Hi,
I’m brand new.
When I record a track (I have it set to play other tracks while recording the new one) it’s fine.
However, when I try to add a track, it doesn’t just play back the first one, it RECORDS it onto the second one as well. Muddling it all up and over riding what I was trying to record in the new track.
Help!
P.S.
yes I have it set to “line in”
Since this is a general “Recording Techniques” board rather than the “Audacity 1.2.x > Windows” board, could we start off with:
I am using Audacity 1.2.6 on Winows XP SP2
I have a RealTek HD Audio sound card that is on the motherboard of my Toshiba Laptop.
I am recording from a computer microphone that is plugged into the microphone socket of my laptop
I also have Total Recorder installed, but I am not using it
…
…
(too much information is better than not enough)
Make sure that you really are set to record from Line In, and that stereo mix is not enabled.
Check that any virtual sound devices are completely disabled, or preferably not installed at all.
well yes, we could start again with that, just as soon as I figure out what I’m using on what with what.
I can’t find the info. for what version of audacity I’m using.
I have windows XP.
I don’t know what kind of sound card I have, I’m using a desktop computer.
I’m recording from a yamaha electric keyboard, without a midi, just a left and right line from the keyboard down to a line in the “line in” on my CPU.
It’s definitely set to record “line in/mic in”
I can’t find anything anywhere that says anything about “stereo mix” so I can’t tell if it is enabled.
I will try to find out more about my equipment.
I think we have enough for a little push. Audacity Version is most times under “Help.”
PCs have a facility called “Mix Out” or “What You Hear” and if that is turned on, the machine will pick up the speaker audio and feed it back into the record system. This would account nicely for what you have. This is the pathway that lets PCs record internet audio.
I think XP has a second audio panel called something like Extended Settings or Advanced Settings or something like that and you click on that from the regular audio panel. There was one set of panels in one Windows that required a right-click instead of regular menus.
Koz
yay!!!
thank you thank you!
i lurve you
I have the same problem. However, I can’t find the “Mix Out” or similar option. I go into Sounds and tried all the different “Advanced” buttons, but none of them are the right one.
I do have Realtek AC97 commandeering control of my sound system, but I previously was able to get this to work. Any ideas?
“Mix”, “Stereo Mix”, “What U Hear” are different names for the same thing. They are referring to using the audio that the sound card is sending to the speakers as the recording source. This setting is not in Audacity, but in the Windows Mixer, or the sound cards control panel (depending on which the sound card uses). The Mixer/Control panel can usually be accessed by right clicking on the loudspeaker icon near to the system clock.
Ooh, got it! In case anyone searching for an answer comes on this thread, I double-clicked on the speaker icon in the corner → Option → Properties - > Recording → Okay → then check that “Line In” or “Microphone” or something other than the Mixes is selected. Thanks for the advice from other users too.
Hi guys,
I wish to record secondary tracks in Audacity without also recording the bleedthrough from the first tracks playing at the same time. I need to listen to the first tracks to play and record further tracks.
This is the only thread that I can find that relates to my recording issue. I didn’t want to start a new thread because I have the same issue, just need more help 
:
I am using Audacity 1.3.7 (Unicode) on Windows XP Home Edition
I have a RealTek AC97 Audio sound card that is on the motherboard of my Pentium IV personal computer.
I am recording from a computer microphone that is plugged into the microphone socket of my laptop
DESCRIPTION of problem: For example, I have recorded a drum track using Audacity, easy enough.
Next , I attempt to record a bass guitar track using the microphone socket directly into my computer, Audacity records the original drum track AND the bass guitar track into the same track.
Now when I attempt to record an electric guitar track (track 3) while listening to the drums and bassline tracks (tracks 1 and 2), the guitar track (3) records the guitar AND bass AND drums. (1+2+3 = noisy!) Each new track I record is compounded with noise and sounds from every previous track.
Is there a way to listen to the Audacity tracks (eg: drums (track 1), bass (track 2) while recording a new track (guitar, track 3)WITHOUT recording what I am listening to? I know I can simply record by placing tracks 1 and 2 on “mute”, but I need to hear these tracks to play along and record the guitar in sync.
I am seeking to record clean individual tracks without ping-ponging other tracks into each newly introduced track recording.
I’ve tried recording second and third tracks using “Line In”, “Microphone” (with the “Overdub: Playback while recording new one” switched on and then switched off; and I have tried “Software Playthrough…” switched on and then switched off. I still get overdub bleedthrough from the original tracks onto the new track.
I found the loudspeaker icon that stevethe fiddle described;
then I went into the Windows Mixer and went through all the steps outlined by rebelfish
Still no luck…
I adjusted the volume (up/down) of every option in the Windows Mixer, I doubled checked that I was in “Adjust Volume for: Recording” mode… I again, attempted to record without overdub bleedthrough from the original tracks and I still get noise.
What to do?
Can anyone suggest what needs to be done to resolve this?
Last thing, (might be related) In the WIndows Mixer are “Selection” buttons for every recording/listening mode (being “CD player”, “Line In”, " Stereo Mix", “Mono Mix”, “Aux”, “Phone Line”, “Microphone”, and “SPDIF”). My Windows Mixer will only grant me “Selection” (tick the box) between “Stereo Mix” or “SPDIF”. In SPDIF mode selected on the Windows Mixer nothing records at all, yet the track rolls over.
Right in the last lines - yes, that’s the problem.
“SPDIF” is a digital audio interface (may be optical or co-ax). This is probably not physically present as a socket on your computer, but it still exists within the sound card. If this is selected, then Audacity will record from the digital input, which obviously is not connected.
“Stereo Mix” will record all sound that is playing through your sound card. If you are playing back tracks 1,2 and 3 and also have a microphone signal, the “stereo mix” will record tracks 1,2 and 3 and the microphone. If there is really truly no way to switch that off then you are stuck.
You could look to see if there is a sound card driver update (or perhaps even an older driver) that will give you the option of switching off Stereo Mix. Failing that, then the only other alternative is to upgrade your sound card. Although this will involve a bit of expense it is likely to me money well spent. USB sound cards start at very reasonable prices, and anything from the Behringer UCA 202 upward will provide considerably better sound than the typical on board laptop sound card.
Note if you buy a USB sound card - if you are recording from microphones, then you need a sound card with a microphone input. If you are recording from a mixing desk/CD/Cassette player, then you want “Line level” inputs. Some USB sound cards have both. If either now or in the future you are likely to be upgrading your microphone to a “studio condenser” microphone, then most of these require “phantom power” to be available from the sound card.
If you only want to record from one microphone, then you may want to consider a USB studio condenser microphone. “Samson” make a couple of relatively inexpensive models that have received favourable reviews. “Blue” microphones are reported to have excellent sound quality when they work, but a lot of people seem to have trouble getting them to work properly. Note with USB microphones - the input from the microphone can not be heard through your headphones while you are recording.
Thankyou Steve for the speedy response! 
I will work with the options you have provided. It would be great if an onboard sound card update would fix the “stuck in Stereo Mix mode” problem I have. I’ll look for an update (old or new) right now.
Buying a new sound card will be plan B. With the options to use microphone and cassette recorder etc… I would love to be able to just keeping recrafting the songs I am creating on Audacity each day, using a microphone for voice/field recording (into the microphone socket), or guitar/keyboard/instrument jack into the microphone socket on my computer. That’s my goal for now - it will be heaven for me.
Only mistake I made in my previous description above is that I am NOT using a laptop. I am using a Pentium IV desktop PC. But I dont beleive this will make a difference to the onboard sound card problem I currently have.
Thanks once again for your invaluable input!
Namaste