I have had this problem before, and continue having it. Driving me nuts, cause I’m way past due on making recordings for friends. I’m on Mac OS 10.14.4, Audacity 2.3.0, and recording voice over accompaniment thru an Alesis Multimix 4USBFX four-channel mixer. Vox mike into Alesis channel one, and computer accomp into Line In 3/4. Trying to record on Audacity, my voice over accompaniment I have composed on Sibelius. Uploaded an mpg of the accompaniment onto one Audacity stereo channel. Pressed “record” to start singing on a second Audacity channel, using a mike plugged into Alesis channel one. Sounds great thru headphones. But when I play it back on Audacity, the accompaniment sounds too boomy–too much bass. Finally narrowed it down. It’s the redundant accompaniment bleeding thru my vocal channel. On playback, I mute the Audacity accomp channel and can still hear it on the vox channel. And…when I disconnect the external mike and record on the Mac internal mike, the problem disappears, tho the vox quality is not nearly as good. Does anyone else have this problem? I think it’s the Alesis mixer. Is this a problem with all mixers? I’d buy another one at this point. Thanks. Tom in Texas
So do I. Unfortunately that particular mixer appears to route audio playing from the computer, back into the main mix, so it gets recorded again. I used one once and could find no way around the problem without additional hardware.
If, apart from this problem, you are otherwise happy with the mixer, you could simply get a little Behringer UCA 202. It’s a stereo in/out USB audio interface (around $30). Instead of using the USB in the mixer, plug the main (analog) outputs of the mixer into the UCA 202, plug your headphones into the UCA 202, and plug the UCA 202 into your computer via USB.
Ok, actually I’m relieved that someone else has the same problem, and I’m not just nuts. I also don’t like that the Alesis has only 1/4" speaker outputs, and no XLRs. So, I’d like to get a new mixer. Been looking at the smaller (6-10 channel) Yamahas with FX and USB. As far as you know, are other mixers free of this bleedover problem? And I’ll look into the UC 202. TnT
The Behringer desks are worth a look.
They frequently get criticised in reviews because they are “cheap”, which I think is a bit unfair as they are catering to a specific market segment. They have no intention of competing with “premium” range desks that cost several times more, but rather aim to provide a lot of bang for your buck. They are not as solidly built as (much more expensive) “premium” desks, but one of my bands has had one in heavy gigging use for well over 5 years - it’s getting towards it’s end of life now, whereas a desk costing 4 x the price may have lasted twice as long. I’ve also got a Behringer at home, which I’ve had for over 10 years, and it’s still going strong with no problems at all (home use only). The Behringer desk at home pre-dates their USB desks, and I use it with a Behringer UCA-202 audio interface, which works very well.
I’m not personally a fan of the lower end Yamaha desks (though their big digital desks are nice). I find their “per channel” compressors to be virtually worthless, and there’s something about the sound quality that I don’t like - a kind of “brittleness”.
I’m not just nuts.
You may be nuts, but it’s a common problem.
I have a small pile of Behringer products and without exception they do what it says on the tin.
The UCA202 is a terrific, simple way to get analog audio into and out of USB land.
And it’s certified for overdubbing.
Koz
Wow, thanks so much. You really have helped. Glad I didn’t rush out and buy a new mixer, just yet. I ordered one of these Behringer units and should get it Monday. I also have a pile of reel-to-reel audio tapes that I am supposed to digitize for friends. So, this will do that, too? It seems to be exactly what I need.
Anybody who presumes to make a living making music has got to be partially nuts. Why be sane and boring?
TnT
There is one possible shortcoming. The UCA202 has no volume controls and your reel-to-reel, unless it’s a floor-standing model, has no output volume controls. So there is no way to compensate for a “hot” tape. Once you digitize with clipping or overload, that’s the end of the world.
Koz
That’s going to depend on the tape player. I’ve used my UCA-202 with an old Sony 1/4" tape machine, and it was fine (no clipping). In the worst case, if there is clipping, then you could plug the tape machine into the mixer and record from the mixer.
Ok, I’ll let ya know. It’ll get here Monday. Yeah, seems like I should be able to route it thru the mixer without any problem. Course, it seemed like I should record on Audacity without any problem, too. TnT
Koz… Wow, this little Behringer UCA202 really works! For the first time I am not getting accompaniment in the background of the vocal track. Thanks!! Now…to work! TnT