Unable to record my voice in VS X7

[zehavi]

Hello,
When I try to record my voice through a microphone, using the "voice-over" option, I get the message :"Device error: Cannot open the wave-in device". I have done it successfully several times in the past. When I record myself using Windows Sound Recorder the result is O.K. So maybe something wrong in the VS program?
Any help will be appreciated.
Thank you,
Abraham

[Ken Berry]

What does Control Panel > Sound > Recording show as being the default device? Can you change anything there which alters the situation in VS? I have just checked my own set up where the default input device is my built-in microphone, and this works just fine in VS... (Just tested it and confirmed it worked...)

[zehavi]

Thank you Ken,
At "Control Panel > Sound > Recording" the "Realtek High Definition Audio Default Device" is checked without any possibility to change it. This is exactly what has been always .
By the way, I don't have a built-in microphone, I am using an external one by the name of "ativa"

[Ken Berry]

That's exactly what I have showing too, but I think it is the inbuilt Mic which came with the embedded sound card... And as I say, it works fine on my set-up. Do you have an external mic you can plug in and test? That's about the only thing I can think of to try at the moment...

[zehavi]

I found out that in my previous version VS X4, the Voice-over recording works well. This fact suppose to prove that the problem is in my X7 version.
I was looking at the settings of the program and didn't find nothing related to my problem. Is there any way to find out if something is wrong in the program?
Thank you,
Abraham

[Davidk]

Hi,

If recording voice using a plugged in microphone worked in X4, it should work in X7. Mine does. And Ken's does, too. So, maybe the problem is not VS but the OS support for the microphone. (VS like other software does not manipulate the peripherals directly - it makes function calls to the OS to do that).

One thing that has happened recently - last few months? - is that MS has issued driver updates for the realtek sound system hardware in many computers via the usual patch update system. Not sure whether those realtek chips are in every computer system or not: if not in your system (see control panel/system/device manager/sound video and game controllers) then most of the following may not be applicable. But what that update has meant for me is that when I plug in a headset to do recording, I now get a series of windows panel dealing with audio playback and recording devices. Previously, nothing of that sort happened. The levels of sound are also varied: what was previously Ok was after update initially low, but it can be adjusted up using the sound boost toggle. Why was it done? no idea.

But an investigation of the sound recording parameters on your computer may turn up something. One possibility is that the updates have been applied to your machine and the level from your mic is now seen to be too low ie it records, there seems to be a sound file in the voice track but when played it seems like there is nothing there. As a quick check - boost the sound level to the max 500 using the VS option window, and play the problem sound file again. If the recorded level was very low you should now hear something, but it may be very faint.

Checking and adjusting sound levels. First, connect the microphone to the computer, then start VS, and select the voiceover buttons until the level slider is displayed in the small panel window. Blow onto the mic and the level indicators should flicker yellow/orange, depending on how loud the signal from the mic via the OS is. If there is no flicker, then look to the levels of signal the OS is "seeing" from the mic. Go to control panel/sound/recording tab/select the microphone default device/click on properties button/choose levels tab, and the current levels set for the microphone are displayed. If the base microphone level is at max, then try increasing the boost slider (works in 10db steps). Play with it - meaning change the settings, try the voiceover thing in VS again etc. You may find you need a boost level and a lower level of basic slider to get a sound level you are happy with and VS will recognise that as the '100' level.

Davidk

[zehavi]

Thank you Davidk for your most detailed answer.
As I wrote before, my problem is not in the sound level, when I try to record I get the message: "Device error: Cannot open the wave-in device", so I don't have any audio file to change it's properties.
I don't have any problem with my OS support for the microphone, because when I record myself with my external microphone using the "sound recorder" of the OS (without any connection to VS) I get a fine audio file. And as I mentioned before, In X4 it also works well. It looks strange, but this is the fact.
Abraham

[Davidk]

Hmmmm.

Is X4 still installed on the same machine as the new X7 you have? How new (from purchase date) is the X7? You may be within the warranty period and if so, can bounce this to the support agent. Otherwise, maybe you could post some screen shots (eg mic recording in 1) X4 and 2) the OS) and the VS error panel for the moderators to review?

Davidk

[lata]

Hi

From my desktop pc with USB Logitech Mic…..
This is what I see when viewing the Sound Properties.

If I right click the panel I can Show Disabled Devices and Disconnected Devices.

Your panel should show your Mic connected, is it set as default.?

[Davidk]

And to see the properties of the mic, you have to select it (gets a light blue background panel around the whole thing) and the properties button is now active rather than grey.

Davidk

[zehavi]

Thank you Davidk and Trevor,
This is my sound properties:

So, according to this, my microphone suppose to be O.K. (not a USB connection). I didn't mention before that I am also using this mic successfuly during Skype Connections.

To summarize the issue:
Using The Sound Recorder of the OS - The microphone works well.
Using Skype - The microphone works well.
In VS X4 - The microphone works well.
In VS X7 - The program does't recognize the microphone ("Device error: Cannot open the wave-in device")

So does't it looks that something is wrong in my VS X7?
Abraham Zehavi

[Ken Berry]

To repeat what I said above, I have that exact same Realtek High Definition Audio Default Device also green ticked in my Sound box in Control Panel. It too works with Skype, Windows, Google+... but it also works with VS X7 (and also Power Director 13)... So to me it suggests there is something strange about your overall set-up. My own Sound box does not contain that Stereo Mix entry. I note your entry shows Disabled... I am just wondering what might happen if you Enable it...?