Having problems with static

[spenser19]

Hi,
So I have Audacity 1.3x (Beta) with Windows 7. I just recently bought a Blue Snowball USB Microphone just to record some guitar tracks and the first two days it worked great. However, now when I go to record anything there is constant static. Even if I am recording just the open air, there is a constant static noise. Nothing happened to my microphone at all, it's been sitting in the same spot. Please help me!

[kozikowski]

Do you still have the red light on the top? Is it steady?

Shut down the computer. Unplug the microphone and restart Windows. After it's finished starting, shut down again and plug the microphone in and out multiple times -- both ends of the cable. Reach around the back of the microphone, note where the switch is and run the switch back and forth four or five times. Put it back where it was.

Restart Windows.

Still noisy?

Koz

[spenser19]

First, I just want to say thanks for replying to this post.

But yes the red light is steady on top of the microphone. I just tried everything you suggested and it's still the same sound unfortunately. It basically sounds like when you lose reception on your tv and you get static on it.

[steve]

If it is loud static then it is probably due to a bad USB connection problem. Try using a different USB port on the computer. Do not use a USB hub, the connection should be direct to the computer USB port. If it is a full size computer rather than a laptop, try the USB ports on the back rather than USB ports on the front. Avoid using other USB devices at the same time.

[kozikowski]

It's possible you killed your microphone. They do fail. Do you have access to another computer? Either Mac or Windows. If Mac, Apple > System Preferences > Hardware > Sound > Input. Select the microphone and the blue ball sound meter should jump when you talk.

If Windows, you can try the Windows Sound Recorder.

Windows Sound Recorder
-- Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment

Koz

[spenser19]

To Steve,

I'm using a laptop and I've connected it to all 3 of my USB ports and I get the same result. I'm not using any other USB ports when I try it either.

To Koz,

As for the microphone being blown, I've used it on other recording systems since this problem and it works fine. I just want to use Audacity because it's the only recording system I really like because I can record multiple tracks. So I'm really confused what's going on. I appreciate all the help though!

[steve]

Could you post a short sample of this static so that we can hear what we are dealing with?

I've used it on other recording systems since this problem and it works fine.

What sort of "other recording systems"?

[spenser19]

I used it on WavePad Sound Editor, which I don't particularly like but I just wanted to see if my mic was broken or if it could've possibly been Audacity. It didn't have any static problems when I used it on WavePad though.

[steve]

Could you try making a test recording with Microsoft "Sound Recorder".

Also;

Could you post a short sample of this static so that we can hear what we are dealing with?

[spenser19]

Yes I can try that. Do you want me to post both samples on here?