Audacity Forum

sh575 wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 30, 2021 7:11 pm

Did a test run and everything worked fine until I pressed Stop
Then Audacity immediately crashed

So I'm a Windows guy, so I cannot help you with particulars of MAC and Soundflower, etc. but I had a similar issue with Audacity working sometimes and crashing sometimes. When I set Audacity's sample rate (lower left-hand corner) to the same speed as my device it corrected the problem.

I hope this helps.

Thanks Windows guy
I experimented with BlackHole just now, which proves to be stable after a couple of computer reboots, but zero phone input. Only buzzycracky noise, no voice, etc. I notice on the audio midi set up it indicates "no input" and "no output" controls for BlackHole. That might be an issue?
Anyway, for now it looks like I'm stuck with soundflower, which, when I restart the computer and make sure all the settings are correct, seems to remain stable for a single phone call.

Update on BlackHole as alternative to Soundflower: was trying to use 2 channel BlackHole and that really did not work. Then installed 16 channel BlackHole, followed the instructions for input and output in Audio Midi (such that Yeti microphone is the 17th and 18th channels). Proceed to Audacity. It takes me a while to realize I have to select 18 channels because of where the Yeti is in the track stack. Having selected 18 channels I press record, and crash. Press record again, and crash. Then it works on the 3rd try, with all 18 tracks present, which I leave alone (ie leave deleting the unused tracks until after completing the recording).

This experience very much mirrors what was happening in Soundflower.

It works, but is unstable, and crashes from time to time at the end of the recording such that one has to rely on the Audacity recovery to preserve the recording.

Kind of scary for radio interviewing, when it's A Thing to get the folks on the other end of the line God forbid one would have to redo the interview.

Any thoughts anyone, on how to stabilize? Either in BlackHole or Soundflower?

Or is there some other way?

Thanks
SH575

It's nearly impossible to record your live microphone and a chat call at the same time on one machine.

Koz, I'd find it hard to argue with you - the "nearly" seems to be my experience - it does work but I do get the feeling I'm fighting the entire time

SH575

sh575 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 03, 2021 12:05 am

It's nearly impossible to record your live microphone and a chat call at the same time on one machine.

Koz, I'd find it hard to argue with you - the "nearly" seems to be my experience - it does work but I do get the feeling I'm fighting the entire time

I also managed to get it to work... once. As you so aptly describe, it felt like fighting the system continuously. I would not be able to describe the steps to get it to work - it felt more like luck than a solid strategy. If I ever need to do it again, I'll stick with Linux (It's not "easy" to do on Linux, but there are a couple of tried and tested ways that work reliably).

As it turns out the Windows guy's advice has made a big difference. I'm working on FM radio, so using the sample rate of 32000Hz is probably at the very edge of quality, but in doing this it is an infinitely more stable set up, and the station tech says quality acceptable.
Now, if I could just get rid of the clicks from peoples' phones...
sh575