1.3.7-3 and USB cable problem (Debian 5, kernel 2.6.30)

[craig61107]

Reports of recordings from USB turntables freezing or having dropouts are not that uncommon. Generally they are not caused by Audacity, but by poor quality equipment and cables, or lack of sufficient USB bandwidth.

This explanation seems inadequate. I use a Numark TTusb and have tried three different USB cables with no success. (They work with a Windows machine running Audacity 1.2.6.) Might there be a bug somewhere?

I would be glad to use an earlier version with Linux, but Synaptic pulls in 1.3.7-3.

Thanks for any advice.

[steve]

This explanation seems inadequate.

I see what you mean, but it is very often the case. Perhaps not so often a cable problem, but certainly we've seen a lot of problems caused by unstable USB chips on external devices, and lots of problems from insufficient USB bandwidth.

The main problem with USB audio is that the available bandwidth must be continuous. Whereas a printer (or many other USB devices) can simply wait for a fraction of a second until the USB connection is available, realtime recording/playback of audio (or video) can not wait. If there is not continuous, uninterrupted bandwidth at (or preferably above) the required rate, then there will be "drop-outs" (bits of the audio missing). In extreme cases this creates continuous noise, or even disconnects the device completely. In less severe cases it causes clicks or rasping distortion types of effects.

Might there be a bug somewhere?

That's always possible, but you have not said exactly what problem you are having.

I would be glad to use an earlier version with Linux, but Synaptic pulls in 1.3.7-3.

Better to use a later version, but currently that will mean building from source.

[99strange]

im using the recent audacity and i only record "what you hear" i had the same problem and tryed to go back to an earlier version but the system would not let me and now im glad i have the new version, anyway i use a usb uca202 that plugs into the back of the computer...then i run the mixer yx802 behringer input to the 202 output and the output to the 202 input..then on the mixer i run the ctrl out to the main speaker (i have desktop speakers the right speaker is the main one for me). now the cable going to the speaker plugs in to the left and right on the 802 mixer ctrl room out and going to the main speaker the wire splits so you will need a two way splitter to plug into the speaker then connect the splits into the splitter going into the speaker.make sure you dont plug into the headphone slot...if you have phantom push that button in ,,cd/tape to ctrl button out,,,cd/tapeto mix botton in.. then make sure the mic is turn up.. now just because you use an external device you still have to go into pluse setting and slect usb codac input and usb codac out put ok then go to audacity under edit at the top of the page go to preferances and open (io or devices) and select usb codac playback and usb recording..also on one of those make sure that you UNcheck DUBBING boxes on one of the preference. finially you still need to go open the gnone mixer(if you dont have it get it from the packages) and push up the volume sliders and all playback sliders. when you open gnome you will see your usb device too. i though i would never get this thing to work but after playing around a week it worked,make sure that you use new connectors that was one of my problems. i not sure if it makes a difference but if you have windows open that too and select usb codac settings under sound preferences for recording and playback and leave it there..after awhile you will want to switch back to your alsa sound to listen to playback and other music so open pluse audio control and switch the output from ubs codac to your soundcards name you will see it. (it's a good idea to launch the Pluse audio control to the top of your desk top as you will be needing it often).once you get recording this pulse setting output is the only thing you want to mess with.....good luck, 99