Recording fades in and out

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Khords

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What would cause the recording (acoustic guitar) to drastically fade in and out? I've tried several mics and chords, with and without the mixer, been mindful of not moving around while recording etc. Sometimes the signal will decay quickly, sometimes more linear. It will also gain in the same manner. I have not been able to notice any pattern to the gain/decay, it just seems random. I've tried using the Wave Mapper and C-Media Wave Device with no change in results.

I'm using:
XP Home
1.2 Ghz Athlon
256 RAM
Xear 3d
C-Media Wave Device for Recording/Playback
N-Track Studio

I use an sm57 into a Peavey powered mixer, into the computer.

Wish I knew what other info to give that would help.
 
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What mixer outputs and soundcard inputs are you using?
 
when does the fade out occurr? Randomly? At the end of the song? Middle?
 
ocnor said:
What mixer outputs and soundcard inputs are you using?
Click to expand...
Ocnor, using a Y cable into LineOut/Rec from the Peavey MP5 powered mixer into the Mic In in the back of the computer. There are only 3 inputs on the computer and Mic In is the only one that allows me to record at all.
I hope this is what you were asking for. It won't take much more for my vast amount of ignorance about this to come shining thru, if it hasn't already :)
 
That would be the problem then. You are running a line level signal into a mic input which is the wrong impedance. You need to run into the line input of the soundcard.
 
I tried plugging into each of the other 2 inputs again but they didn't record. I may have told you wrong about the Mic In input. After taking a closer look at it, the symbol looks like a joystick. No writing to tell what the inputs are. I had always assumed it to be the Mic In. Maybe its the Line In after all, who knows?
If it is Line In after all, what could be causing this problem?
Thanks for your patience.
 
Have you tried recording anything else apart from your accoustic?

Like does it do the same if you just talk/sing into the mic and record that or record an amp?
 
Bulls Hit, my vocals also had the gain/decay effect. However, I did try plugging my acoustic guitar into the mixer as another experiment and the gain/decay problem disappeared. Or if it was there it wasn't noticable.
I much prefer the sound of a mic'd guitar but if using the pickup is the only way its gonna work....

Ocnor, none of those looks like mine. The symbol on my box looks like a simple outline drawing of a mic with 2 curved lines (soundwave symbols?) in front of the round mic head. It could pass as a joystick symbol as well. The other 2 input symbols look identical. Here is what they look like:
(((.)))

Rotate it 90 degrees so's its vertical.
Also, Ocnor, I tried plugging the mic directly into the back of the computer but got the same gain/decay problem.
 
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It sounds like a problem with the mic input or maybe the mic cable. Did you try plugging the mic into a different channel? Wear and tear from plugging and unplugging the mic cable can sometimes break the solder joints. I have seen this happen on Peavey mixers several times.
 
Other responses not the solution

Good day.

I have the very same problem, Khords. My PC is:

XP Pro
Athlon XP2500+
513 RAM
Xear 3d
C-Media Wave Device for Recording/Playback
Goldwave 5.8

Every used to work perfectly, but I can't say when the problem began, but the symptoms are the same: recordings fade in automatically. Fade in time is about 3 seconds.

This problems is particularly bad with vocals.

I became aware of the problem when recording FROM minidisc to the PC. I connected the MD's headphone socket (the only audio out available) to the LINE IN on the PC. Started to record using Goldwave, and discovered the fade in problem.

Tried connecting to the MIC input on the PC. Problem still there.

Tried recording using the Windows Sound Records, but that too was affected whether I used the Line or Mic in sockets.

The really weird thing, though, is that I use Dragon Naturally Speaking, and that seems NOT to be affected. It correctly recognises speech - it wouldn't do if the speech was fading in and out! (I have yet to test this by recording the input from the mic).

I suspect it is a driver conflict/corruption issue, but reinstalling the c-media driver did not work.

Many thanks,

Legs2Sag
 
The solution

Hello again,

as I suggested in my previous post, the problem is with a corrupt driver. Here is my solution:

Use Add & Remove programs to remove the C-Media driver.
Restart Windows
At restart, Win will autodetect new hardware - allow it to install the driver AUTOMATICALLY.
It will ask to connect to the internet to search for a driver - select this option (make sure you are already connected).
Windows will download and install the correct driver!

It worked for me and I'm one very happy bunny. I can at last transfer the sound effects I need for my home produced DVDs.

Best wishes,

Legs2Sag
 
i have the same problem with basically the same system...i tried the uninstalling and letting windows auto install the driver, but i am still having the fading problems.
 
This may be the solution

CONTROL PANEL

Click on Sound and Media Devices

Click on VOLUME tab

Then click on Advanced button What you will see is the Playback Mixer

Select Options, then Properties

Adjust Volume for : Playback (default)
Click on Recording
You will now see what devices are available for Mixing for Recording
(CD Player / Microphone / Aux / Line In / Phone / Stereo Mix )
Tick the ones you use, and un-select the ones you don't.
TIP. Stereo Mix is great for recording live to stereo. This is all audio you can hear. Great for playing MIDI in one program or CD or WAV/MP3, and using Line In (for let's say guitar) and Recording using any Audio Recorder.


Also, depending on software used for recording, the device can be selected, but if it is not "enabled" as per above, that device will not record.
 
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