Stereo Mix: Static & Other Issues...

[Genome]

Hi.

I'm having two problems that are driving me insane:

1.When I change my input to "Stereo Mix" from Edit --> Preferences, not only does it record 'what I'm hearing,' it also record inputs from my microphone. Even when I mute my microphone recording volume from the control panel, it still persists. Basically, I only want it to record stereo, not my microphone... but it isn't letting me. A google search shows that some people actually want the ability to record both at the same time.... but I don't.

2. Playing back what I record with 'Stereo Mix,' there is usually a ton of static. Sometimes there's no static. It seems completely random to me! Does anyone know what could be causing this? I've looked around and it might be interference, but that doesn't explain how my recordings are sometimes a static mess while other time's they're fine, does it?

I'm using Windows 7 64-bit with the latest unstable version. This problem doesn't only happen in Audacity (occurs in Ventrilo as well, and probably any other recording software), but this forum seems like a good place to start. My sound card the HT Omega Striker 7.1.

Thanks in advance.

[steve]

Even when I mute my microphone recording volume from the control panel, it still persists

You need to also mute the microphone "playback" volume.

This may or may not also fix the other problem - basically when using Stereo Mix you must mute all ins and outs except for the ones that you specifically want to use.

[Genome]

I've muted every device that isn't speakers or stereo mix, but it's still occuring.

[steve]

Is the microphone listed in both the input and output sections of the sound card mixer?

[Genome]

Is the microphone listed in both the input and output sections of the sound card mixer?

I'm not sure what you mean by sound card mixer, but in the Sound Panel from 'Hardware and Sound,' only Speakers and Digital Output are under the playback tab while everything else is in the recording tab, including stereo mix. When double clicked, I only have the option to change the volume and nothing else.

[steve]

I'm not sure what you mean by sound card mixer,

The sound card (hardware) is controlled by a "driver" (software). The driver has one or more user interfaces that control the inputs, outputs and other features of the sound card. On Windows there is usually a loudspeaker icon near to the time/date in the lower right corner of the desktop. Double clicking (sometimes right clicking) on this icon opens the interface. Typically this will look like an audio mixer, but there are a lot of variations from machine to machine.

Often these "mixer interfaces" have multiple tabs, option buttons, and hard to find features, but as they are the primary means of controlling the sound card it is well worth spending time to thoroughly familiarise yourself with it.

Here is a typical screenshot of a Microsoft mixer interface (Win XP) showing the recording section (note the "options" menu - other stuff hidden in there).


Here is a typical screenshot of a Realtek HD mixer interface showing the recording section (note, lots of tabs and buttons with all sorts of stuff hidden behind them)

[Genome]

In my driver's mixer, Mic is on both input and output, but I muted the one on output.

Mic is only on input in the WIndows 7 mixer, though there's a microphone playback slider in "Speakers" which I've also muted.

Since the problem with the static sound doesn't happen ALL the time (though it does 99% of the time), I'm thinking that this isn't a driver issue. Not sure though. It's driving me insane >_>

[steve]

Since the problem with the static sound doesn't happen ALL the time (though it does 99% of the time), I'm thinking that this isn't a driver issue. Not sure though. It's driving me insane >_>

Please try to be specific about the problem - when you said <<I've muted every device that isn't speakers or stereo mix, but it's still occuring.>> I assumed that you meant problem number 1. ("not only does it record 'what I'm hearing,' it also record inputs from my microphone.")

All the stuff I've said about the mixer relates to this issue. Do you still have a problem with it recording from the microphone?

The "static" problem may or may not be related to that issue, so we need to establish whether or not the microphone problem is fixed before we can move on. Then, if it's still a problem, we can look at the "static" problem, and we'll need a better idea about what you mean by "static" - perhaps a short (2 second) WAV file uploaded to "sendspace.com" (or similar) that we can download.

[Genome]

Sorry if I was unclear.

When I said I muted every device (ie. Aux, Line-in, all that stuff) besides speakers / stereo mix, by 'still getting the problem' I meant to say that I still get the 'static' issue (problem 2) as well as the microphone recording (problem 1).

Could it be a possibility for the microphone issue that it's just the way my sound card works? Perhaps they thought it would be a nice feature to allow a user to both record from the computer as well as from the mic at the same time...? Either way, I can always just pull the microphone line out from the sound card which works. Right now I'm more concerned about the static-y noise. I'm away from my PC for a week so I can't upload a file demonstrating the static issue yet, but thanks for the help so far.