How to over-ride level control.

CarvedDuck

Member
Messages
109
Win8.1, two different devices (i5-laptop (borrowed), Atom-Tablet) both do the same.

I am trying to record a motor running so I can find if it is making harsh noises.

I set the recorder running and on the motor initial start the level is good and plays back clearly but after a few seconds it slowly drops down to barely audible.

Seems like some kind of level control is assuming it is background noise or something and tries to tune it out. Totally worthless since I can't find anywhere to over-ride it.

I tried using my phone and it records correctly and the motor noise level stays the same, but do not want to leave my phone in a pump-house for 6-hours, every day for a week.

How can I stop windows interfering with the recording process?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V5
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    6GB
    Hard Drives
    240GB Sandisk SSD
    Internet Speed
    4G/LTE
How are you recording, continuously, for 6 hours? Even my recording studio program won't record continuously for that long a period.

But, the internal mic is probably the issue. Use an external microphone and record.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
How are you recording, continuously, for 6 hours?

Thanks for the reply, I'll see if an old headset mic will do it. The problem with the tablet will be battery life as it does not have OTG charging. But if I can find an old headset here that plugs into headphone jack, I can then use the charger. But the headset I am thinking of is a USB one. Will check the junk box though.

Why not record for 6-hours? One useless test file was 3-1/2 hours and only 144MB, so not sure what problems you anticipate with 6-hours.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V5
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    6GB
    Hard Drives
    240GB Sandisk SSD
    Internet Speed
    4G/LTE
A USB headset should also work. Just be sure you set it as the default recording device.

You must be using a very low MP3 bitrate. A one minute .wav file is approx. 10Mb and a one minute MP3 (128) is approx. 1 Mb.
If you are listening for "noises" I would think you want a better fidelity audio file?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    i7 6700K
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VIII Hero
    Memory
    16 Gb G Skill TridentZ DDR4 3400
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel (i7 CPU)
    Sound Card
    RealTek Integrated
    Monitor(s) Displays
    27" Dell SE2717HR
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    500GB Samsung 850 SSD, 3TB for backups
    PSU
    EVGA Supernova 750 G2
    Case
    BeQuiet Silent Base 600
    Cooling
    Deepcool Captain 120EX
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    Cable - 100MB Downlink
    Browser
    Edge/Firefox
    Antivirus
    Microsoft
    Other Info
    Sonar Platinum 64 bit recording studio software with MOTU 896Mk3 Hybrid recording interface unit.
The noise is generally a steady hum within a small bandwidth. Thinking about it, the music recorder is expecting peaks to 12K+ and lows of 10Hz whereas the motor probably never exceeds a spread of maybe 500Hz at whatever center-frequency the hum is. Also probably explains the levelling windows is doing with the mic, it sees it as constant noise and assumes we don't want that. About right for msoft programmers.

The sound file plays back in a more than a suitable fidelity and sounds exactly like the motor. We can even hear relays clicking in from a control box nearby. File size will not be an issue.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer V5
    CPU
    i5
    Memory
    6GB
    Hard Drives
    240GB Sandisk SSD
    Internet Speed
    4G/LTE
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