Audacity Forum

I don't know what I missed but I CANNOT record or playback any audio.
I have tried everything I can think of but no results. I'm frustrated as hell.
I have a DELL computer with a Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio board.
No matter what setting I make, I get NO results.
The computer is only a couple months old so should have the latest drivers.
Anyone have any ideas what I'm not doing or doing wrong?

mantonschool, the problem with adding your question to an existing topic is that we have no idea if you are using the same equipment or are trying to do the same thing as the writer of the original question. What operating system are you using and what are you trying to record?

mantonschool wrote:The computer is only a couple months old so should have the latest drivers.

I agree that it should, but that does not mean that it will have. In fact it is rare that new PCs are shipped with the latest drivers - most manufacturers seem to be more interested in shipping with lots of demo products and other junkware than ensuring that the drivers are up to date.

Hi again.
I have been otherwise engaged for a while so have not had so much time to devote to Audacity. Even so, the problem remains. If I record from a source (stereo mix or line in) using v.1.2.6, the recording time scale exactly matches the real time elapsed and the resulting playback is at the same speed as the original. However if I record exactly the same signal using v.1.3.11, the time scale on the recording is consistently 31% of the real time (e.g. a 30 second clip is recorded as 9.3 seconds) and the resulting playback has the "chipmunks" effect already described. I cannot find any setting in Preferences which could alter this. I can make a recording using v.1.2.6 and import it into v.1.3.11 and it plays at normal speed. I can, of course, alter the speed of playback in v.1.3.11 and use the play button associated with that but I cannot see how this (a) should be necessary or (b) is an advance on v.1.2.6.
Yours in hair-tearing mode,
T

Had a quick look through this lengthy thread and don't see the information. Apologies if this is repetition, but could you give the following information:

Open Audacity 1.2.6 and look in the following 2 places and report all of the settings;
"Edit menu > Preferences > Audio I/O"
"Edit menu > Preferences > Quality"

Close Audacity 1.2.6 then open Audacity 1.3.11 and report the settings in these 2 locations;
"Edit menu > Preferences > Devices"
"Edit menu > Preferences > Quality"

Hi
As requested for v.1.2.6:

1. Audio I/O
Playback
Device: Creative Sound Blaster PCI128
Recording
Device: same
Channels: 2 (stereo)
Other boxes not ticked

2. Quality
Sample rate: 44100Hz
Default sample format: 32 bit float
Real time sample rate conversion: Fast Sinc
High Quality sample rate conversion: HQ Sinc converter
Real time dither: none
HQ dither: Triangle

Hope this helps, I have tried to ensure that I use the same settings when using v.1.3.11.
T.

Hi again
The settings at present in v.1.3.11 are:

1, Devices
Host: MME
Playback device: CSB PCI128
Recording device: same
Channels: 2 (stereo)

2. Quality
Default sample rate: 44100Hz
Default sample format: 32 bit float
Sample rate conversion: Fast Sinc Interpolation
Dither:none
HQ conversion: HQ Sinc Interpolation
Dither: none

T.

I was really hoping that the information would dig up something decisive, but it doesn't. That all looks fine, so now we're left with going after the long-shots.

I'm not sure what you've tried or what your level of computer experience is, so I'll cover a few issues and you can shout if there's anything that does not make sense:

Do you have "Creative Mixer" installed (most SB cards install it as standard and put a link to it in the Taskbar Notification Area (near the time/data).
If you have that installed, you can set recording and playback settings there. Check that the recording source is set to "What U Hear".

Do you know how to set the default recording and playback devices in the Windows Control Panel?
If you do, check that they are both set to the SB PCI-128

Open Audacity 1.3.11 in "Edit menu > Preferences > Devices" set the recording and playback devices to "Microsoft Sound Mapper".
Try each of the "Host" settings. It shouldn't be necessary, but to be double sure, restart Audacity each time you change a setting.

Creative PCI Audio Mixer does not offer the option to set recording source as "What U Hear". Only volume changes, muting and balance.
Default record and playback device set as recommended.
Other suggestions (many of which I had tried previously) have no effect.
T

I downloaded v.1.3.7 and had no more success with that than with v.1.3.11.
T

You, or the computer are rapidly digging yourself a hole. The ability of the computer to record itself is built into the sound card, the sound card software drivers, and Windows. If any one of them decides you are not going to record internet audio, that's the ball game. It's not up to Audacity. Audacity is a complete slave to what the computer does.

Many newer computers are shipping without this ability and it's getting harder and harder to find.

You can use the software solution. Total Recorder for Windows will happily record internet music for you. I think versions up to Windows 7 are current.

http://www.highcriteria.com/

Koz