Audacity Forum

waxcylinder wrote:DC offset (if you have it) is a result of a faulty or poor soundcard, a small (sometimes large DC current) is appled to the signal, sometimes just one of the channels. It shows up visually as a waveform that is not centred on the zero centre line.

Is there a way to test for the presence of the DC offset? I presume that be testing one can determine the exact amount and improve the adjustment setting?

Thank you.

LDMartin1959 wrote: Is there a way to test for the presence of the DC offset? I presume that be testing one can determine the exact amount and improve the adjustment setting?

The "Remove DC Offset" option in the Normalize effect calculates the required correction.

If you want to see if you have DC offset, record with no signal (but your equipment connected), then zoom vertically to maximum. If the signal is not centred on the zero line then you have DC offset.

http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/Zooming#vertical

-- Bill

billw58 wrote:If you want to see if you have DC offset, record with no signal (but your equipment connected), then zoom vertically to maximum. If the signal is not centred on the zero line then you have DC offset.

Got it. Thanks.