I am using a windows 7 laptop running songs(tracks) in Audacity. My audio interface is a
Roland Tri-Capture UA33, Hi-Speed USB Audio Interface
I’ve tried panning my tracks left and the click right but a lot of my tracks are stereo reliant and this doesn’t work anyway.
I’ve tried panning also on my off-board mixer but still I can hear the click in the powered speaker.
Even the level that does come through the phones is extremely quiet. I’ve been tearing my hair out about this for months now and would really appreciate any suggestions.
In Audacity, if a track is panned 100% to the left or right then Audacity plays that track “only” through the left or right as specified, so if you are hearing the sound in the other side then there is “leakage” somewhere else in your system.
Check the Windows sounds settings and ensure that there are no effects enabled - If the sound card is applying reverb or other effects then that could account for the leakage.
Thanks for your reply!
There are no effects via Windows and the sound card is not adding effects either.
Try this as an experiment:
- Open Audacity
- Generate a tone (Generate menu) - make it several minutes long.
- Click on the track name and from the drop down menu select “Left Channel”.
- Press Play.
The sound should come out “only” from the left headphone/speaker because Audacity is playing “only” on the left channel.
If you can hear the tone in the Right channel at all, you need to trace it through your system and work out where the leakage is occurring.
(I still suspect it to be a Windows or sound card effect as Windows is notorious for hidden effect settings - also see here for the default Windows sound settings Windows Sound Control Panel)
Ok tried that. It works. Now how do I set my channels so that the click only goes into the phones and the other tracks go out to the speaker? Also how should I split a stereo track? If I make it mono will it lose it’s total sound or will that be ok? I know I sound like a noob. Your help is very much appreciated.
That works. So now how do I assign my tracks so that they go out to the speaker and the click goes to the drummer’s phones? Also what happens with stereo tracks, how should I split them so that I don’t lose sound quality? Thank you.
Could you describe your current set-up.
Are you using a mixing desk?
How are the speaker(s) connected to the computer?
How are the drummers headphones connected?
Anything else to give me a clear picture of your set-up?
Ok. I am running a Roland audio interface from my windows laptop. The Roland has 1 left&right audio output which I am then linking as an input into my little Boss recorder along with my mic.
I am then taking an output from the Boss into a powered speaker.
The Roland has a headphones socket.
Here is info on the roland TRI-CAPTURE: USB Audio Interface
The Power of Three! Triple Inputs & REC Modes
The TRI-CAPTURE USB interface is a unique, compact audio interface optimised for personal and mobile recording, vocal and guitar recording, and streaming-internet applications. With its mixer-like design and dedicated front-panel controls, TRI-CAPTURE makes it easy to mix, control, and monitor a variety of signals. Plug a microphone into the XLR input, an instrument into the 1/4-inch jack, and a stereo instrument or device into the AUX input. The unique REC MODE section provides instant selection of recording scenarios, including LOOP BACK for web streaming applications. TRI-CAPTURE is full-featured yet portable, and is USB bus powered for a clean, simple setup.
· Affordable, easy-to-use interface for guitarists, vocalists, and other musicians
· Also works great for video production, web streaming, and creating podcasts with unique LOOP BACK function
· XLR mic input with phantom power, plus 1/4-inch input with Hi-Z switch for connecting a guitar directly
· Stereo AUX input with dedicated volume control
· Balanced 1/4-inch TRS outputs and headphone jack
· Low-latency ASIO driver; recording and playback at rates up to 24-bit/96 kHz
· USB bus powered with 24-bit/96 kHz operation
I’m wondering if it’s because my Roland only has 1 output that the trouble may lie.
Where does the " little Boss recorder" come into this? I thought that you were recording with Audacity 
I am using the BOSS as a mixer.
I’m trying to picture this…
I have:
1 laptop computer with Audacity installed
1 drum kit
1 pair of headphones
1 powered speaker
1 “little boss recorder/mixer” thing ???
1 Roland TRI-CAPTURE: USB Audio Interface
1 microphone
and a bunch of leads.
If I’m going to recreate your set-up in my house, is there anything else that I need? How do I put all this together - where do I plug in all of the leads?
Then, when I’ve got all of that set up, what exactly is it that you are trying to do?