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Audacity is entirely free, and you might wonder why certain errors and issues can occur at times. One of the 'familiar' hiccups with Audacity is the 'Error Opening Sound Device.' If you come across that message, rest assured, you're not alone. In this piece, Mytour will uncover some reasons behind the issue and, more importantly, share how to troubleshoot Audacity errors when opening the sound device.
I. Why do you receive the Error Opening Sound Device in Audacity
When this message pops up, you'll be prompted to review the playback or recording device options and sample rate of your Audacity projects. If the notification indicates an issue with the recording device, it means the problem is related to your operating system, audio device settings, or Audacity itself. These error messages may be linked to the audio device or driver. Perhaps you're even pushing the device beyond its limits by recording on more channels than it allows or attempting to overwrite a file (play an audio file and record over it) when the program can only perform one action at a time (playback or recording).
This includes recording on more channels than the device permits or using the device to overwrite (play an audio file and record over it) when the program can only execute one action at a time (playback or recording).
The primary cause for recording device errors on Windows is when certain audio device inputs don't sync well with Audacity. Simply put, it means Audacity is denied the permission to commence recording.
II. Troubleshooting Audacity when opening the sound device
1. Check external audio devices
Ensure that your computer recognizes the audio device you've connected, such as headphones or speakers. It might sound trivial, but first, check if the cables are correctly and securely plugged in. Then, verify if your computer detects your device by looking at the system tray.
If you spot a red X on your audio device, try disconnecting and reconnecting it. In case the issue persists, open the Playback devices by right-clicking on the speaker icon in the system tray. Ensure Spearker/Headphones is enabled. For laptops, right-click on the speaker icon in the system tray, select Open Volume mixer > System Sounds> Recording , and right-click on the microphone to enable it.
2. Check audio drivers
Your computer's built-in audio device always has the latest driver for your operating system, provided by the motherboard or computer manufacturer. A PCI or sound card should always have the latest driver and firmware supplied by the device manufacturer.
You might encounter this error in Audacity if your driver is outdated. The solution here is to manually update the driver or use third-party software.
3. Audacity's Own Glitch
While recording, avoid enabling Software Playthrough in Audacity as it may lead to errors. You can disable it as follows:
- Open Audacity and click on Edit located in the top-left corner of the program.
- Choose Preferences > Recording >uncheck Playthrough and press OK to confirm.
Also, check your audio device settings to see if they are correctly configured by following these steps:
- Open Audacity and select Edit.
- Click on Preferences > Devices.
- The Host option should be set to Windows WASAPI. If not, set it to WASAPI.
- Click OK to confirm.
Here are some main reasons causing Audacity errors when opening the sound device and the accompanying solutions. Simply follow the provided steps to resolve the issue. Additionally, refer to How to Fix Mic Delay in Audacity here for further assistance.
