Audacity Forum

uh oh.
I'm in trouble.
Help, Koz?

I just went to record. (Yes, I tested before or thought I did but didn't hear what I'm about to tell you.)

Played back, what I recorded sounds like the speed was horribly reduced making my voice sound like Barry White.

What setting do I need to fix? Do I need to upgrade? I'm on 2.3.2

Thank you as always,
Bonnie.

my voice sound like Barry White.

The performance is longer, too, right? It didn't just go down in pitch?

In General, that happens when you record with different digital technical standards than you're playing back.

The system is supposed to be able to sort that out. For example, most editors and players can figure out the difference between Video DVD sound standards and Audio CD standards. They're different, but nobody ever complained about bad playback.

Is this an Audacity Project or a sound file?

Koz

It’s a sound file, Koz, but I didn’t even get a chance to do the export. I was playing back within Audacity.

Obviously, you should stop recording that way. What were you recording?

You may be able to fix this performance with Effect > Change Speed. Change Speed damages the sound least when applied. You may end with a usable track (but don't bet any money on it).

If you get a track that's the right pitch, note what the correction was. That may give us a clue what happened.

Change Speed allows you to push things around by multiplier, percent change, and length of show. I swear it used to allow you to change by musical note or pitch shift. It does allow you to preview the change.

Koz

Koz -

I'm hurt! You don't remember I do voice overs!

Anyway, it looks like a tempo change of 10.29% to 1.1 fixes what I'm working on.

So can't I change something so it works without doing this? I have three more auditions to record tonight.

Also, something else must be wrong because at the 3.0 mark, and then at regular intervals, the audio breaks up. I've tried it multiple times.

Also, btw, the preview button in the Change Speed window is a completely different speed than just hitting play on the track.

Im thinking of re-downloading Audacity.

You don't remember I do voice overs!

I'm assuming your voice overs (voices-over?) are fine and you're doing something fancy which can explain a sudden oddball problem. If you're plain recording, that's not good news.

at the 3.0 mark, and then at regular intervals, the audio breaks up.

That's not good news, either.

Before you start shuffling software around, Apple > Shutdown > Shutdown. Wait a bit and Start. Listen for the Chong. Make sure the microphone or recording system is connected and start Audacity. What does it say in the tiny window lower left of Audacity.

Still do it?

Koz

1.1

The shift between video sound sample rates and Music CD audio rates is 1.088. Soooo close.

That doesn't tell me why Audacity recorded in one but is trying to play back in the other.

Audio CD rate is 44100
Video rate is 48000

Koz

Audacity can do that if you change the number in the lower left by accident. In general it should be 44100 and it should match the number in preferences. You might change that once intentionally and see if it straightens up the performance.

Audacity > Preferences > Quality > Default Sampling.

That's where you officially change all the settings.



Koz

Well, of course a reboot is what I should have started with and what I always recommend to other people for software problems. I didn't practice what I preach.

I downloaded the new version, checked for the 44100, and still the same.

Then I rebooted.

As if by magic.

I'm so sorry I troubled you. And yes, it was a very simple record. Nothing fancy.

All is well.

For now.

Tune in next week.

Thanks a million, as always.

And I'm back. That didn't take long!
What did you do with Equalization?