Can't share microphone between Skype and Audacity?

Nikorasu · 2015-07-25 15:56:13

I recently bought a Snowball USB microphone for a podcast. Previously (from May-July), I would record my track using audacity, and simultaneously use the microphone for Skype.

I tried to do this yesterday and was unable to do so. If I record with the microphone selected in Audacity, I can record, but then the mic picks up no sound in Skype, and if I use the mic in Skype, Audacity doesn't even list the microphone as an available device for recording.

How can I use my microphone for both Skype and Audacity (or in general, share the mic between applications)?

(I can gladly provide information, I just don't know where to start)

ewaller · 2015-07-25 16:16:37

Are you using pulseaudio?

Nikorasu · 2015-07-25 16:41:32

Yes. I have been using pulseaudio in the past and presently.

ewaller · 2015-07-25 20:03:15

Does the gui provided by pavucontrol provide any clues? Do both programs appear in the recording tab? Do the programs that are there see any audio activity in the audio level indicators ?

Nikorasu · 2015-07-25 20:55:29

`pavucontrol` sees the USB mic as an input device, and lists it when recording in Skype in the 'recording' tab.

If I run skype, then audacity, the mic will show up in the list of inputs in audacity, then the app will freeze because it can't read from the device (then closing / reopening the app reveals that the mic is no longer in the list of inputs).

If I run audacity, then skype, I can record just fine.

The device list in audacity shows some pulse devices (e.g. `pulse: Line In`, `pulse: Front Mic`, `pulse: Rear Mic`) but none of these are the USB mic.

R00KIE · 2015-07-25 21:56:33

If you have pulseaudio-alsa installed you should select the "pulse" or "default" device, then you need to use pavucontrol to select which device is your recording input coming from. This is a bit annoying the first time you use it because you need to start a recording and go to pavucontrol and select the proper input, you can't do it directly from audacity (or any other program that used pulse instead of alsa directly).

Arch Linux

#1 2015-07-25 15:56:13

Can't share microphone between Skype and Audacity?

#2 2015-07-25 16:16:37

Re: Can't share microphone between Skype and Audacity?

#3 2015-07-25 16:41:32

Re: Can't share microphone between Skype and Audacity?

#4 2015-07-25 20:03:15

Re: Can't share microphone between Skype and Audacity?

#5 2015-07-25 20:55:29

Re: Can't share microphone between Skype and Audacity?

#6 2015-07-25 21:56:33

Re: Can't share microphone between Skype and Audacity?

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