Audacity Forum

Hi. I've got 2 problems...
I'm trying out Audacity for the first time and I can't get anything to record from an external mic. I'm using an Intel iMac OS 10.4 and a Firewire 1814 as my audio interface. Audacity prefs are set for Firewire as input and output, and my GarageBand app records fine. When I switch to Built in Mic Input recording does take place, but recording quality is pretty poor. When I import an MP3 file, I do get an audio track that plays back, although for some reason, when I stop the playback and hit play again to restart nothing happens unless I first click out of the Audacity window and then reselect it. Thanks for any ideas.

In general, you go to the Apple System Preferences and make sure the right thing is selected. Also, the Apple bouncing light test sound meter should move if your system is working. That's not a regular sound meter -- it's extended range. So if there's anything useful there, it should light up.

Close that and launch Audacity. Audacity > Preferences > Audio I/O and make sure the same device is selected. Close Preferences and click once inside the red Audacity record meters. They should bounce with the show sound.

Let me know which step you got stuck if at all.

Koz

Hi Koz, thanks for replying.


"In general, you go to the Apple System Preferences and make sure the right thing is selected. Also, the Apple bouncing light test sound meter should move if your system is working."

I've got Firewire 1814 Multichannel selected as both input and output. Test sound meter is bouncing great.

"Close that and launch Audacity. Audacity > Preferences > Audio I/O and make sure the same device is selected."

Done. Firewire device is selected

"Close Preferences and click once inside the red Audacity record meters. They should bounce with the show sound."

I don't see red record meters on my screen. Far left of the tool/control area shows a set of 6 tools, (selection envelope pencil etc._ Next are the transport controls, which look grayed out, but come to life when I click the record button. Next are the input and output level meters which are gray colored (not grayed-out). Next are the speaker output and mic input sliders which are all the way to the right, some housekeeping tools below them and the default input source menu, which says Default Input Source.

When I've switched the Audacity prefs and Apple Sound prefs to Built-In mic, red and green level meters appear and recording does take place.

The "Red Record Meters" don't turn red until they start working...

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/Audacity1_record.jpg

If there's no sound there, they don't do anything.

Don't you get a message about checking the sample rate or location of the capture device or something like that? That's Audacity's reaction when it can't figure out what to record from or how to do its job.

I personally would go into Audacity Preferences and change them to 44100, 16-bit (not 32) and Stereo (not Mono). That should be in the first two preference panels. The rest of that doesn't matter. Restart Audacity.

See if the capture starts working.

Do you have QuickTime Pro? This is when that $29 license comes in really handy.

Koz

Hi Koz, thanks for your reply

No I've not seen a message asking for a capture device location or sampling rate. My prefs settings were set as per your recommendations except for the stereo setting, which I've adjusted. Also no, I don't have QTPro. Still no recording activity.

Here's a window screenshot of my Audacity interface.

I see what the problem is. You left out a step. It's real name is M-Audio Firewire 1814. No shortage of M-Audio problems.

http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=9951
http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=4182

Koz

Hi Koz

I've viewed the links you provided. Looks like the gist of these posts is that nobody knows the solution to the problem. (I assume that references to Mbox are references to M-Audion products?) You've opined that once an audio signal is in the Mac, then Audacuty ought to be able to handle it. I am getting signal into the Mac as evidenced by the bouncing level meter in Apple Sound Prefs. Also, in Audacity, when I enable input monitoring, I'm getting audio through my headphones, so Audacity is getting signal from the Mac via Firewire, but won't record for some reason.

You asked about Garage Band in one of your posts. I do have GB and it records fine, if that has any significance here.

Thanks for your help.

jim

<<<Garage Band>>>

The object is to record the work in Something Other Than Audacity to figure out what the data stream configuration is. When I do this with a USB Microphone and QTP, I get a file 44100, 16-bit, Center.

I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting Mono which is what I use to capture the microphone. Can you export a sound file from GB without GB trying to impose its own compression on it? That's pretty common with Mac products and it's a little hard to avoid.

Past that, I'm out of ideas. Does the "M" company have a forum or help system of any kind? When I search, I keep being sent back here.

That's depressing.

I'm flogging myself for even thinking this, but are you willing to ship your device to us for testing? Keep telling yourself, "it's a volunteer forum."

Koz

Hi Koz

Thanks so much for your efforts on my behalf. I'm intrigued about what the M-Audio is doing that keeps a signal from within the Mac from being recorded but sorry I can't operate without my interface box in order to send it to you for testing. Guess you'll have to flog away, huh? If you come up with anything please let me know. Thanks again.

jim