Recording 2 mono channels

Hi,

apologize if this question has been answered before, but I couldn’t find a satisfactory answer.

I switched from Mac to Fedora, and am not able to use ProTools any more. However, as I managed to find an adequate replacement for all the apps I used to use on the Mac side, I thought I might try out Audacity.

I want to record -as I am used - with my M-Box, and everything works fine with my setup on Fedora. However, I just can’ figure out how to record two mono channels with the two mics I connect to the M-Box. I need two mono tracks, as mic 1 is condenser, and mic 2 is dynamic - hence the need for individual control.

ProTools automatically creates 2 mono tracks to record into when told. Audacity seems to create new stereo track for recording when I hit the Record button, regardless of two mono tracks I previously created for recording (these get ignored). Same thing if I set to mono - I just get a mono track for recording, and the previously created two still get ignored.

What would be the remedy,

Cheers,

Happy New Year,

Jack


Fedora 25

Audacity 2.1.3-alpha-Nov 9 2016

installed via Terminal

I don’t know about recording live like that, but it’s easy to convert in post.

Drop-down menu to the left of the stereo track > Spit Stereo to Mono.

Scroll down or click the graphic.

Koz

So, no way of doing the things the way I described?

Seems like I’d have to change the workflow, or try out Ardour.

Thx,

Jack

no way of doing the things the way I described?

Not that I know of.

Seems like I’d have to change the workflow, or try out Ardour.

It seems that way, yes.

Koz

Audacity doesn’t require arming tracks, so Record always creates a new track.

A new stereo recording is left and right channel of a stereo pair, not two mono tracks.

Audacity does have Append Record into the end of the selected tracks (SHIFT + R or SHIFT-click the Record button). So try creating your two empty mono tracks, CTRL + A to select both tracks, then Append Record.

You might get half volume tracks where the maximum without clipping is +/- 0.5 instead of +/- 1.0. That depends on your equipment and is part of the same “stereo pair” limitation.


Gale

Thanks for the advice guys - a very supportive community, it seems.

I did some recording with one stereo track - at first hearing, it sounds pretty good.

How is your experience with splitting guys - straightforward clean job, or some surprise possible?

I’ll give a try later in the week with “append”, maybe that is an option, too.

Thanks again guys,

Jack

Splitting stereo tracks is quick and easy.

Stereo tracks may be split as “Left” and “Right” channels, or as 2 “mono” channels.
As you want to split to two mono channels, ensure that you select the “Split Stereo to Mono” option (not “split stereo track”).
See here for more info: Splitting and Joining Stereo Tracks - Audacity Manual

Thanks, but when mentioning “surprise”, I was actually wondering about technical quality.

Splitting is not an extraction or filter. There is no loss.

Gale