Audacity 2.0.4 doesn't launch on XP

[KeyserS]

Do you ever record with Audacity using "Stereo Mix"?

I can't remember to have ever used Audacity for recording, I'm used to use Goldwave for recording and recently I've tried WaveShop, if it matters.
In the Devices preferences of Audacity the recording device is set to the Default Sound Capture driver and in the Windows mixer all of the inputs are muted but the CD and Line-In ones. I unmute the stereo mix input only when needed.

Can you try installing the appropriate Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 SP1 Redistributable Package

It's already installed and the version number of msvcp90.dll and msvcr90.dll is exactly the same as the ones provided with Audacity 2.0.4.

Open audacity.cfg in a text editor and replace the contents with this:

Code: Select all

NewPrefsInitialized=1
[AudioIO]
Host=MME

Then try an launch Audacity.

No effect, no change, same result, and when done the content of the CFG file is exactly the same as the one reported in this post: http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 08#p222208

WDM-KS could be the problem, and that I should make a build of 2.0.4 with WDM-KS removed.

I got the same feeling reading some other posts on this forum and it'll be my pleasure to test such version.
FYI on this PC I'm also using foobar2000 with the Kernel Streaming output module set to 24 bits which is working pretty fine. The sound card is an on-board Realtek HD audio with an ALC888 chip.

[steve]

Thanks KeyserS, that helps to dismiss a lot of possibilities.
I'll be interested to hear the results using Audacity 2.0.4 with WDM-KS removed.

[Gale Andrews]

Audacity defaults to MME host, so the above would be identical to
NewPrefsInitialized=1

I know that Audacity should default to MME host, but clearly in a few cases on XP Audacity is not doing the expected thing (that is, it does not complete launching), so I wanted to eliminate the possibility of incorrect host selection when Audacity selects the default.

By all means test, but I suspect the device that is selected is likely to be irrelevant given (as I understand it) Audacity queries all the devices and all the API's on launch. Audacity won't start until it's completed those polls.

Thanks for trying it on XP yourself. If you (Steve) select WDM-KS host, can you play or record?


Gale

[steve]

By all means test,

KeyserS has just done that, and as you suspected, no difference. I wasn't really hopeful myself.

(as I understand it) Audacity queries all the devices and all the API's on launch. Audacity won't start until it's completed those polls.

OK, I wasn't sure if Audacity queries all devices if there is already a device specified in Preferences.

Thanks for trying it on XP yourself. If you (Steve) select WDM-KS host, can you play or record?

I'm not sure how typical my results will be as I'm currently testing on a virtual machine, but yes I can play and record with WDM-KS.

[Gale Andrews]

(as I understand it) Audacity queries all the devices and all the API's on launch. Audacity won't start until it's completed those polls.

OK, I wasn't sure if Audacity queries all devices if there is already a device specified in Preferences.

Devices and hosts are not the same thing of course, but yes, Audacity I believe does a complete poll even if hosts or devices are specified in .cfg before launch. That's how you get all the non-selected hosts and devices listed in Device Toolbar and Help > Audio Device Info... , otherwise those could not be fully populated.

It would be better if Audacity bypassed devices or hosts that fail the query, but if devices or hosts do fail, Audacity will usually hang or crash.

If no devices or hosts are specified, then as soon as launch completes Audacity will choose
MME host and the Windows default playback and recording devices. That's a misbehaviour really, as it should set the default to the Microsoft Sound Mapper choices as it used to prior to 1.3.13.

Thanks for trying it on XP yourself. If you (Steve) select WDM-KS host, can you play or record?

I'm not sure how typical my results will be as I'm currently testing on a virtual machine, but yes I can play and record with WDM-KS.

Virtual machines are not a very good test for audio I/O problems. Probably my running XP on Intel hardware that does not officially support XP is not the best test either - though Audacity does launch and list WDM-KS even though WDM-KS errors on playback and recording.

Is this the Vista machine that you have occasional access to?


Gale

[steve]

otherwise those could not be fully populated.

Doh, yes of course.

Is this the Vista machine that you have occasional access to?

No it's on my usual Linux laptop.

I'll probably have access to a real XP machine next week.

[Gale Andrews]

WDM-KS could be the problem, and that I should make a build of 2.0.4 with WDM-KS removed.

I got the same feeling reading some other posts on this forum and it'll be my pleasure to test such version.
FYI on this PC I'm also using foobar2000 with the Kernel Streaming output module set to 24 bits which is working pretty fine. The sound card is an on-board Realtek HD audio with an ALC888 chip.

OK thanks. KeyserS. Please try the build in this topic http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 04#p222304 .

@zalain212, could you test it also?

Please report back in this topic what happens.



Gale

[KeyserS]

Please try the build in this topic http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 04#p222304

Success! Works for me and no need to reset v2.0.3 preferences.

[Gale Andrews]

Please try the build in this topic http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 04#p222304

Success! Works for me and no need to reset v2.0.3 preferences.

Thanks for testing.

Could you do another favour for us? Open Help > Audio Device Info... , right-click > Select All, then copy and paste the contents here?


Gale

[KeyserS]

Open Help > Audio Device Info... , right-click > Select All, then copy and paste the contents here

Here it is:

Code: Select all

==============================
Default capture device number: 1
Default playback device number: 4
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Mappeur de sons Microsoft - Input
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Realtek HD Audio Input
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: Realtek HD Digital input
Host name: MME
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: Mappeur de sons Microsoft - Output
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: Realtek HD Audio output
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: ATI HD Audio rear output
Host name: MME
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.090000
Low Output Latency: 0.090000
High Input Latency: 0.180000
High Output Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: Pilote de capture audio principal
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: Realtek HD Audio Input
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 8
Device name: Realtek HD Digital input
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.120000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.240000
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 9
Device name: Périphérique audio principal
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 10
Device name: Realtek HD Audio output
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 11
Device name: ATI HD Audio rear output
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.120000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Selected capture device: 6 - Pilote de capture audio principal
Selected playback device: 9 - Périphérique audio principal
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available capture sources:
0 - CD Volume
1 - Line Volume
2 - Front Mic
3 - Mic Volume
4 - Stereo Mix
==============================
Available playback volumes:
0 - Wave
1 - SW Synth
2 - Front
3 - Rear
4 - Subwoofer
5 - Center
6 - Side
7 - SPDIF
8 - Front Green In
9 - Line Volume
10 - Front Mic
11 - Mic Volume
12 - CD Volume
13 - PC Beep
14 - PC Speaker
==============================
Capture volume is native
Playback volume is native

BTW how long does it take to be 'unlocked' on this forum ? It's getting quite annoying to have to wait for every post to be approved...