Applied Research and Technology

Audacity v1.2.3 generates error message when
using USB audio devices with Mac OS-10.4 and
higher (TIGER).

Audacity will record ok when using the Built-in Audio of your computer, but it will generate the following error message when attempting to use a USB audio interface, like the ART USB PHONO PLUS.

Error while opening sound device. Please check the input device settings and the project sample rate.

If you are using Mac OS-10.4 or higher, please download and use Audacity v1.2.4.

DOWNLOAD LINKS:

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/files/audacity-macosx-1.2.4rc2.dmg

http://www.artproaudio.com/default.asp?p1=6&p2=66&p_id=112

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Audacity v1.2.4 is an interim fix, and the program will still exhibit one undesirable behavior, but there is a workaround as listed below.

When using Audacity v1.2.4 with OS-10.4 and above, first open the Apple AUDIO MIDI SETUP control panel which should be located in your UTILITIES folder. Using the buttons at the top, select the AUDIO DEVICES window.

Connect your USB audio device, DO NOT open Audacity v1.2.4 yet.

You will notice that some of the settings in the AUDIO MIDI SETUP window change to reflect settings for the USB device. (If not, go to PROPERTIES FOR => and select USB AUDIO CODEC in the pull down window.)

You can now open Audacity v1.2.4. When the Audacity loads you will again notice that the format settings for both the inputs and outputs will change in the AUDIO MIDI SETUP window. These settings will be in error, and will not give you proper audio performance. In fact, each time Audacity v.1.2.4 is opened this reset will occur. (It could be worse... you could be running Windows.)

THE WORKAROUND: After Audacity opens and performs the erroneous format reset outlined above, you simply have to select the desired format settings manually in the AUDIO MIDI SETUP window.

1) FIRST make ALL of your desired format settings in Audacity. These are found under AUDACITY MENU =>PREFERENCES => AUDIO I/O => Set Channels for 2 (Stereo), and playthrough on or off (On if you want to monitor while recording.)

2) Next, while still in AUDACITY MENU =>PREFERENCES, click the QUALITY tab and set the default Sample Rate and the default Sample Format (Usually 44100 or 48000 Hz, and 16-bit)

3) Click OK to save all of the preferences settings.

4) Next set the PROJECT RATE in the lower left corner of the Audacity window to match your desired sample rate (usually 44100 or 48000).

5) In the AUDIO MIDI SETUP window on the input side, first select 2 ch-16 bit, then select your sample rate. (Usually 44100 or 48000 Hz). Then do the same on the output side. NOTE: These settings must match exactly to the format settings in Audacity. If not, Audacity will perform the same reset routine on the AUDIO MIDI SETUP window when you activate the recording function in Audacity. If your settings match, then you are ready to begin recording.

The basic rule is, after Audacity is open, use the AUDIO MIDI SETUP utility to manually select format settings that match the format settings in Audacity. If you make any format changes in Audacity, you need to also go back to the AUDIO MIDI SETUP window and make the same changes. (It is usually easiest to leave the AUDIO MIDI SETUP window open on the desktop.)