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Apr
7
(2006)
So, I mentioned that the combination of my shiny new Samson C01U and Audacity (pick a current branch and version) is a bit, well, cantankerous on my Mac. It frustratingly works just fine on the Windows boxes in our lab, but on my desktop and Powerbook much cajoling and incantations are required. Almost ready to break out the chicken entrails…
One thing that I noticed, which seems to help a fraction of a percent, is that the Samson USB mic is a 16 bit sample source. Audacity’s default is a 32 bit sample source. Not sure if that makes a real difference, since 16×2=32, but I set that bit in Audacity, and I think it works at least 3% more often than it did before (which means it works about 4% of the time now).
I spend a LOT of time quitting Audacity, nuking prefs, launching Sound Preferences, selecting source, launching Audio MIDI Setup, selecting source, launching Audacity, setting bits. Saying things like “Crap!”. Repeating the process untill it decides to stick.
This isn’t going to fly for my big podcasting workshop on the 19th. I may end up doing the Audacity demo from a Windows laptop, and showing Garageband on my Powerbook.
This whole Audacity-borks-on-USB-audio is really annoying. This is supposed to be THE audio app, and it doesn’t work with an entire class of popular/common/good audio inputs (or outputs - borks when squirting audio out to my Logitech USB headset, too). There are several references to this problem in the Audacity forums and support areas. But no real solution. It’s not a new problem, either. Some of the posts are from early 2005.
Is there another open source, cross-platform audio editor that works with USB in/out?
Update: Yeah. Audacity is still better than Ardour, though…
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7 Responses to “Playing around with the Samson C01U USB mic and Audacity on MacOSX”
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Your description of your problems is a perfect example of why podcasting, or at least the creation of podcasts, doesn’t quite feel ready for prime time. That’s disheartening, because there are still a lot of voices and stories to be heard from people who aren’t going to be able to tweak audio settings, software configuration, etc. just to create a short podcast.
Yeah… It actually is MUCH easier than this if you can use an iApp. Garageband would have had me done in a couple of seconds. But, I need to show how Windows users can do it as well… I can’t just tell them to get a Mac, as much as I’d like to.
Maybe I’ll just use Odeo or something…
I have given up on using audacity with my C01U. I’m going to use Logic, and get oneof my students BIAS Peak
Update: I resolved the Audacity/C01U dilemma:
Check the Audio/MIDI settings - Make sure the C01U is set to use the mac’s Audio via the Aggregate Device Editor:
Update: I resolved the Audacity/C01U dilemma:
Check the Audio/MIDI settings - Make sure the C01U is set to use the mac’s Audio via the Aggregate Device Editor:
see this link:
http://img278.imageshack.us/img278/6339/picture27pd.png
I have So So SOOOOO many problems with using the samson co1u mic with audacity on my Windows laptop!!!
from what i'm reading, it should only be problem for Mac users… can you tell me what to do???
so Frustrated.
Hey all.
This not simply a MAC problem. CO1U and audacity on my Windows laptop are in complete disagreement. The gain is inconsistent and tempermental.
Ideas… help?
- Canada Day Fever 2007