2.0.5 Windows 8.1 wont monitor, stalls, no audio [SOLVED]

[checkin1]

I have used this before with good results (2.0.3) however had to upgrade to Win 8.1 when 7 crashed, the color bar on monitor will appear & start to move for a few seconds, but then freeze, all this time there is no audio from the speakers. Am feeling I am one click away from making it work, but am out of ideas.
Anyone had this problem?

[kozikowski]

Why did the Win7 machine crash? In the grand scheme of things, Win7 worked pretty well. Even I liked it.

What are you recording? Right-click on the red recording meters > Start Monitoring. That will force the meters to wake up and measure your sound. If they refuse to bounce, then there is no sound.

Koz

[checkin1]

Win 7 crashed when they stopped support on XP, it turns out some of the drivers were still defaulting to XP & wouldn't function, after many sessions with Microsoft there was no patch, so upgraded to Win 8.
I click on monitors & get the red bars, they start moving with the input sound (cassette), the red bars stay there but no movement, cannot hear audio the whole time it trys to monitor it.

[Gale Andrews]

Win 7 crashed when they stopped support on XP, it turns out some of the drivers were still defaulting to XP & wouldn't function, after many sessions with Microsoft there was no patch, so upgraded to Win 8.

Do you mean you are using an old computer or old audio hardware that was manufactured in XP days?

If so, Windows 8.1 is unlikely to help, and if it does, that suggests that reinstalling Windows 7 would have fixed it.

I suggest you open Help > Audio Device Info... top right of the Audacity screen, right-click in the Audio Device window > Select All, then right-click > Copy and paste the information here. Then we can see what audio devices you are trying to use.

If you installed Windows 8.1 without installing audio drivers for Windows 8.1 you can't expect it to work. What is the make and model number of the computer?

I click on monitors & get the red bars, they start moving with the input sound (cassette), the red bars stay there but no movement, cannot hear audio the whole time it trys to monitor it.

Is it a USB cassette deck? If so change the USB cable, make sure the cable is tight both ends and plug into a spare USB port, not into a USB hub that other USB devices are using.

You can only monitor the input audibly if you enable Transport > Software Playthrough in Audacity.

You can only hear sound through the computer speakers if you open Device Toolbar and set the output device (second box) to your speakers. Please read this if it's a USB cassette deck: http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/fa ... k.html#usb .


Gale

[checkin1]

There is not a toolbar at the top for speakers. Now there is no redbars appearing trying to monitor. I am not using a usb port, the same audio input as I did before when it was working. I notice a portmixer is unable to open according to device manager, (bottom) The device & hardware & port menus all say they are working properly & up to date.

Code: Select all

Default capture device number: -1                                       
Default playback device number: 1                                        
==============================                                         
Device ID: 0                                                                           
Device name: Microsoft Sound Mapper - 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: 1
Device name: Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High De
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: 2
Device name: Primary Sound Driver
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: 3
Device name: Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)
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: 4
Device name: Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 0
Output channels: 2
Low Input Latency: 0.000000
Low Output Latency: 0.003000
High Input Latency: 0.000000
High Output Latency: 0.010159
Supported Rates:
    44100
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device) (loopback)
Host name: Windows WASAPI
Input channels: 2
Output channels: 0
Low Input Latency: 0.003000
Low Output Latency: 0.000000
High Input Latency: 0.010159
High Output Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Selected capture device: 5 - Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High Definition Audio Device) (loopback)
Selected playback device: 1 - Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (High De
Supported Rates:
    44100
Unable to open Portmixer

[Gale Andrews]

There is not a toolbar at the top for speakers.

I suggest you turn Device Toolbar back on. It makes it easier to see what devices you are selecting. Choose View > Toolbars > Reset Toolbars.

Now there is no redbars appearing trying to monitor.

That is to be expected, according to your Audio Device Info.

Default capture device number: -1

shows that you now have no input devices enabled at all in Windows.

Your only output is S/PDIF digital out. So unless you actually have digital speakers connected to that output you now won't be able to hear any sound on your computer.

You will need to follow all the steps in http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Mixer ... es#vistacp, so that you show disabled and disconnected recording devices, enable all those devices, then make the input that you want to use for cassette recording the default recording device.

Then repeat for playback devices, so that you show all the playback devices then enable them.

I am not using a usb port, the same audio input as I did before when it was working.

What input are you connecting the cassette deck to? It should be connected to blue line-in.

The device & hardware & port menus all say they are working properly & up to date.

See what happens when you enable all the inputs and outputs on the sound device as above.

If you still have problems after that, you will need to check that you have Windows 8.1 drivers for your sound device (if there are any such). Device Manager saying that the drivers are up-to-date doesn't help you if they are only generic Microsoft drivers. Your built-in audio device needs drivers that are properly matched to the computer motherboard and which are meant for Windows 8.1.

If you have a very old computer you may not get the audio device working under Windows 8.1 if the motherboard was only meant for Windows XP. That's why I was asking for the make and model number of the computer.


Gale

[checkin1]

I managed to get sound from the speakers, & the red & green bars started functioning, but on all three formats they would freeze again after 10 seconds, & the sound would disappear. On direct sound, it would repeat in an echo sound, & disappear.
This is a Gateway GT4016, it had worked fine before, not having luck with anyone knowledgable on this so far at Microsoft, I know it depends on who you get,
a lot of them are not to familiar with the Win8 as it is too new.
Gateway was a hot mess, they promised me no charge if no fix, turns out I was routed to a 3rd world country, & they not only could not find a patch for it, they charged me $199 on my credit card, & refuse to take the charge off, even though they loused up a few other features via remote on the pc. Now I am battleling with the credit card company disputing the charge, & the other end is contesting it. (They list their address here in the states as New York, but it is just a routing call center overseas, & the so called "techs" are really salesmen, they are slick.
Another remote session with a genuine Microsoft employee undid what they did, & said beware of "partners of Microsoft" in small letters.

[checkin1]

I have it working now, I had overlooked a couple steps on settings under the mixer control link you had sent me that makes it compatable with Win8.
Thank-you