Recording Problem - Threshold?

[Jeff Leites]

After years of using Audacity, I'm suddenly having a problem.

I'm recording my guitar playing, but it's coming out terrible (and I don't mean my playing ).
It seems as if when the sound decays, it falls beneath a threshold, where the sound drops out completely, so there is no sustainability of notes that are left "ringing".
Also, there are drops in volume as I play.

Did I mess up a setting or something?

[Trebor]

... It seems as if when the sound decays, it falls beneath a threshold, where the sound drops out completely, so there is no sustainability of notes that are left "ringing".

The noise-suppression "enhancement" built-in to the computer's sound card will do that ,
you should switch-off all such enhancements when recording music ...

To change settings on Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8:
#1 Right-click over the Speaker icon by the system clock then choose Recording Devices to open the Recording tab of "Sound"
#2 Right-click over Microphone (or whatever device you are recording from) and choose Properties
#3 There will probably be an Enhancements tab where you can disable all or selected "Sound Effects" - if needs be, also look in the Levels or Custom tabs

http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/fa ... s_fade_out[/u]

After years of using Audacity, I'm suddenly having a problem ...
Did I mess up a setting or something?

You may have enabled noise-suppression if you used your computer for Skype-type VIOP , for which that enhancement was designed.

[Jeff Leites]

Thanks for the reply.

I didn't see an Environment Tab following your instructions, but I did find a Dell Audio icon in the systray. It show "Conexant Microphone Enhancement (improved quality for recording and two-way voice communication) turned ON, with a preset for Noise Reduction. I might not get back to my project for a couple of days, but when I do, I'll try turning it off.

My other option, which should have been my first choice anyway, is instead of using my $2 computer mic, running my more professional, higher quality mic, into an external preamp, and into the right/left audio input jacks on my computer. I'd just gone for the simpler setup

[Trebor]

... "Conexant Microphone Enhancement (improved quality for recording and two-way voice communication) turned ON, with a preset for Noise Reduction ... I'll try turning it off.

I think you've found the cure.
[ the microphone "enhancements" are for Skype-type voice communication ,
they ruin any attempt to record a musical performance ].