choppy voice when recording

[TIALCER]

I just purchased a Gateway laptop(WIndows 7) with a built in microphone. I want to use audacity with a external mic(headset) to make songs. Whenever I record my voice it is very choppy and sounds terrible. Could it be my computer settings, audacity settings, sound/audio card, or that I am using a external mic with the built in mic still working? I have used audacity before with my previous laptop and it worked fine. I would appreciate any feedback! Thanks!TIALCER

Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2009 8:36 pm
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[Irish]

If you click on View > Show Clipping after you have recorded a track, do you get vertical red bars in the track display?

If you do, you are overloading the input. Try reducing the level on the input volume slider. Also, try placing the mic to one side of your mouth, not in front.

If it is not clipping, we need to look somewhere else.

PO'L

[kozikowski]

<<<Whenever I record my voice it is very choppy and sounds terrible.>>>

With both microphones? Who made the external one and what's the model number or how is it connected?

Koz

[TIALCER]

Irish-Its not the clipping. It seems whenever I just record without an audio track it sounds better than when I actually have a track playing. For example, when I have a song and try to sing over the words it sounds really choppy rather than if I just press record without a track already there. I dont know if thats becasue there's a problem with my computer or with my audacity settings.

Kozikowski-I have a external headset plugged in the side of my computer where the microphone input is located. The microphone is fairly cheap. Could that make a big difference in making it sound choppy? When I record with the built in microphone it sounds the same way so I think it might have to do with my computer.

[Irish]

when I have a song and try to sing over the words it sounds really choppy rather than if I just press record without a track already there.

That's the important bit of information.

It looks as though your computer is managing to record one track on its own, but is struggling to record one and play back another at the same time.

Can you give us some details to go on:
What type of computer?
What size hard disk, and how much free space?
Are you using an external disk drive? (You shouldn't)
How much memory?

Audacity uses lots of disk space and memory. You need at least 10% free, de-fragmented space on your hard disk at all times.

PO'L

[TIALCER]

I actually just purchased the computer. It is a brand new Gateway Nv5207u. It has 4gb memory and 320 gb storage space. So the amount of space isn't the problem. I am thinking the problem might have to do with the sound card or microphone. I use a fairly cheap microphone(headset) that is plugged in the side where the microphone plug in is. I previously had a toshiba laptop and it was able to record nicely with the same microphone.

[Irish]

<<<Whenever I record my voice it is very choppy and sounds terrible.>>>

With both microphones? Who made the external one and what's the model number or how is it connected?

I don't think you answered all of that.

Is the problem worse with the external microphone than the built-in one?
Is the sound always OK without another track playing while you record, or is it just less bad?

Are you using headphones to listen to the track that is playing while you record?

PO'L

[kozikowski]

The quality of the microphone may give you bad quality sound (harsh or maybe muffled). Or maybe a little noise when you stop talking. "Hello sssssssss How are you sssss?"

Gross drop outs and chattering or bubbling is a computer or data problem. We just get to figure out where.

Singing to yourself is stressy for the computer. The machine has to play the existing track back to you perfectly with no holes and no damage in real time, and at the same time capture and digitize your voice and push it on to the same hard drive that's trying to present the song. If you're going to have a bottleneck or speed problem, this is a good place.

Still, it's a new machine and it hasn't had time to get all mucked up and slow yet. Hmmm.

Koz

[TIALCER]

I really appreciate your help so far! To answer your questions,the external microphone sounds a little better than the built in microphone. The sound is always ok when there is not another track playing when I record. It doesn’t really sound choppy at all when there is not a track already there. I have even tried singing a song while it is being played on windows media player and not in audacity. The sound still ends up being choppy. Even when I record over just my voice(no song, just my voice) it still ends up being choppy as well. I am using headphones while I play the music. I have tried recording my voice without the headphones on and it doesn’t make a difference.

[Irish]

I'm trying to think what else would fit these symptoms, and not having much success.

The manufacturer's spec. for your machine boasts

"High-Definition Audio Support (2nd Generation Dolby Sound Room® Audio Enhancement featuring Dolby® Headphone, Dolby® Natural Bass, Dolby® Sound Space Expander), Built-In speakers, Digital microphone, headphone/Speaker/Line-Out Jack with S/PDIF support"

Is it possible, with all that Dolby processing going on, that the sound card can't handle an input signal at the same time?

Can you configure the sound card to run in the most basic mode, with no effects or enhancements?

PO'L