opened Audio i/o, because the Microsoft Midi Mapper was already the selected option.........But I carried on, and lo! Audacity is happy again - without anything actually having changed from when it had a sore head, so far as I can see.

I've also repeated the process with SoundMax selected, and again it worked fine - slightly fuller sound, I think, although you might imagine the Midimapper would be using that anyway.......

And in both cases, it still says 'Wave Out' or whatever I reprrted before in the drop-down box on the top - whereas on this PC (also Audacity 1.2.6 ) it says 'Stereo Mixer', which makes more sense.

Computers - they're like children, aren't they ?

I'd really rather understand as well, but for the moment I'll settle for the fact it's all working again.

Many thanks.

Ian G.