Help with vocal recording

Hi. I’m trying to record a vocal over a backing track. I’ve dragged the track in to audacity and when I record the vocal, it’s there but the backing track is b OMG recorded as well. I’m going through an alesis multimix 4 - having the mic and the headphones plugged into that and then then plugged into my laptop via usb.ive chosen mic ‘Line (usb audio device)’ as the mic input and ‘speakers (usb audio device’ as the output. Can’t understand why it’s recording the backing track as well as the vocal when I just want to record the vocal OVER the backing track. Any advice greatfully received!! Thanks, Andy

Assuming you’re on Audacity 2.2.1 or later.

Audacity > Edit > Preferences > Recording:

De-select [_] Playthrough
Select [X] Overdub
Select [X] Always New Track

Audacity > Edit > Preferences > Devices:

Make sure you’re recording a real thing. If you really like to record Internet Audio (YouTube, etc) you will probably have a fake device in this setting such as What-U-Hear or Stereo Mix. Pick your real USB device. They don’t make this easy. My plug-in stereo USB device is named USB Audio CODEC.

Koz

Hi Koz

Yes I have it all set up as you’ve said but still it’s recording the backing track with the vocal.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks
Andy

See this post regarding limitations of the Alesis MultiMix: https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/alesis-multymix-4-set-up-to-audacity/48175/2