I have read a number of posts on this forum regarding similar/same problems and have tried to ensure Audacity is set up correctly. However, I have been unsuccessful in recording my bass guitar in Audacity using my new laptop. I would be grateful if a member could offer a potential solution.
I am running Audacity 3.6.1 on my Windows 11 laptop. Using a Behringer UMC22 interface I can play a backing track in audacity and using earphones plugged into the interface I can hear both the backing track and my bass. When I click record the new track flat lines and the microphone level shows no volume.
The Audacity settings I am using are:
Host – MME
Playback device – Speakers (USB audio CODEC)
Recording device – Microphone (USB CODEC)
Recording channels – 1 (mono)Recording channel
Sample rate – 44,100 Mz
Buffer length – 100
Latency - -130
Default format – 1 channel 16 bit 44,100Hz (CD Quality)
Note – I have successfully recorded Youtube backing tracks into Audacity internally with the new laptop using WASAPI etc. I have had no problems recording using my previous computers.
I don’t think you want to record your guitar using your microphone.
When I understand correctly you want to record your bass while playing the track.
In Win 11 you’ll have to activate “stereo mix” by hand.
In Win 10 it was most of the time active by default.
Thanks for your rapid response!
Sorry, I did not make myself clear in my post- I have my bass guitar plugged into the instrument jack on the Behringer interface which shows as a CODEC microphone in Audacity
I think I have done your checks as follows
windows>system>properties
Microphone USB CODEC
Input settings > format
1 channels 16 bit 44,100Mz(CD quality)
Input volume set at 75
Test microphone
start test
(I can hear the bass through the headphones plugged into the Behringer)
but test result 0%
I checked (select an enhancement available for your device) and it is off
You are right, somehow windows (and Audacity) are not receiving a signal !!!
Do the LEDs on the interface show a signal? Maybe red for clipping when it’s turned up, and the bass is turned-up and playing a loud note?
Plug your headphones into the interface and select “direct” monitoring. You should hear the bass without the sound going-through the computer.
Assuming that’s all OK… Since you are setup for 1-channel, MAYBE you’re only recording the left (microphone input).
Change Windows AND Audacity to 2-channel stereo and hopefully the instrument input will get recorded to the right channel.
If that works, click the 3 little dots to the left of the waveform and then Split Stereo To Mono and click the “X” to kill the silent channel. The remaining mono track should play through both sides.
Thanks again for helping to overcome my recording issues.
With headphones plugged into the Behringer and Direct Monitor pressed in I see the green LED flashing and can hear the bass when plucked. With Direct Monitor off I see the green LED but hear no sound through the headphones. With Direct Monitor both on and off I see no sound level showing on the Audacity screen.
I changed to stereo but no change occurred on the Audacity screen.
Maybe the Behringer is bad… It seems unlikely but you should hear something with direct monitoring. With direct monitoring, the computer isn’t involved. It’s just powering the interface via USB (and you’ve obviously got power).
The LED shows the interface is getting an analog signal. It should come-on when you play the bass and be off when there is no signal (depending on the recording volume and the volume control on the bass, etc.).
And, I’m assuming your bass works through a bass or guitar amp…
Direct monitoring means you are listening to analog electronics in the the interface like headphone amp for your bass (and/or guitar and microphone).
Since direct monitor is not working and it should work without software, it SEEMS like the Behringer is broken.
With direct monitoring off, you should be hearing the sound from the computer, through the USB. And that should work no-matter the direct switch so you can listen to a backing track from the computer while playing.
When you monitor your bass through the computer (direct-off) there is latency (delay) so the main purpose of direct monitoring is to avoid latency. There is a setting in Audacity for Audible Input Monitoring where the sound loops-through the computer (with latency) but of course the sound has to get into the computer first.
You should also be able to use the Behringer as a regular soundcard to play sound from any audio application.
Direct Monitor allows you to hear both the outgoing guitar and and incoming sound from the computer playback at the same time. This is the setting for overdubbing where you listen to a backing or rhythm track while you play a live performance. Your headphones have a mix of the two. From a quick scan of the posts, you used to be able to get this to work on other computers.
Direct Monitor also, as we are finding, can be handy for troubleshooting.
If you don’t select Direct Monitor, your guitar will go to the computer and your computer playback will go to your headphones. No crosses.
Windows can refuse to record stuff. The newer Windows versions can have a security setting where you have to accept a microphone as “legal” before it can be recorded.
There seems to be a Windows 11 thing where it will flat-out refuse to record sound unless you say it’s OK in one of the buried Windows setups. This came up in a recent forum post.
A HeadSET has both microphone and earphones in one.
If you’re not careful, this Windows 11 setting will kill the microphone “for no apparent reason.”
This sounds an awful lot like what you have. And I’m a million miles outside of my comfort zone being a Mac user.
Most of my posts above have referred to playing my bass through the Behringer into the audacity program but I have not pressed record.
If I load a backing track into audacity and then press record. (with Behringer direct monitor ON)
I hear the backing track
I hear the bass when plucked
The Behringer green LED shows
The audacity screen shows green sound bars on the speaker indicator display
A new track appears below the backing track
The new track advances BUT no waveform appears
No sound bars on the Audacity microphone indicator display
On record and direct monitor OFF
I hear the backing track but not the bass when plucked, the LED shows on interface
The new track advances but shows no wave form
Strangely the Audacity microphone indicator shows a left channel slight flicker to -52 but nothing extra in response to plucking the bass. It seems to be a response to the backing track only?
So you guys are right, either the Behringer is not sending a signal to Computer/Audacity or the computer and/or Audacity are not accepting the incoming signal.
Id check the signal routing in your device. Just because you can hear your bass mixed with the audio coming from your computer doesn’t mean it’s also going to your computer. It’ll depend on your device and its possible configurations (ie settings)
the manual or better a virtual circuit diagram should help. Can your device process audio in both directions over USB at once?
Thanks to Wisperbird, DVDdoug, Koz and Stevelee for helping solve my recording issue.
I am now convinced that there is a fault with the Behringer interface unit. I will try my luck with getting a refund from my retailer. This may be the price you pay for buying a bottom of the range product. I will now buy a Scarlett Focusrite interface and start again.
Go to windows sound settings → record and ensure your usb codec is selected. When you play your bass the windows panel led meter for codec should show the signal coming in. Try the various options there. Check cables etc.
