added noise when recording desktop

[drvinyarski]

OS = 64-bit Linux Mint 18 Sarah

I'm using "RecordMyDesktop" to make a copy of an instructional video that's playing in a browser window (because I have no method of directly downloading the video).

The recording quality is not too bad--except for an added "high-pitched squeel" that's present in the background (not as loud as the media content). I can't hear this distortion/noise when directly listening to the source video--only when playing back the recording--so it seems to be added in the recording process. Any ideas on how to get rid of this? Thanks in advance!

[Arch_Enemy]

OS = 64-bit Linux Mint 18 Sarah

I'm using "RecordMyDesktop" to make a copy of an instructional video that's playing in a browser window (because I have no method of directly downloading the video).

The recording quality is not too bad--except for an added "high-pitched squeel" that's present in the background (not as loud as the media content). I can't hear this distortion/noise when directly listening to the source video--only when playing back the recording--so it seems to be added in the recording process. Any ideas on how to get rid of this? Thanks in advance!

Did you turn down (mute) the output level to any speakers attached? If wearing headphones, do you have it up loud?

[drvinyarski]

The app (recordmydesktop) records everything exactly how it's playing on my monitor / speakers / headphones. If I mute or reduce the volume, the audio in the recording is muted or reduced as well. Do I have something set up incorrectly?

[ejazzkatt]

I can't say anything about your sound problem but I'd suggest that you try VLC to record your video from the browser.
http://www.gofree.com/Tutorials/VLCRecordLiveFeeds.php

If you use the Chrome Browser you might want to use the add-on Video Downloader.

[Arch_Enemy]

The app (recordmydesktop) records everything exactly how it's playing on my monitor / speakers / headphones. If I mute or reduce the volume, the audio in the recording is muted or reduced as well. Do I have something set up incorrectly?

Are you using a mic as well? What I'm thinking is you're getting a small amount of feedback in the recorded audio.

[phd21]

Hi drvinyarski,

Welcome to the wonderful world of Linux Mint and its excellent forum!

It would help to know more about your system setup. If you run "inxi -Fxzd" and "lsusb" from the console terminal prompt, highlight the results, copy and paste them back here, that should provide enough information.

Can you provide an example of the website url of the video you are recording?

1. I would highly recommend using SimpleScreenRecorder (SSR) for recording your desktop.
SimpleScreenRecorder
To install this using the PPA method, open a console terminal, type in, or copy & paste, each line below one by one:

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sudo add-apt-repository ppa:maarten-baert/simplescreenrecorder

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sudo apt-get update

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sudo apt-get install simplescreenrecorder simplescreenrecorder-lib

# if you want to record 32-bit OpenGL applications on a 64-bit system:

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sudo apt-get install simplescreenrecorder-lib:i386

2. There are a lot of browser extension add-ons that can download videos, and Linux applications too (YouTube-DL and YouTube-DLG, 4K video downloader, etc...)


3. As was already mentioned, if you have a microphone and are not using it, then mute it or lower its volume; same with "line-in" controls.

FYI: Install "pulse audio volume control" from the "Synaptic Package Manager (SPM)". There are some really nice graphical (GUI) programs for sound that start with "Qas", like the fantastic "Qasmixer", in the Software Manager or Synaptic Package Manager (SPM) that you can install and use. Sound "Mixers" can be a little confusing if you are not familiar with them. If you bring up "Qasmixer" and make it fullscreen, on the right side you will have mixer devices where you can control your system sound. If you do not see the mixer devices, hit "F6". The mixer item "sysdefault" will show all installed sound card devices, and you will have various options to adjust various volume controls using "sliders" which you can turn off and on using the "dot" below the volume slider. There are also various other check boxes below that you can use, and depending upon your sound card(s) that sometimes includes headphone checkboxes and or sliders as well, like "Headphone Jack Sense".

The applications included are:
- qasconfig - browser for the alsa configuration tree
- qashctl - mixer for alsa's high level control interface
- qasmixer - desktop mixer with features similar to alsamixer

Qasmixer is a desktop mixer application for alsa's "simple mixer interface" and offers features similar to alsamixer. it also features a system tray icon with basic mixer functionality.


Hope this helps ...

[drvinyarski]

Thanks for the excellent information!

I tried SimpleScreenRecorder and it worked PERFECT.

So I abandoned all efforts to figure out what was going wrong with RecordMyDesktop. But as I find time, I'll still explore some of this other advice, just for the purpose of learning. I'm beginning courses in Linux Administration in a few weeks and I hope to eventually help others here. Thanks again!

[phd21]

Hi drvinyarski,

You are welcome ...

SSR is my favorite screen recording application and it works great!