I'm not happy with the way Audacity (both 1.3.12 and 1.3.13 alpha, Ubuntu 10.10 64-bit, PulseAudio) plays audio: the graphic display is not coordinated with the sound, and the sound is truncated, mostly at the end but possibly also at the beginning. This makes precise audio editing very difficult.
I recall that earlier versions of Audacity a few years back were more precise in this respect, so I think it's a regression.
How to reproduce:
1) Select exactly one second of audio.
2) Press Space to play the selected audio.
Expected behavior: Exactly one second of audio should be played. The current position should correspond to the audio being played.
Actual behavior: At most a small fraction of a second of audio is played. Mostly you just hear a hissing sound. The current position moves spastically, seemingly somewhat ahead of the audio being played.
Imprecise playback, difficult to edit sound
Forum rules
Audacity 1.3.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.x.x package for your distribution or compile Audacity from the source code.
Audacity 1.3.x is now obsolete. Please use the current Audacity 2.x.x package for your distribution or compile Audacity from the source code.
Re: Imprecise playback, difficult to edit sound
I can't reproduce that...
I'm on Debian (32 bit), Audacity 1.3.12, PulseAudio running. Playback device on Audacity is ALSA: default.
If I generate a tone (440Hz), then select 1 second of it and play, it plays 1 second. The cursor moves smoothly...
I was going to record a video of it, but I'm currently in the middle of a major dist-upgrade (over 1000 packages) and my system is starting to break down... If it's all ok after the reboot I'll try to record a video of it then (hopefully it will still have the same behaviour as now
).
I'm on Debian (32 bit), Audacity 1.3.12, PulseAudio running. Playback device on Audacity is ALSA: default.
If I generate a tone (440Hz), then select 1 second of it and play, it plays 1 second. The cursor moves smoothly...
I was going to record a video of it, but I'm currently in the middle of a major dist-upgrade (over 1000 packages) and my system is starting to break down... If it's all ok after the reboot I'll try to record a video of it then (hopefully it will still have the same behaviour as now
).Include as much details as you can in your post (Audacity version, Operating System, Equipment used, etc).
Please post your question in the appropriate forum (regarding audacity version and operating system).
Please post your question in the appropriate forum (regarding audacity version and operating system).
Re: Imprecise playback, difficult to edit sound
OK, then maybe there's something on my system that is slowing Audacity down. I can see Audacity using a lot of CPU and making Xorg work hard, too; both are consuming some 17 % CPU during playback.
--
Cheers,
Per Ångström
--
Cheers,
Per Ångström
Re: Imprecise playback, difficult to edit sound
17% isn't too much shouldn't be a problem...
My upgrade went well everything working, but I can't record with recordmydesktop with sound (using jack). If I record without sound it's fine, but if i record with --use-jack it complains about the specified area being larger than window! (go figure what the sound has to do with the window size...).
So anyway here's a video with no sound...
My upgrade went well everything working, but I can't record with recordmydesktop with sound (using jack). If I record without sound it's fine, but if i record with --use-jack it complains about the specified area being larger than window! (go figure what the sound has to do with the window size...).
So anyway here's a video with no sound...
Include as much details as you can in your post (Audacity version, Operating System, Equipment used, etc).
Please post your question in the appropriate forum (regarding audacity version and operating system).
Please post your question in the appropriate forum (regarding audacity version and operating system).
Re: Imprecise playback, difficult to edit sound
Sorry I didn't see the last reply until now.
Actually, I meant that Audacity and Xorg are consuming 17 % each, i.e. around 35 % together. I would say that even half of that is a lot, compared to all other programs I run on my machine except compilers and image processing software, but they only run at full speed in bursts, whereas Audacity runs hot all the time during playback. It makes my laptop heat up considerably.
Actually, I meant that Audacity and Xorg are consuming 17 % each, i.e. around 35 % together. I would say that even half of that is a lot, compared to all other programs I run on my machine except compilers and image processing software, but they only run at full speed in bursts, whereas Audacity runs hot all the time during playback. It makes my laptop heat up considerably.
Re: Imprecise playback, difficult to edit sound
Even when it's supposed to be idle, Audacity (latest trunk/Ubuntu 64-bit) consumes round 4 % CPU. What on earth is it doing?
Re: Imprecise playback, difficult to edit sound
I'm getting roughly the same figure as you autark.
The good thing is that with more tracks in the project the CPU usage remains at about the same level. I've just tested with 16 stereo tracks and I'm getting 18% to 31% CPU usage by Audacity.
I've no idea what Audacity is doing while idle.
The good thing is that with more tracks in the project the CPU usage remains at about the same level. I've just tested with 16 stereo tracks and I'm getting 18% to 31% CPU usage by Audacity.
I've no idea what Audacity is doing while idle.
9/10 questions are answered in the FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)