Avoid hearing previous tracks on new track while recording

Audacity Help Forum Windows
1

Hello,

I am using Audacity 2.1.2 (from the exe installer), on Windows XP.
I have a project, where I start with one drum audio track.
Now, on a second track, I want to record some guitar. I hear the 1st track (the drums) over my headphones, while I record the guitar over a microphone with a jack which I plug into my PC. All of this works fine: I can hear the drums fine and the 2nd track is recording the sound of the guitar. However, the problem is that in the 2nd track, apart from the guitar I also hear the 1st track (the drums). First I thought somehow the sound of my headphones would reach the microphone, but even when during recording - for testing - I put the headphone faraway, under a pillow or something, the same happens: the sound of the 1st track is also recorded on the 2nd track together with the newly played guitar. How can I avoid this? Because the next step would be to add more guitar-tracks and - finally - vocals, and when on each new track all previously recorded tracks are heard too, it is impossible to mix. Of course, I could mute the 1st track while recording, but I need those drums to play the guitar on time.
What am I doing wrong here?

Best regards,

Machiel

2

I would have thought we’d had a pre-baked answer to this already.

You’re on headphones, check.

Do you like recording on-line content like YouTube sound? The settings to do that, can do this.

Audacity > Edit > Preferences > Recording: [X] Overdub. That should be the only thing selected.

Audacity Device Toolbar > Microphone Symbol (recording). That should be your single recording device such as USB input, Line-In or Built-In Microphone. It should not be the setting you use for recording YouTube videos, such as Stereo Mix or What-U-Hear. Those aren’t real devices. Those are “fake” false pathways inside the machine.

Some USB sound mixers can do this as a production feature.

Am I close?

Koz

3

Well, I actually tried to google for an answer, and found a few replies, but none of them worked for me.

You’re on headphones, check.

Check.

Do you like recording on-line content like YouTube sound? The settings to do that, can do this.

No.
I have an audio track (recorded somewhere else) which is a drum track. “Track 1”.
Now I open a new track “Track 2”, where I record the guitar. I need to hear the drums, obviously, to play on time. I can hear the drums fine, and the microphone does record the guitar as played in front of the microphone. But somehow when, next, I listen to Track 2 (muting Track 1), I not only hear the guitar but also the drums.
This happens even when during recording I unplug the headphones and switch off the microphone (for testing): the sound of the drums still end up on “Track 2”. So, somehow, somewhere track-1 “leaks” into track-2.

Audacity > Edit > Preferences > Recording: Overdub. That should be the > only > thing selected.

Correct. Check.

Audacity Device Toolbar > Microphone Symbol (recording). That should be your single recording device such as USB input, Line-In or Built-In Microphone. It should > not > be the setting you use for recording YouTube videos, such as Stereo Mix or What-U-Hear. Those aren’t real devices. Those are “fake” false pathways inside the machine.

I don’t record YouTube videos. I found on the net some replies refering to “Stereo Mix” or “What-U-Hear”, which - supposedly - are settings on Windows, right? The problem is, I cannot find in any settings (Sound, Microphone, etc…) on my Windows these settings at all. Which makes me think my PC (or soundcard) somewhere hidden has these options set without giving me the chance to switch them off.
This morning, I tried something else: I copied my entire “.au” project to a different computer (Windows Vista, laptop), and got the same Audacity version installed there. Here, it doesn’t happen. As a matter of fact, here I cannot find this “Stereo Mix” or “What-U-Hear” option either, but in any case, it seems I don’t need to, it works fine here.
So my conclusion is that somehow this “leaking” depends on either the OS (Windows XP) or on the soundcard (RealTek on XP, Microsoft High Def. Audio on Vista). For the moment I continue on Vista, although it would be easier for me to work on XP because it has more memory.

Am I close?
Koz

I think you are right about the “SoundMix” and “What You Hear” options, but unfortunately I cannot test this because I cannot find this on my computer. (Which by the way, is installed in the Spanish language, but anyway, I haven’t seen anything that could be rougly translated to those words).

Anyway, thanks for your advice, I think you are right, even though it doesn’t solve my problems your help is very much appreciated.

Cheers,

Machiel

4

In the Audacity Help menu, select “Audio device info”. Wait for the info to appear, then copy the full contents of that window (Click at the start, then scroll down to the bottom, then shift+click at the end, then Ctrl+C), and past it into your reply. That will show us what devices Audacity can see on your computer and may allow us to advise more accurately.

5

Ok, here comes:

========================
Default recording device number: 1
Default playback device number: 6
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Asignador de sonido de Microsof - Input
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.090000
Low Playback Latency: 0.090000
High Recording Latency: 0.180000
High Playback Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Back Line in/Mic, Front Line in
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.090000
Low Playback Latency: 0.090000
High Recording Latency: 0.180000
High Playback Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: Realtek HD Digital input
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.090000
Low Playback Latency: 0.090000
High Recording Latency: 0.180000
High Playback Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: Realtek HD Front Green Jack
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.090000
Low Playback Latency: 0.090000
High Recording Latency: 0.180000
High Playback Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: Realtek HD Front Pink Jack
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.090000
Low Playback Latency: 0.090000
High Recording Latency: 0.180000
High Playback Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: Asignador de sonido de Microsof - Output
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0.090000
Low Playback Latency: 0.090000
High Recording Latency: 0.180000
High Playback Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 6
Device name: Realtek HD Audio rear output
Host name: MME
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0.090000
Low Playback Latency: 0.090000
High Recording Latency: 0.180000
High Playback Latency: 0.180000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 7
Device name: Controlador primario de captura de sonido
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.120000
Low Playback Latency: 0.000000
High Recording Latency: 0.240000
High Playback Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 8
Device name: Back Line in/Mic, Front Line in
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.120000
Low Playback Latency: 0.000000
High Recording Latency: 0.240000
High Playback Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 9
Device name: Realtek HD Digital input
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.120000
Low Playback Latency: 0.000000
High Recording Latency: 0.240000
High Playback Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 10
Device name: Realtek HD Front Green Jack
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.120000
Low Playback Latency: 0.000000
High Recording Latency: 0.240000
High Playback Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 11
Device name: Realtek HD Front Pink Jack
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.120000
Low Playback Latency: 0.000000
High Recording Latency: 0.240000
High Playback Latency: 0.000000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 12
Device name: Controlador primario de sonido
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 6
Low Recording Latency: 0.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.120000
High Recording Latency: 0.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Device ID: 13
Device name: Realtek HD Audio rear output
Host name: Windows DirectSound
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 6
Low Recording Latency: 0.000000
Low Playback Latency: 0.120000
High Recording Latency: 0.000000
High Playback Latency: 0.240000
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Selected recording device: 11 - Realtek HD Front Pink Jack
Selected playback device: 13 - Realtek HD Audio rear output
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available recording sources:
0 - FPink
==============================
Available playback volumes:
0 - Onda
1 - Sintetizador SW
2 - Side
3 - Subwoofer
4 - Center
5 - Rear
6 - Front
7 - DigitalOut
8 - FGreen
9 - FPink
10 - Reproductor de CD
11 - Line In 1 or 2
12 - Micrófono
13 - Altavoz de PC
==============================
Recording volume is native
Playback volume is native
6

Can you describe all the audio ports and their colours on this XP machine? I don’t understand why “Realtek HD Front Green Jack” is described in the Audio Device Info as a recording device. Green audio ports should be for playback.

Are there any built-in speakers on this machine? There do not seem to be, according to the Audio Device Info?

Can you connect your mic to the “Back Line in/Mic, Front Line in” port and choose that as recording device in Audacity? Does that have the same problem?

Did you build this computer yourself or is it a branded model? Bad audio drivers could be something to do with it.


Gale

7

There have been posts where we just couldn’t figure out where the bad sound pathway was coming from. But yes. You have the idea. Close all the known sound pathways and keep trying.

Now I open a new track “Track 2”, where I record the guitar.

I’m running that through my mind. That’s not how I do it. That may cause conflicts because of the time-to-life nature of the tracks.

I set up for overdubbing with a simple microphone, but I don’t create a fresh, new track to put the live performance in. I have the base or rhythm track and nothing else. I press Record, the rhythm track starts to play in my headphones and a new live track is laid down—usually by itself.

I need to drop out for a bit.

Koz

8
  1. No, I disconnected all speakers
  2. I have tried all possible in- and out- entrances of the PC, both for microphone as for headphone. The only ones that are working (unless I did something else wrong while changing) are the front inputs: Pink for microphone, Green for headphones.
  3. It is a branded PC, but it’s 15 years old, and still has XP. So I’m afraid that it will be very hard to fix if at all possible. Especially since it’s all in Spanish. I’m pretty sure it has something to do with this “Get What You Hear” thing, but I have to figure out where that option can be unset (if at all).
9

Well, I tried both ways. Either just clicking “record” and then a new track is created automatically. (And track-1 will “leak” into “track-2”), or, making a track myself, selecting this track, and click “SHIFT -R” and recording then. In both cases, the same happens. I prefer creating the track myself, because then I can select “MONO” (but I’ve tried Stereo too, to see if that made a difference) (No, it didn’t).

Cheers,

Machiel

10

I’d like to add one more thing. I tried to do the same thing using CuBase instead of Audacity. The same thing happens (one track “leaking” into another). This - for me - definitely confirms that it’s some setting on Windows or the soundcard which I have to change. The only problem left is to know whether that is possible and how.

In any case, many thanks for all the helpful advice.

Machiel

11

I meant internal speakers that might be sounding despite you have headphones plugged in.

You can configure sound in Windows Sounds and Audio Devices. Also look in the Windows Control Panel for a Realtek Control Panel - perhaps it has some configuration option to include background sound when recording the front pink mic.

I suggest you find out the name of the computer brand and go to their web site to check for audio drivers, or find out the make and model number of the motherboard, and go to their site to look for audio drivers. See Updating Sound Device Drivers. Doing this might unlock access to more configuration options.


Gale

12

(the plot thickens). I want to add some more information, not because I think there will be a solution for me (using a 15 year old XP probably just cannot be fixed), but in case someone else has similar problems and maybe this might help (or maybe not).

Yesterday I found out that when I play anything else (a bit like, - as someone earlier mentioned earlier - “recording YouTube”) while recording, this does NOT leak into the newly recorded track. This is the point where I really throw my hands up in the air and just give up.
To clarify: I am using this website to make a drumpattern: http://webaudiodemos.appspot.com/MIDIDrums/index.html Now, if I play the resulting drum-pattern on that webpage (on Chrome but I don’t see how that matters) and then open either Audacity or CuBase and record a guitar track played live in front of the mic, the drum pattern does NOT leak onto the guitar track.

To summarise:
Case 1: Play an existing “track-1” on audacity and record a guitar on “track-2”. Result: sound from “track-1” leaks onto “track-2”.
Case 2: The same with CuBase. Result: the same
Case 3: Play some pattern on the “Webaudiodemos” website and record a guitar on either Audacity or CuBase. Result: sound from website does NOT leak onto “guitar-track”. Of course, the problem here is that now I don’t have the drum track inside (on a seperate track) in either Audacity or CuBase.

By the way, I did find the “Stereo Mix” setting on my PC (“Mezclador Stereo” in “propiedades audio”->Audio->Grabar->Advanced) but it cannot be switched off (I can only put the volume bar to zero, which I did but which does not make any difference whatsoever).

It’s a bit like a John Dickson Carr locked-room mystery where nothing seems to make any sense.
Anyway, again I want to thank everyone for all the help.

13

When I was early days into commercial and consumer sound systems, I pretty much had a handle on what the wires did and where they went. Even those system were a little on the magic side. Explain 48volt Phantom Power to somebody. I’ll wait.

Then I met my first soundcard designed by the same people that assumed a computer was a generic device and you could program it it do whatever you wanted. It featured no assumptions and it was for all practical purposes incomprehensible to normal humans.

I’m glad the state of the art has advanced since then.

Koz

14

Your machine, from what you say, has broken audio ports and at least one port that should be an output but which is mapped somewhere as an input.

Is there still a web site for the manufacturer of this machine? If not, have you found out the motherboard make and model number and been to their site to look for audio drivers? See Updating Sound Device Drivers.

Merely reinstalling the correct audio drivers should reset all the audio settings. I think you may have to consider trying that.

Or, if you cannot afford a new computer, buy a USB sound card and use that instead of the built-in sound device.

According to your Audacity Audio Device Info, you may have chosen Windows DirectSound host in Audacity’s Device Toolbar. Try choosing MME host instead.

You should be able to hide the stereo mix volume bar as per Missing features - Audacity Support. But what you describe is more proof your sound device is broken, because Stereo Mix does not show up in Audacity’s Device Toolbar.

Have you tried in Sounds and Audio Devices, Recording section (see the link in the previous paragraph), selecting your sound device, click the “Volume” button, then put a tick in the box for “Realtek HD Front Pink Jack”? This will make it the default Windows recording device. According to your Audio Device Info you had “Back Line in/Mic, Front Line in” selected as default Windows recording device, which is not the input you are using in Audacity. It should not be necessary to do this.

Also have you looked in the Realtek Control panel as was suggested?


Gale

15

Thank you all for your help. I didn’t look at this forum for a while but I managed to solve it, and basically my solution confirms the post from Gale Andrews.
In the attachment, I have put some details of my investigations.
I think the solution was a number of things, but mainly, as Gale suggested: one (or more) of the I/O ports must be wrongly wired.

Now, I have the microphone in one of the front input ports (pink) and the headphone in one of the back input ports (I don’t remember the colour, I tried them one by one).
Having both plugged in front OR both in back would give rise to bleeding again, but having one in front and the other back solves it…
(Having the recording in MONO instead of stereo also slightly helped but was not the main solution). Even without connecting the actual microphone (but still having its cable connected to the port) I would have bleeding as soon as this cable and the headphone cable would be in ports near to each other.

I am posting this in case it might be helpful for other people with the same problem (which ocurred both with Audacity as with Cubase, so it’s not a problem of settings of those programs). Operating system: Windows XP (…yes, I know…) Soundcard: RealTek.

As I said before, there was no way I could configure the RealTek card itself (no option like “Get Waht You Hear” or “Stereo Mix”).

I am guessing that as soon as I’d buy a new PC with a modern soundcard, the problem would not appear (I hope), but for the moment I am glad I can still work with my dinosaur PC.
RECORDING BLEED.png