Error code -9999 attempting to record [SOLVED]

Hi All,

Audacity 2.3.0 on Windows 10 on a Dell Optiplex 3020. Attempting to record using a Logitec A-5572A USB microphone adapter and get the following error:

Error opening recording device.
Error code: -9999 Unanticipated host error.

I’ve followed the steps in the help files for this error, including checking that microphone is enabled in the Windows privacy settings.

Format on the mic in windows is set to 1-channel, 16 bit 44100 Hz. I can see audio on the bar graph in the windows sound settings. Skype works and I believe the built in voice recorder app works.

I’ve tried MME and DirectSound. WASAPI gives me error -9997 when I try to record.

The front-panel microphone input also fails to open with error -9999.

Any clues what to do at this point?

Regards,

Glenn

Audio Device info below:

==============================
Default recording device number: 1
Default playback device number: 4
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Input
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.09
Low Playback Latency: 0.09
High Recording Latency: 0.18
High Playback Latency: 0.18
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Headset Microphone (2- Logitech
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.09
Low Playback Latency: 0.09
High Recording Latency: 0.18
High Playback Latency: 0.18
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: Microphone (Realtek High Defini
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.09
Low Playback Latency: 0.09
High Recording Latency: 0.18
High Playback Latency: 0.18
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - Output
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0.09
Low Playback Latency: 0.09
High Recording Latency: 0.18
High Playback Latency: 0.18
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: Headset Earphone (2- Logitech U
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0.09
Low Playback Latency: 0.09
High Recording Latency: 0.18
High Playback Latency: 0.18
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: Speakers / Headphones (Realtek 
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0.09
Low Playback Latency: 0.09
High Recording Latency: 0.18
High Playback Latency: 0.18
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: Primary Sound Capture Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.12
Low Playback Latency: 0
High Recording Latency: 0.24
High Playback Latency: 0
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: Headset Microphone (2- Logitech USB Headset)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.12
Low Playback Latency: 0
High Recording Latency: 0.24
High Playback Latency: 0
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 8
Device name: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.12
Low Playback Latency: 0
High Recording Latency: 0.24
High Playback Latency: 0
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 9
Device name: Primary Sound Driver
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0
Low Playback Latency: 0.12
High Recording Latency: 0
High Playback Latency: 0.24
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 10
Device name: Headset Earphone (2- Logitech USB Headset)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0
Low Playback Latency: 0.12
High Recording Latency: 0
High Playback Latency: 0.24
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 11
Device name: Speakers / Headphones (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0
Low Playback Latency: 0.12
High Recording Latency: 0
High Playback Latency: 0.24
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 12
Device name: Speakers / Headphones (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0
Low Playback Latency: 0.003
High Recording Latency: 0
High Playback Latency: 0.01
Supported Rates:
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 13
Device name: Speakers / Headphones (Realtek High Definition Audio) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.003
Low Playback Latency: 0
High Recording Latency: 0.01
High Playback Latency: 0
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 14
Device name: Headset Earphone (2- Logitech USB Headset)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0
Low Playback Latency: 0.003
High Recording Latency: 0
High Playback Latency: 0.01
Supported Rates:
    48000
==============================
Device ID: 15
Device name: Headset Earphone (2- Logitech USB Headset) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.003
Low Playback Latency: 0
High Recording Latency: 0.01
High Playback Latency: 0
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 16
Device name: Headset Microphone (2- Logitech USB Headset)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 1
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.003
Low Playback Latency: 0
High Recording Latency: 0.01
High Playback Latency: 0
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 17
Device name: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.003
Low Playback Latency: 0
High Recording Latency: 0.01
High Playback Latency: 0
Supported Rates:
==============================
Selected recording device: 17 - Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Selected playback device: 14 - Headset Earphone (2- Logitech USB Headset)
Supported Rates:

This is probably due to a new setting in Windows. Try this:

  1. Open Settings
  2. Click on Privacy
  3. Click on Microphone
    4)Turn on the Allow apps to access your microphone toggle switch.

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your reply.

As stated above, I tried that, as it was the first thing suggested on the help page and on other peoples Forum posts.

Apps with mic access allowed:
Camera, Feedback Hub, Skype, Voice Recorder, Win32WebViewHost

Apps with mic access disabled:
3D Viewer, Cortana, Messaging, Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Photos, Microsoft Store, OneNote, Take A Test, Xbox.

I’ve run through everything on the audacity help file web page that opens when you click the help icon on the error box.

Regards,

Glenn

Is Skype still running in the background? If so, shut it down completely, then restart Audacity (if it is running, shut it down and restart it), then try recording with “host” set to MME and the microphone selected as the recording device.

Skype was running, but it’s off now. Even went into task manager and killed the ‘suspended’ tasks Skype leaves in the background after you exit.

Followed your directions, but still get a -9999 error when I hit the record button.

This was working a few months ago, even with Skype running.

Found the Problem, Kaspersky Endpoint Security’s “Host Intrusion Protection” was protecting me from un-trusted apps listening in to my microphone.

Kaspersky Endpoint Security->Settings->Advanced Threat Protection->Host Intrusion Prevention

Moved Audacity from “Low Restricted” to “Trusted” group.

Thanks for posting the solution, that could be very useful for other users. I’ll lock this topic so that the solution doesn’t get buried.