I have installed the latest beta version of Audacity based on my Windows 7, 64 bit operating system. I'm currently using a web-cam mic to test out software compatibility.
Voice recording seems to work OK with no distortion. But if I record a continuous sound either electronic or vocal, there is an abrupt volume reduction after a few seconds. Both the waveform and the playback exhibit this effect. The effect is very dramatic. The initial sound is quite loud, but then is rather soft. It seems that the software is analyzing the first few seconds and then making an automatic adjustment. So far, I haven't found any control in either the Audacity software or the microphone properties that would do that.
Suggestions?
Bill
Constant tone yield non-uniform recording
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Audacity 1.3.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.1.x version.
The final version of Audacity for Windows 98/ME is the legacy 2.0.0 version.
Audacity 1.3.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.1.x version.
The final version of Audacity for Windows 98/ME is the legacy 2.0.0 version.
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kozikowski
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Re: Constant tone yield non-uniform recording
Turn off Windows Conferencing Services.
Windows Enhanced Sound
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 79&start=0
If you leave a continuous sound on long enough, Windows thinks it's air conditioning noise in back of your Skype call and tries to subtract it.
Koz
Windows Enhanced Sound
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 79&start=0
If you leave a continuous sound on long enough, Windows thinks it's air conditioning noise in back of your Skype call and tries to subtract it.
Koz
Re: Constant tone yield non-uniform recording
Thanks Koz,
I read through your comments and the thread. The only thing I could find that seemed applicable was:
"Allow applications the exclusive control of device" I unchecked that and that automatically unchecked:
"Give exclusive mode applications priority"
Then I restarted the computer but the problem persists.
I've gone completely through the Control Panel but find no other references to control of sound other than the names of devices and their drivers. I can't find any reference to conferencing at all. I do have the Home Version of Windows 7.
I read through your comments and the thread. The only thing I could find that seemed applicable was:
"Allow applications the exclusive control of device" I unchecked that and that automatically unchecked:
"Give exclusive mode applications priority"
Then I restarted the computer but the problem persists.
I've gone completely through the Control Panel but find no other references to control of sound other than the names of devices and their drivers. I can't find any reference to conferencing at all. I do have the Home Version of Windows 7.
Re: Constant tone yield non-uniform recording
The "Conferencing" effects that you need to turn off are probably called "Noise Reduction" or "Automatic Gain" or "AGC" or "Echo Cancellation".
Finding those settings can be tricky, but they are probably tucked away somewhere in the sound card / microphone settings.
Finding those settings can be tricky, but they are probably tucked away somewhere in the sound card / microphone settings.
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Re: Constant tone yield non-uniform recording
Steve,
I have searched everywhere for "Gain", AGC, microphone, conference, sound card, control panel — every word on your list. But I've found nothing that allows me to adjust or turn off a feature that affects the sound clamping down after a second or two. Sound quality is fine — it just drops the volume. I agree that this sounds like an automatic gain issue, although the sound doesn't seem overloaded even initially. So, I'm not even sure why an AGC would choose to reduce the level as far as it does.
Bill
I have searched everywhere for "Gain", AGC, microphone, conference, sound card, control panel — every word on your list. But I've found nothing that allows me to adjust or turn off a feature that affects the sound clamping down after a second or two. Sound quality is fine — it just drops the volume. I agree that this sounds like an automatic gain issue, although the sound doesn't seem overloaded even initially. So, I'm not even sure why an AGC would choose to reduce the level as far as it does.
Bill
Re: Constant tone yield non-uniform recording
The problem occurs when using the web-cam mic?
how is the web-cam mic connected to the computer?
If it is plugged into the microphone socket, what sort of sound card do you have?
how is the web-cam mic connected to the computer?
If it is plugged into the microphone socket, what sort of sound card do you have?
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Re: Constant tone yield non-uniform recording
Steve,
That's correct, I am using a webcam microphone by Logitech to try out home recording. I expect to get a better mic soon, but I want to try out the concept and see that everything works. The webcam plugs into a USB port. The only listing for anything that sounds like a sound card is "Microsoft High Definition Audio Device and there are two of them listed. I've looked in the Control Panel under Sound/Devices and also run the Belarc Advisor. Nothing else is listed.
The webcam works fine in either Audacity or to record a video with sound. The sound is good, if not remarkable. But if you sing or play a sustained tone for just a few seconds, the volume clamps down. This is quite noticeable when viewing the Audacity recording timeline.
Bill
That's correct, I am using a webcam microphone by Logitech to try out home recording. I expect to get a better mic soon, but I want to try out the concept and see that everything works. The webcam plugs into a USB port. The only listing for anything that sounds like a sound card is "Microsoft High Definition Audio Device and there are two of them listed. I've looked in the Control Panel under Sound/Devices and also run the Belarc Advisor. Nothing else is listed.
The webcam works fine in either Audacity or to record a video with sound. The sound is good, if not remarkable. But if you sing or play a sustained tone for just a few seconds, the volume clamps down. This is quite noticeable when viewing the Audacity recording timeline.
Bill
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kozikowski
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Re: Constant tone yield non-uniform recording
Logitech comes with a control panel. Check in there, or install it if you didn't.
You understand what we're doing here? There are three automatic sound systems to make sure Skype calls work OK. Automatic Volume Control is pretty obvious. Echo cancellation makes sure the person at the other end doesn't hear their own voice coming back late from your speakers (that's why it's highly recommended to wear earbuds or headphones during a call).
The last one is environment management. Nobody is interested in hearing your air conditioning noises, so if there is a steady sound present for a long time, the system will try to analyze it and subtract it from the show.
Obviously, all these tools will make recording your guitar solo a mess.
Koz
You understand what we're doing here? There are three automatic sound systems to make sure Skype calls work OK. Automatic Volume Control is pretty obvious. Echo cancellation makes sure the person at the other end doesn't hear their own voice coming back late from your speakers (that's why it's highly recommended to wear earbuds or headphones during a call).
The last one is environment management. Nobody is interested in hearing your air conditioning noises, so if there is a steady sound present for a long time, the system will try to analyze it and subtract it from the show.
Obviously, all these tools will make recording your guitar solo a mess.
Koz
Re: Constant tone yield non-uniform recording
I suspect that you may have been looking for these "microphone effects" in the in-built sound card settings, but you need to look in the Logitech audio settings.
The Logitech recording input may be hidden in the Windows Control Panel. Instructions for un-hiding devices are included in this article: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel
Alternatively, there may be a special Logitech control panel as Koz has suggested - If there is then that might be an easier option for finding the settings that need to be turned off.
The Logitech recording input may be hidden in the Windows Control Panel. Instructions for un-hiding devices are included in this article: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... trol_Panel
Alternatively, there may be a special Logitech control panel as Koz has suggested - If there is then that might be an easier option for finding the settings that need to be turned off.
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Re: Constant tone yield non-uniform recording
Thanks for the additional suggestions. I did look in both the webcam software AND the control panel, turning off everything I could. I also uninstalled the Logitech software completely. None of those things changed the modification of the sound envelope I described.
My end goal on this is to get a better microphone and multitrack voice into Audacity. This was just an attempt to get some practice and experience with the only mic I have currently. But given all the baggage that seems to come along with the webcam, I think I may just move to the next step and purchase a separate mic.
I'll post again when I've had some experience with the new equipment.
Bill
My end goal on this is to get a better microphone and multitrack voice into Audacity. This was just an attempt to get some practice and experience with the only mic I have currently. But given all the baggage that seems to come along with the webcam, I think I may just move to the next step and purchase a separate mic.
I'll post again when I've had some experience with the new equipment.
Bill