Audacity Forum

I am getting static on the left channel when I start the record button even though I am not sending a signaL to be recorded or have nothing plugged in such as a phono, microphone, or tape. How do I troubleshoot this problem?

dalendolor wrote:I am getting static on the left channel when I start the record button even though I am not sending a signaL to be recorded or have nothing plugged in such as a phono, microphone, or tape. How do I troubleshoot this problem?

what problem ?

that is normal -- or could be

can you record a real signal okay ?

if the noise is low enough that is just the way the cheap onboard soundcards work. my realtek did that. but it died a few weeks later. maybe your card is defective or going bad.

what is the db level of the noise?
can you post a picture of the first ten seconds you record?

Thanks for the reply. The level is about 30db. And no, I am not able to record. Also don't know how to send a picture of the static. You may be right that it is a sound card problem. I get the same static with Cool Edit. Suspicious, Yes?

in that case i suspect the sound card

but you may have a bad connection to the pc
loose wire inside
or other problem

but in my case it was the sound card on the middle pc
two older ones work fine
newest one not yet set up