Static Using Stereo Mix

[Chris Burks]

I have a simple home recording set-up and I use Audacity to record and mix tracks. I use Windows XP with HD audio.

When I use stereo mix, selected in the recording control mixer, it works like it should, picking up whatever my sound card picks up and recording it. However, there is an obnoxious background static whenever I'm using stereo mix to record, thus making the tracks useless.

Help is appreciated, thanks in advance.

 

[miroslav]

Is it static...or clipping/overloading of the input?

 

[Chris Burks]

It's static.

 

[Chris Burks]

fuzz might be more accurate.

 

[legionserial]

Questions that may help to find a solution...

What's the spec of your PC?

What sound card/interface are you using?

Have you tried increasing your buffer settings? It will increase latency a little, but buffer settings too low will give you pops and clicks.

What sample rate are you recording at?

Does the static seem to change as you scroll and move things around the screen, as things load up etc etc?

 

[Chris Burks]

Questions that may help to find a solution...

What's the spec of your PC?

What sound card/interface are you using?

Have you tried increasing your buffer settings? It will increase latency a little, but buffer settings too low will give you pops and clicks.

What sample rate are you recording at?

Does the static seem to change as you scroll and move things around the screen, as things load up etc etc?

well, I built my PC out of shit I ordered from newegg. there's not really anything about it's build that could affect recording, i'm pretty sure.

I'm using a UCA 202. however, I have to use my pc's card for stereo mix recording because there's no recording options in the windows sound mixer.

I'm not sure how to modify buffer settings, i'll look that up and try it.

Whatever audacity's default sample rate is I suppose.

And no, the fuzz is unchanging.

 

[Chris Burks]

I unplug the interface and use the stereo mix option for my sound card. it has worked fine before. The same fuzz exists no matter which option i select or what volume I use. here's a screenshot: https://img715.imageshack.us/f/35481312.jpg/

 

[stainlessbrown]

I'm guessing the screen shot is just the noise? and your recorded track has much more amplitude? try putting a gate on the tracks (this is a work around... and it'd be better to find the cause of the noise

have you tried pulling your soundcard, cleaning (DeOxit) the contacts and re-seating?

any cables? are the well shielded?

 

[Chris Burks]

I believe my question has really become, "how can I enable stereo mix on my UCA 202 interface?"

https://img25.imageshack.us/i/23731257.jpg/
As you can see, there are no options under Recording, where stereo mix would normally be.