Audacity Recording Setup Question

[Bill Hunt]

This is probably aimed at Chuck Engles, as he has done the three Audacity tutorials.

I've used Audacity for some years, but only to work on existing WAV files. I have never used it for "recording." Following along with Tutorial #1, "Recording in Audacity," I seem to have a setup problem with my version. Using Chuck's tips in Tutorial #2, I have attempted to find where my Preferences might be off, but can't locate it.

My problem is with setting the choice of sources. In my Audacity workspace, this drop-down is greyed out and totally inactive. Right now, I'm working on my laptop, which has the Realtek chip for Audio. I have set both the Windows Audio Mapper and the Realtek Audio in my Preferences, but have not been able to activate the Source drop-down - stays greyed out.

I feel certain that this is just a setting someplace, but I have not found it, or have not selected the right combo of choices. Please point me to my error.

Thanks,

Hunt

[Bill Hunt]

Well, it seems that I have answered my own question. Though my Realtek High Def Audio driver was 09/08, there was a newer one. Installed, re-booted and Audacity is now functioning as I had expected, from Chuck's tutorials. It goes to show that even a month of time can yield newer drivers for various components. It might also have been the re-boot, but now the driver is updated with last Tuesday's latest version.

That is why the FAQ's point out the need to update all necessary drivers, maybe even on a weekly basis.

Hunt

[RJ Johnston]

I wonder what would have happened if you just reinstalled the version you already had. Seems like Realtek is not a very stable driver and may have broken. Quicktime is another one that seems to break easily.

[Chuck Engels]

Whatever the fix was I'm glad you got it working Hunt

[Bill Hunt]

Robert,

Pursuant to your comment, I did check QT and it seems to be working.

I, too, have had problems with Realtek drivers, but on this laptop, I don't have too many choices. I'm looking into a USB sound "card," and will see how that works out.

Thanks for the H/U

Hunt