The all-new "HELP! I have an Audacity problem" thread

tovarisch · Post by **tovarisch** » February 19th, 2017, 12:42 pm

It's not a button, but the recording level (on the "Audacity Recording Meter Toolbar"); if you click on it, Audacity starts getting the sound from the input and show the level. Seems useful to see if your microphone is hooked up and giving some signal...

gloryb · Post by **gloryb** » February 19th, 2017, 3:50 pm

Thank you for your help. I have a SamsonQ1U USB microphone. When I plug it into the USB port on the computer the green light comes on the mic. The computer also indicates that microphone is operating correctly. I tried three different USB ports on the computer.

Post by **TriciaG** » February 19th, 2017, 4:06 pm

I have a SamsonQ1U USB microphone.

Me, too.

And I haven't had any issues.

Have you chosen your mic in Audacity? Shift-I?

tovarisch · Post by **tovarisch** » February 19th, 2017, 4:36 pm

gloryb wrote:Thank you for your help. I have a SamsonQ1U USB microphone. When I plug it into the USB port on the computer the green light comes on the mic. The computer also indicates that microphone is operating correctly. I tried three different USB ports on the computer.

Do you start Audacity first and THEN plug the mic in? If so, Audacity has no idea that the microphone is there. Do "Transport -> Rescan Audio Devices" first, and then pick your microphone from the list of devices (or go to Preferences and select it as the recording device).

This is just a guess...

gloryb · Post by **gloryb** » February 19th, 2017, 4:52 pm

I do appreciate your time! I tried both of those. Still nothing.

Post by **TriciaG** » February 19th, 2017, 4:55 pm

(1) Can you use your built-in mic (or another mic) to see if Audacity picks up another mic?

(2) Can you try using your Samson in another program (Skype, or something else that picks up sound), and see if it's working? The light may be on, and it may communicate with the computer, but maybe it went kaput in some other way.

February 19th, 2017, 5:09 pm

Have you checked to make sure the Samson is not muted or that the recording volume under Sound in the computer settings (control panel) hasn't been reset at zero?

tovarisch · Post by **tovarisch** » February 19th, 2017, 5:14 pm

Another possibility (albeit rather slim) that some other program is running and has taken exclusive control of your USB mic...

gloryb · Post by **gloryb** » February 19th, 2017, 8:04 pm

Thank you all for these great suggestions. I will check out each and every one and get back with you. Gloria

gloryb · Post by **gloryb** » February 20th, 2017, 4:04 pm

Hello, I have isolated the problem however I don't know how to fix it. Maybe you can help. Jo was the one to lead me to the problem. Went to control panel to Hardware and Sound to Sound to Recording (shows my Samson as default) I clicked on mic. Sound level was at "zero." When I raise the level it won't stay where I put it and kicks right back to zero. I'm not able to click on "apply." Any help will be greatly appreciated. Gloria

tovarisch · Post by **tovarisch** » February 20th, 2017, 8:58 pm

You just found another symptom; let's hope it helps diagnose the actual cause... Can you select the microphone and click on "Properties"? If a new window appears, look through all the tabs there. BTW, which of the recording devices is your "default"?

February 20th, 2017, 9:30 pm

gloryb wrote:Hello, I have isolated the problem however I don't know how to fix it. Maybe you can help. Jo was the one to lead me to the problem. Went to control panel to Hardware and Sound to Sound to Recording (shows my Samson as default) I clicked on mic. Sound level was at "zero." When I raise the level it won't stay where I put it and kicks right back to zero. I'm not able to click on "apply." Any help will be greatly appreciated. Gloria

After you click on the Samson mic on the Sound Recording tab, click on Properties to bring up the Microphone properties popup, then select the levels tab. You should be able to move the blue slider to the right to increase the level. Set it around 80% and then click OK.

gloryb · Post by **gloryb** » February 21st, 2017, 8:03 am

When I do that it resets itself back to mute and 0 level as soon as I try to record. The volume level will not stay. I don't have any idea why. Is there something somewhere in the program that might be controlling that?

tovarisch · Post by **tovarisch** » February 21st, 2017, 8:19 am

I just checked on my system here (it's Win 7, though). The mic I have here is always plugged in, so that's different with your system, I suppose. It's a USB headset, that's another difference. I don't know if any of that matters. I start Audacity, it has the mic selected, I look at the "Recording Volume" slider - it's at 0.7. I go to Recording Devices (via system area, right-click on the speaker icon, Recording Devices). One of the devices is that mic. I click on properties, Levels tab - it says 70%. I start moving it and can see the Recording Volume in Audacity move in real time. I have no idea what else might be hogging your microphone and resetting its level. Can it be Skype or other communication program? My microphone is set as default recording device.

tovarisch · Post by **tovarisch** » February 21st, 2017, 8:29 am

Also, check out this thread: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=64019 , the problem was some kind of malware.