Hi Rick
You asked: Is there a way to ensure Audacity is grabbing “Exclusive Use” of the
Audio System?
I doubt that it is the issue, but yes. Go to sound settings by running
mmsys.cpl. In the Advanced tab for both playback and recording you can check
the checkbox to give exclusive mode and to give exclusive mode applications
priority. I always check both. While there, see if there is an Enhanced tab.
If so, make sure that all enhancements are turned off.
Does Audacity have a built in, automatic compression setting to limit sudden
and loud noise from playback or from recording and, if so, where?
I have not found such a setting. Given that you reported the same issue with
Reaper, I would be surprised if the issue is directly DAW related.
Since no other programs, apps, are making noise at the same time as Audacity
when I am recording, I am guessing they are not impacting the
playback/recording but this is not necessarily the case.
But Audacity is playing back the previously recorded track while you are
recording the second track. Something somewhere is using that signal to squash
the recording.
To bypass the software chain layers related to wasapi and the Realtech drivers
I think the first thing to try after checking for Audacity compression and
exclusive use settings, is to get an audio input device like a Motu, Berringer
or FocusRite or something else and use Asio host to take the Microsoft
software and Realtech layers out of the audio chain, I think.
That would bypass your Realtech card, but there are a couple of misconceptions
in your statement. Firstly, you cannot use ASIO with Audacity – well, not
unless you build Audacity yourself. Secondly, you will still need to use
WASAPI, Direct Sound or MME as a host. Speaking of which, have you tried the
latter two options?
I have several USB mixers, ranging from very basic to the Allen & Heath ZED-10.
All are class compliant, which means you do not have to wrestle with possibly
inaccessible software. Just plug them in and the system will find them. I
suspect Ted’s M-Track works the same. The limitation is that they will not
provide more than 16 bit depth. For serious music production that is a
consideration. On the other hand, my internal card can handle 24 bit and a
huge sample rate. However, due to the noise it makes I will not even use it
for the screen reader output. That is, numbers do not tell the whole story.
Another inexpensive option is the Behringer Q502USB. I have one which is
currently ling idle due to changed work arrangements. Unlike the little ART
boxes, it requires external power but, for the money, is quite clever.
Another option is a USB mic/headset. They can sound rather ordinary, but would
at least by pass the internal card.
Andrew
From: audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <audacity4blind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
On Behalf Of Rick USA
Sent: Saturday, 5 September 2020 9:53 PM
To: audacity4blind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [audacity4blind] Re: Audacity And How It Plays Audio Tracks
Hi:
Thanks for the responses and especially the way Audacity handles passing audio
to the sound card drivers via wasapi and other hosting software.
There are allot of potential places along the layers of the software chain, not
to mention firmware and hardware, where a problem could occur.
First: Is there a way to ensure Audacity is grabbing “Exclusive Use” of the
Audio System?
Second, does Audacity have a built in, automatic compression setting to limit
sudden and loud noise from playback or from recording and, if so, where can I
find these settings?
Finally, since no other programs, apps, are making noise at the same time as
Audacity when I am recording, I am guessing they are not impacting the
playback/recording but this is not necessarily the case.
To bypass the software chain layers related to wasapi and the Realtech drivers
I think the first thing to try after checking for Audacity compression and
exclusive use settings, is to get an audio input device like a Motu, Berringer
or FocusRite or something else and use Asio host to take the Microsoft
software and Realtech layers out of the audio chain, I think.
I also have found suggestions that dolby and dolby like software can cause a
problem like I am experiencing due to ducking or audio leveling, but the
solutions are messy, don’t seem to often work and esoteric at best so I am
hoping that an audio interface using its own sound card and hosting software
may also bypass this type of problem, sigh.
I am going to ask for some ideas about an inexpensive, easy to use, or used,
audio interface folks are using with Audacity that has an independent sound
card and its own audio hosting software..
Thanks again for all the help:
Note I am documenting all this in case anyone else runs up against anything
like this so they wont have to reinvent the wheel as it were.
Rick USA .
The audacity4blind web site is at
//www.freelists.org/webpage/audacity4blind Subscribe and unsubscribe ;
information, message archives, Audacity keyboard commands, and more... To
unsubscribe from audacity4blind, send an email to
audacity4blind-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:audacity4blind-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> with subject line unsubscribe
