Audacity Forum

So, I just downloaded the newest version of audacity (1.3.6) on a Windows XP Professional computer and now I can only record 2 channels of audio. I regularly record my music team using 4 channels and now I can't... Why has this changed? And is there some way to work around this? Thanks!

From your very brief description, I doubt that anyone will know what you are asking. Are you using 4 channel audio hardware? How have you configured Audacity? Have you recently updated to SP3? What version of Audacity were you using previously, and does that still do what you want?

Sorry about the short description... I'm still kinda new to using beta software (of any sort) and am not sure what into is pertinent.

Anyway...
Yes, I am using 4 channel audio hardware.
I'm not sure exactly how I have it configured, It should be straight out of the box, as such, with the exception of the audio channels and device.
I think the computer is using SP3, but the problem has to do with this version of Audacity (I still have an older version 1.3.4 I think) on the computer and it still works fine.
Yes, the older still works... but I'd like to use some of the new features (timed recording, etc)

Does that help at all? Thanks!!

The set-up for 1.3.6 is very similar to 1.3.4
Open Audacity 1.3.4, click on "Edit > Preferences" and select the first tab (Audio I/O), and make a note of the settings.
Close Audacity 1.3.4 and open Audacity 1.3.6 (you can't have both versions open at the same time) and check that the settings are the same.
Repeat for the second tab (Quality).

That should cover most of the important settings.

Now restart Audacity 1.3.6 and see how it goes.

If you still have problems, give a detailed step-by-step description of what you are doing, what is happening and what is not working (remember that in this conversation, you are the only one that can see your machine).

Not to say otherwise, but I actually CAN have both versions open at the same time... They settings are the same except the drop-down box which lets me select the channels of recording audio.

I'm not sure how to describe everything, but the only problem I'm having is audacity not letting me record more than 2 tracks. It just seems that the new audacity doesn't allow me to record more than 2 channels at once.

Anyway, thanks for your help! You've been great!

DAGinator wrote:Not to say otherwise, but I actually CAN have both versions open at the same time...

Ok, so it let you, but I wouldn't recommend running them at the same time. Although it is sometimes possible to run more than one instance of Audacity at a time, it is also a very easy way to crash your computer.

What devices do you have listed for recording and playback, and what do you have selected?

Also, Click on "Help > Device Info" and if you get a box full of text, copy and paste it into your reply.

Yeah, I know. It's just is a lot easier when making setting changes between both (I've never had trouble with it crashing the computer).

Ok, I will send that info next time I log onto that computer (it's a shared computer at my college/church).

Thanks again!

Hello, I seem to be having a similar problem with only two channels allowed. I am running xp home sp1 and a dell inspiron 1100 laptop with firewire card installed for an alesis multimix 16. This gives me 16 channels on the stable version of audacity. I switched to the beta to see if the new record to ram feature will help my skipping issues. I am able to select the recording device but not more than 2 channel stereo in the channel # setting. It doesn't seem to pick up any audio from the mixer either, although I have only tried channel 2 so far. I only have 1.3.6 so maybe an earlier version will work. Where do I get an earlier beta version? also sometimes the record bar just seems to get stuck at the beginning when I hit record. Stays that way until I shutdown and restart.