Mic Input Woes

[EliseRobinson]

Hi all,
I've installed Audacity 1.3.7 on a brand new Samsung R560, running 32bit Windows Vista Home Premium. I'm not very familiar with Vista, so I apologise if this is a OS related problem - it's just I've spotted it whilst using Audacity. I'm importing mp3s and recording through a Sennheiser headset, which is no more than 6 months old.
When I first installed Audacity, the recording quality was terrible. I didn't have this problem on my previous machine, and I was puzzled as to what could cause the problem. When I tried to turn the input volume down, all it did was trim the (sorry for the bad vocab here) recordable scale on the spectogram. (Hope that makes sense!) On my XP machine, as far as I was aware, it actually changed the sensitivity of the microphone, to record louder things without getting nasty nasty "OH DEAR, TOO LOUD, CAN'T COPE" sounds on playback.
Every now and then, everything flicks back to normal. The mic input volume is lovely, the recording quality is great, but I can't really afford to only have Audacity working when it feels like it - is there a known permanent fix for this?
As far as I'm aware, I don't have any other audio programs interfereing; I know Ventrilo used to on my previous machine, but I haven't got that installed on here now.
Thanks in advance,
Elise

[kozikowski]

Nobody will be shocked to learn that the latest Windows machines have automatic loudness setting and echo cancellation services and occasionally get in the way. Windows machines are business devices and their natural job is video or audio conferencing and desktop sharing with the head corporate office in Kuala Lumpur, Not recording a theatrical sound performance.

I have no idea how to turn that off, but several people have reported this "when it feels like it" effect and some of them have found ways to get rid of it.

Macs are designed for entertainment and theatrical production, but they don't have direct microphone inputs.

Koz

[steve]

I have no idea how to turn that off, but several people have reported this "when it feels like it" effect and some of them have found ways to get rid of it.

The problem is that often there are microphone effects that get in the way, but how you switch these off varies from one machine to another. They are usually accessed through an icon near the clock, but I'm sorry that I cannot be any more specific than that.

It would probably be helpful if some of the people that have had, and solved these problems would post some screen shots and/or detailed descriptions of how they fixed it. (My solution to all Windows problems was to upgrade to Linux - not surprisingly this raised a few new problems, but overall I'm much happier with Linux).

[EliseRobinson]

Thanks for the tip off Steve, I've looked through the microphone properties yet it seems to be set to give programs exclusive control of the microphone settings; Audacity still doesn't want to play ball. My sound drivers are up to date, and I'm a bit stumped for what else to check. If there are any Vista geniuses then please throw me some hints - there's no way I'm changing OS after spending £690 on a Windows machine.
Would swapping back to 1.2.x do me any favours in the meantime?

Thanks, Elise

[steve]

Would swapping back to 1.2.x do me any favours in the meantime?

I very much doubt that it would make any beneficial difference.

I think that the key to your problem the same thing that Koz latched onto:
"Every now and then, everything flicks back to normal. The mic input volume is lovely, the recording quality is great, but I can't really afford to only have Audacity working when it feels like it"

That sounds very much like he issue being discussed here: http://audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=7172
The last two posts are from people that have found the relevant settings.

[kozikowski]

<<<My solution to all Windows problems was to upgrade to Linux>>>

My solution to all Windows problems was to upgrade to Mac.

Vista was an interesting problem. It was probably the first time that the whole world -- literally the planet -- revolted against using a Microsoft operating system. Our Systems people are reporting that the Windows 7 pre-release candidate is much more cuddly and friendly than Vista.

Koz

[EliseRobinson]

I don't have a separate sound control icon either in the system tray or on the control panel. Those noise compressing settings do sound like a possible solution, but I don't know where to find them. I understand you can't know every single sound system/card; but if you do have any ideas about a Realtek HD Audio (With EDS) - I'm not even incredibly sure what that even means... I'm just guessing it's to do with the intergrated sound on the motherboard.
Thanks for your help still;
Elise

[steve]

I was looking at a PC today that had Realtek HD Audio. There was a loudspeaker icon in the bottom right corner of the desktop (near the clock). Double clicking on the icon opened a "mixer" interface for the sound card. The recording effects were small, but obvious buttons on the "Microphone" tab of the mixer.

[EliseRobinson]

Problem solved!
Thanks steve, that was just what I needed - once the noise supression option was unchecked, Audacity is back to normal.
Here's a SS just to help anyone on Vista who has the same odd behaviour:



Thanks again, really appreciate it
Elise