Random Squeaking Noises

[KnowledgeVoyage]

Hi everyone. I am recording a history of the Spanish Armada. However I have noticed a very annoying squeak noise that seems to appear at random points in the recording.

I have attached an audacity screen cap, the squeak is in the white section.I have also uploaded the sound file so you can hear it.

One example of the SQUEAK is between the words "Protestant England just recovering from the reign of Bloody Mary *SQUEAK* was a thorn in deeply Catholic Spain's side".

I have done other recordings and noticed similar random squeaks. I am at my wits end as to what causes it and would appreciate the advice and help of people who know better than me.

Audacity profile with the squeek at the white section

squeek1.JPG (89.61 KiB) Viewed 194 times

I record using a Blue Yeti and a pop filter with the gain as low as it will go.
Blue Yeti was purchased in April 2019
Mic is on a steady table
No obvious external source for the squeak
I use the USB cable that it was sold with.
I use Windows 10
I use Audacity 2.3.0

[kozikowski]

I use Audacity 2.3.0

You're using pre-release, experimental, unproven software?

Is there a reason you're doing that? You may have just talked yourself out of support.

Koz

[kozikowski]

I record using a Blue Yeti and a pop filter with the gain as low as it will go.

Any reason you're doing that? Typically, home microphones have low volume. If you started there and went down, then you may have some serious noise issues.

When you record cold, your blue wave peaks should occasionally pop up to about 50% or a little lower. The bouncing sound meter should occasionally tint yellow.

I expect your blue waves to not be waves. I think your raw recording looks like a straight line. If it doesn't look like a straight line, then that may be the first level of the real problem.

Koz

[waxcylinder]

I use Audacity 2.3.0

You're using pre-release, experimental, unproven software?

No - we released 2.3.0 on 29Sep18 and we've had two releases after that with 2.3.2 as the latest release.

https://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Audacity_Versions

Peter.

[kozikowski]

Sorry. Wrong release.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Back to the volume control. Why are you using it turned down? Did someone post that you needed to do that?

Koz

[kozikowski]

Back at the sound system. I don't hear any squeak around "was." Someone with better hearing may need to listen.

Can you listen on a different computer or sound system?

I was going to go to the known problems Yetis have, but maybe I don't think that anymore.

Are you listening to the computer for playback or Audacity playback directed into the Yeti's headphone system?

Are you going through a hub between the Yeti and the computer?

Are you listening to the live performance on headphones plugged into the Yeti?

Koz

[kozikowski]

Are you sure you're listening to the exact same sound clip that you posted? The post is cut down from the illustration.

Koz

[Trebor]

I have attached an audacity screen cap, the squeak is in the white section.
I have also uploaded the sound file so you can hear it ...

One example of the SQUEAK is between the words "Protestant England just recovering from the reign of Bloody Mary *SQUEAK* was a thorn in deeply Catholic Spain's side" ...

Attachments squeekexample.wav (1022.33 KiB)

I can't hear or see any squeaks on that sample ...

squeekexample (1022.33 KiB), no squeak, only sibilant whistle on 2nd ''Spain'' between 5-6seconds.png (490.75 KiB) Viewed 171 times

If the problem is whistling esses you'll need a high-resolution de-esser plugin like Paul-L's.

[steve]

I can't hear or see any squeaks on that sample ...

I don't either. There is a very slight and very short high frequency noise between the words "Mary" and "was", but nothing that I would describe as a "squeak", and nothing loud enough that I would be concerned about.