🧵 What to do if your Focusrite (soundcard) doesn't work - articulateinstruments/AAA-DeepLabCut-Resources GitHub Wiki
Are you unable to record sound in AAA? Are you unable to hear playback? This guide might help you.
First, please close AAA if it is running.
Next, on your computer please open Control Panel (you can search "Control Panel" in your Windows Start menu) and then click on "Hardware and Sound" and then "Sound". (If your Control Panel is set to show many individual icons rather than categories, it will just be called "Sound"). You can use the Playback and Recording tabs at the top of the Sound dialog to view the current audio levels in each audio device that is connected to the computer. The colored vertical bars to the right of each device show the current audio level being played out of or recorded into that device. Please leave this Sound dialog visible to help you identify when your computer is successfully receiving audio signals.
Please try each of the following suggestions one at a time, and check after each one if the problem is resolved:
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Ensure that it is connected to your computer by the USB cable provided with it.
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Ensure that the Focusrite is connected directly to your computer and not to an external USB-hub. This is to ensure it gets enough electrical power.
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Ensure that the microphone and other inputs are connected to the correct ports. You can read about how to connect them by clicking here. One possible problem is that you have connected the microphone or PStretch to the Direct Monitor socket on the Focusrite or to the sound outputs, both of which are incorrect.
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Ensure that the "48V" Phantom Power button on the front of the Focusrite is enabled. It will light up in color when it is enabled. If it's not colorful, please press the "48V" button to switch it on.
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Check that the dials on the front of the Focusrite are turned up. You should see the dials light up with color when you talk or blow air into the micrphone.
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Ensure that the "Direct Monitor" button (or switch) on the front of the Focusrite is disabled. On modern Focusrite devices, the button will be illuminated in green when it is enabled, and illuminated in white when it is disabled.
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Ensure that Windows is set to use the Focusrite as both the input and output device. To do this, use the Windows Start menu to search for "Sound Settings" then ensure that both the Output and Input devices are set to the Focusrite.
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If your computer has a button to mute the microphone, please ensure that it is not muted. If your computer has a button to mute the sound output, please ensure that it is not suppressing sound output.
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Uninstall ALL Focusrite software and drivers on your computer. You can do this by using your Windows Start menu to search for "Add or Remove Programs", then search the list for the word "Focusrite". Click on each one and click Uninstall. Please complete any and all instructions shown before moving onto the next one.
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Install the latest Focusrite software for the specific Focusrite device you have. You can download the latest Focusrite software by clicking here. Your Focusrite is likely to be a Scarlett Solo of either Generation 2, Generation 3 or Generation 4. You can watch a video showing how to identify your Focusrite by clicking here. After you have finished installing it, restart your computer.
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Run AAA, and click on the words of a prompt in the Prompt display to make AAA show you live audio. If the sound input is working correctly then you should see a trace of the audio being drawn left-to-right across the screen. When you talk into the microphone it should draw the signal. If you have an ultrasound system and a PStretch correctly connected then it should also show a continuous square wave buzz on one of the audio channels.
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Ensure that in AAA the audio recording device is set to the Focusrite. You can do this by using the menu at the top of AAA and clicking
Options->Audio...then use the drop-down menu to select the correct audio device.