GoldWave Manual > Troubleshooting and Q&A

Appendix E: Troubleshooting and Q&A

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting
Problem Cause/Solution
Cannot open large files
  • Make sure that hard disk storage is enabled in Options | Storage.
  • Make sure that you have plenty of free memory and hard drive space. CD quality sound requires 10MB per minute and 20MB per minute when editing.
Cannot play sounds
  • Sound driver is incorrectly installed or needs to be updated.
  • Check that the Windows Media Player can play sounds. If it doesn't, the driver is not installed correctly.
  • Make sure that your audio device is selected by using the Device tab in Control Properties.
Cannot record sounds
  • Make sure you have the correct recording device selected. See Recording Sounds.
  • Check that the Windows Sound Recorder accessory can record sounds. If it doesn't, the driver is not installed correctly.
  • Make sure your audio hardware is capable of recording.
  • Update your sound driver.
  • Sound may be in use by the playback device; click on the Stop button.
  • Recording device may be in use by another program; close the other program.
System seems slow or visuals do not update smoothly
  • Your system may not be fast enough to draw the visuals. Try reducing the frame rate in the Visual tab in Control Properties or set all visuals to blank.
System freezes or crashes or an exception occurs
  • If the crash occurs during recording or playback, install updated sound, video, and motherboard drivers.
  • If the crash occurs when you try to run GoldWave, use the GoldWave Setup on the Windows Start menu to disable some of the plug-ins.
  • You may have encountered a problem. If you can duplicate the problem after restarting your system, contact GoldWave Inc. for more assistance.
After a crash, there is less free space on the hard drive
  • Delete files in the temporary storage folder specified under Options | Storage. These files usually have names like GWXXX.TMP. Note that you may be able to recover the files by opening them in GoldWave.
Visuals are out of synchronization
  • Many audio drivers return inaccurate positions. Make sure you have the most recent sound driver.
Pops, clicks, or stuttering during playback
  • Increase the Latency setting on the Device tab in Control Properties.
  • Your sound driver is defective. Obtain a new sound driver or a new sound card, or tell the manufacturer about the problem.
  • Pops and clicks can occur at the beginning or ending of a sound if the first or last sample is not silence. Use the "Sharp faded ends" preset in Volume Shape.
  • Enable the Snap To Zero-Crossing feature to avoid pops and clicks when editing.
Expression Evaluator slow
  • Make sure that memory storage is selected in Options | Storage. Close and reopen your files for this setting to apply.
Editing seems to be getting slower and disk activity is increasing
  • Files on your hard disk are becoming fragmented. Use the Windows Disk Defragmenter system tool.
Distortion in recording
  • You need to lower the recording volume. Use the record volume setting on the Device tab (or Volume tab for DirectSound) in Control Properties.
  • Check that all connections are correct and firm (do not connect a "line-out" to "mic-in", for example).
Gaps in recording and playback
  • Increase the Latency setting on the Device tab in Control Properties.
  • The Windows virtual memory manager can sometimes cause gaps due to excessive swapping. Installing more memory (RAM) may help.
  • Your system may be too slow to display the visuals. Try reducing the frame rate in the Visual tab of Control Properties or set all visuals to blank.
Sound won't play for more than a few seconds.
  • Make sure you've selected the entire file.
  • Use the Play All button or configure a playback button to "Play All" in the Play tab of Control Properties.

Common Questions and Answers

Why do I get only silence when I try to record?
You have to select the correct recording source. See Device tab (or Volume tab for DirectSound) of the Control Properties window.
How do I record audio from a CD?
Use the Tool | CD Reader command to copy the audio directly from the CD.
How can I see and adjust recording volume levels without recording?
Use the Monitor input on visuals option in the Record settings.
How can I avoid stuttering and glitches in recording?
Close all other programs. Restart your system before (or between) recording for long periods of time. Update your sound driver. Set visuals to Blank.
How do I select part of a sound?
See Editing Overview for more information.
How can I tell if the finish marker is in the right place without playing the entire selection?
Right click on the waveform just before the finish marker and choose the Play From Here menu item. Or, go to the Play tab and select the Finish option for one of the play buttons. That will play a few seconds before the finish marker.
How do I edit individual amplitude samples with the mouse?
See Redrawing the Waveform.
Why does GoldWave show the evaluation messages?
GoldWave is not free software. If you are a licensed user and are still seeing evaluation messages, you'll need to enter your license into the program again.
Can I convert sound files to MIDI?
No. MIDI files do not contain digital audio. They contain notes and timing information for instruments. In other words, they contain instructions for playing the music, but not the music itself.
How are you?
Fine, thanks.
How can I split a large recording into individual songs?
Use Cue Points with the Auto Cue Button and the Split File Button.