Audition is quiet on one computer but works fine on others

Report · Sep 25, 2023

Hello,

I am having a baffling issue where Adobe Audition is playing certain file's incredibly quietly (despite levels showing as peaking). This is an issue based in a classroom where our students are all using the same file. There are only 2 computers out of the whole class who are struggling with this. I have tried changing headphones, adjusting the audio hardware preferences, and, comparing to another clip which seems to work okay.

If I amplify the audio it becomes a horrible mess of static and hissing. The system sounds for the computer are loud and work fine. Unsure what to do about this, as it doesn't seem to be a problem with the file (standard .WAV). The file works fine on all the other computers without any need for adjustments (amplify, sample rate etc.).

If anyone has any idea it would be greatly appreciated as it has left myself and the tutor stumped.

Thank you 🙂

Report · Sep 25, 2023

I realise that it sounds a bit obvious, but have you tried turning the speaker volume up? Assuming it's Windows, that involves clicking on the loudspeaker symbol on the lower task bar. It has to be something like that, as it's not something that Audition has any control over.

Report · Sep 26, 2023

Thank you for responding.

We have tried everything by changing headphones, maxing out the volume for the computer etc. As I said above, the system sounds are loud and clear. Even at 100 volume the sounds from Windows, Chrome and other media files are deafening at that level. All the other students using the same file have their headphone volume at 20 and it is perfectly clear on their computers. None of them have had to amplify the audio either. My first thought was to do this, but it is incredibly quiet with a lot of hissing. Even without amplifying the audio, Adobe recognises that the file is peaking.

It may be an issue with the file itself, however it is just a very strange occurence that it is only causing issues on 2 computers out of 20. I have tried all the obvious solutions, as well as changing sample rates and testing the headphones through the control panel settings. Just has us stumped as I have never experienced this issue before in the 7 years I've been using Adobe software.

Thank you for your response anyway, it's appreciated.

Report · Sep 26, 2023

Could this be a phase cancelling problem. If the faulty compuers are monitoring in mono and the rest are stereo any out of phase clips will sound (almost) fine on the stereo machines but will be very low level on the mono.

Open up the phase meter in Audition and see if the clips are out of phase.

Report · Sep 26, 2023

I just realised - you gave me a possible clue... Try turning the system sounds off (like it says in the installation instructions). They can play havoc with 'normal' audio playback if one gets invoked at an inopportune moment.

Report · Oct 03, 2023

Thank you,

my apologies for the delayed response. It seems to be some kind of issue with the sound card, I've ended up getting IT to take it away to look at. Thank you for your responses. Due to my limited access I couldn't investigate the issue as easily as I would have liked. But it appears that Audition wasn't the issue.