We need to get your machine in perfect order before you start overdubbing. Overdubbing demands that the machine play back one or more sound tracks perfectly and then record your voice, perfectly, all at the same time. If anything goes wrong, it stops working.
Which Audacity version do you have?
The newer Audacity versions have an effects and generator manager. Generate > Manage (attached). Is that where you’re stuck?
Most of the time you can’t listen to yourself from the computer during overdubbing. That’s machine latency and there’s no control for it. All three of the hardware overdubbing solutions I wrote about have monitoring outside of the computer to get around this.
Did you actually install Audacity? I think the newer one comes with an actual installer. It’s possible to run Audacity from inside the .dmg folder on your desktop or download folder and it seems to work, but it’s doesn’t like doing that at all.
That could be important.
If it says that “Nyquist” is disabled or not available, then you have not installed Audacity correctly. In this case you will need to remove Audacity and reinstall the DMG according to the instructions on the download page: http://web.audacityteam.org/download/mac
If that is not the message, please say exactly what the message is.
The version I have is 2.1.0. The nice thing about it is that is has Software Playthrough, since Mac doesn’t have Hardware Playthrough. I’m also using OS 10 Yosemite and a Scarlett 2i2 audio interface. But when I go to the Generate dropdown menu and click on ‘click track,’ it says “Effect failed to initialize.” As for the libraries, all features, such as Nyquist and VST appear to be enabled. The disabled ones are; libresample, libsamplerate and libsoxr.
The current version of Audacity is 2.1.1 and it is available here: http://web.audacityteam.org/download/mac
I’d suggest that you remove your current version and install the 2.1.1 version.
I’m not on Mac OS X, but I thought that libsoxr should be enabled on all platforms - perhaps koz or Gale can cast some light on that.
2.1.1 and later should say under Core Libraries “libsoxr (Sample rate conversion) Enabled” and not mention the other resampling libraries.
Trash 2.1.0 and make sure you install 2.1.1 properly. Do not run it from the DMG. Don’t pull Audacity.app out of its folder and move it somewhere else.
Having trouble with latency and all the old tricks aren’t working
Those are the wrong English words. There are two latencies and it’s good to know which one you have trouble with.
I can’t record multiple tracks (overdub) without solving the latency issue and that’s usually done by utilizing the click track.
But it doesn’t have to be. Any drum solo will do it. Anything with timing references. Put the microphone next to a clock and record that. Anything with rhythm.
The nice thing about it is that is has Software Playthrough
Which it’s had for a long time, but that playthrough system has machine latency, not recording latency and that’s the one we can’t easily fix. If you use Software Playthrough, chances are really poor you’re going to be able to perform in rhythm. The headphone sound is always going to be out of step with the real you.
All that gets fixed after you get the basic computer running. A really important step in overdubbing setup is make a good recording and play it back. Full Stop. If you can’t do that, setting up for overdubbing is just going to dig you deeper and deeper holes.
