my goal is to play an mp3 in one track with audacity and record a separate or second track at the same time. i know there is a box to check, under edit-preferences that states “make sure to play other tracks, while recording a new one” . this appears to be exactly what i want to do, i just don’t know how to do this without my recording mic picking up the sound from the mp3 being played. can anyoe help with this?
In Windows recording devices, only enable the mic you are recording from , disable “stereo mix” or equivalent, which is the sound coming out of the speakers.
You should restart Audacity or use Transport > Rescan Audio Devices at the top of Audacity if you change devices in Windows Sound, otherwise Audacity may give an error. You should not need to disable everything except your mic if you are using a mic that plugs into the computer.
In case it isn’t obvious, you need to wear headphones and set the Audacity playback device in Device Toolbar to your headphones.
Gale
thank you to trebor and gale