Wav audio files intermittent problem

[xoggoth]

Doubt anyone will know, but CUK usually more helpful than Google where I can't find any relevant solutions.

Got a voice recorder uses wav format. On Windows 10, sometimes recordings play ok, other times almost inaudible. Doesn't help to convert to another format. Same problem in various players - Windows Media Player, VLC Media player, Audacity.

Can't figure out why a fault like this would be so random. Often ok when I next restart the PC and sometimes ok when I just try again later. Any ideas? Cheers.

[ladymuck]

can the same file play normally sometimes and badly at other times?

[hobnob]

A couple of thoughts: if the same file works ok later (e.g. after a reboot) then that means that the file itself isn't corrupt.

Have you tried other files in the same applications (e.g. mp3 files)? How about other apps that use audio, e.g. watching YouTube videos?

With my work laptop (provided by client), I've found that it doesn't always detect my USB headphones correctly. So, I'll be on a Teams call and I can barely hear other people, because it's using the built-in speakers instead. When I disconnect/reconnect the USB cable, the output device changes and the audio sorts itself out. Maybe a similar issue for you?

[sadkingbilly]

Doubt anyone will know, but CUK usually more helpful than Google where I can't find any relevant solutions.

Got a voice recorder uses wav format. On Windows 10, sometimes recordings play ok, other times almost inaudible. Doesn't help to convert to another format. Same problem in various players - Windows Media Player, VLC Media player, Audacity.

Can't figure out why a fault like this would be so random. Often ok when I next restart the PC and sometimes ok when I just try again later. Any ideas? Cheers.

Is this an app or an external recorder?
do all recordings play soft everywhere? or is it just one or two?
checked your mic level on record/ vol level on PB?

[xoggoth]

Cheers both. It's an external USB recorder. The problem, when it happens, applies to all wav files. Other audio formats, MP3 etc, play fine in the same players unless converted from wav. No problems with anything else at all, audio or video. No other sound problems generally.

[xoggoth]

Tried few times today, wavs inaudible. Gave it one last go just now before turning PC off and all playing fine now! Makes no sense.

[hobnob]

The problem, when it happens, applies to all wav files. Other audio formats, MP3 etc, play fine in the same players unless converted from wav.

My guess is that it's a codec issue. I.e. I assume that all the wav files and the converted mp4 files have the same codec (probably LPCM), whereas the files that play ok are using a different codec. You could try using Handbrake (or similar software) to convert the wav files using a different codec and see whether that helps, but it doesn't solve the underlying issue.

[woody1]

1) I'm assuming the wav files are on the PC's hard drive when they are being played?
2) Do they play ok on other devices? Another PC, Hi-Fi, TV or phone etc?
3) Do other (non-voice recorder) wav files play ok on your PC?

[xoggoth]

Cheers for more comments chaps. Have tried copying to hard drive, made no difference. Too many files for converting to be practical. I'll check your other suggestions when the problem happens agains but can't at moment as the files are all playing fine this morning anyway.

[woody1]

One obvious thing I should have asked. Had it previously been working fine, and only recently started playing up?

If the files are on the HD, and sometimes they play ok, and sometimes they don't, then I'd suspect a problem with the PC, although I've no idea what it could be. The fact that rebooting the PC makes the problem go away for a while tends to also supports this.