Hi everyone.
This is my first time using Audacity. So please be gentle on me
I’m trying to record 3 mics in the same time but I seem to be struggling to add the third one. I can only record two at a time.
Please help
Audio interface: behringer audio interface 4-channel umc404hd
Mic: Behringer Ultravoice XM1800S Handheld Supercardioid Dynamic Microphone (Set of 3)
OS: Windows 10
Try the Microsoft recording device option to see if that gives more than 2 channels …
https: //manual.audacityteam.org/man/multi_channel_recording.html
As a plan-B consider Audacity’s competitor OCENaudio,
Its less powerful as an audio editor than Audacity, but more compatible with multi-track recording,
(via ASIO compatibility).
You could record in OCENaudio, then edit the recording in Audacity, (both are free).
I’ve tried that to no avail.
Is there an option to set the number of channels to 3 in the device toolbar?
Note that for recording 3 channels on a 4 channel interface, you should use input channels 1, 2 and 3.
Hi Steve,
that’s exactly what I want to achieve. I want to have three channels but I can’t seem to know how 
I can only record audio from Mic 1 and 2 simultaneously . However, Mic 3 I have to toggle the Recording device into Mic 3-4
Please see attachment
Try the other two “host” options in the device toolbar (Direct Sound and WASAPI) and see if either of those offer more than 2 channels.
From what I read here on the forum, very few people are successfully multitack recording with Audacity.
The Behringer website says your interface should have come with Tracktion. It also says:
Compatible with popular recording software including Avid Pro Tools*, Ableton Live*, Steinberg Cubase*, etc.
You could also try CakeWalk which is now FREE.
Hi Steve,
and thanks for replying so fast. Nope there’s only two channels with WASAPI or Windows DirecctSound
DVDdoug I’m not entirely sure. See, I’ve inherited this setup from a friend of mine (before leaving country) and he was successfully recording all three mics with ease. Needless to say his computer was Macbook and mine is Lenovo. So maybe it’s a hardware thing ?
Look in the Windows Sounds Control Panel, and in the recording tab, open the “Properties” for the UMC404HD.
Can you set the device properties to “4 channels”?
I just tried doing it and it I couldn’t find 4 channels. See attachment
That’s unfortunate. The Windows device drivers are split into two stereo devices, one “device” for channels 1 and 2, and another for channels 3 and 4.
Audacity is only able to record from one device at a time, so that gives you the option of recording from either the “In 1-2” device OR from the “In 3-4” device.
Unlike macOS and Linux, Windows has no built in way to “aggregate” the two devices as a single device. The only way to do that on Windows is to use 3rd party software, such as Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) or Voicemeeter, which is a bit complicated. I’ve not used it myself, but I suspect that “VB-Audio VoiceMeeter” is probably your best bet.
I see what you mean and I seem to agree with you. Thank you so much. You explained it perfectly. I just googled Voicemeeter and It seems they only allow two Mics not three
Adjunct.
I think the way it works (I’ve not used it myself) is that you connect your In 1-2" and “In 3-4” devices to the inputs of Voicemeeter, then in Audacity’s device toolbar, select the output of Voicemeeter as Audacity’s recording input.
Voicemeeter is “donationware” for personal use, meaning that you can try it for free, and donate according to your budget.
As per their website it seems they offer two physical and one virtual Audio Devices I/O
https://www.vb-audio.com/Voicemeeter/
While in my case I’m looking for three mics
Faisal600 I’m curioius if you’ve found a nice solution for this. I’m in the same situation, looking to use up to 4 mics on the UMC404HD.
From what I read here on the forum, very few people are successfully multitack recording with Audacity.
Beware of the Forum Effect. Nobody posts about how beautifully everything worked.
Koz
I’ve inherited this setup from a friend of mine (before leaving country) and he was successfully recording all three mics with ease.
Drop him/her a note and ask how they did it. It’s possible they’re going to say something like: "I just downloaded the drivers and it started working. That will give us a terrific head start resolving this.
Koz
From what I read here on the forum, very few people are successfully multitack recording with Audacity.
It’s all down to having a computer sound system (including hardware and drivers) that can expose multiple channels as a single device.
Posting to confirm that after a bit of messing about, using Voicemeeter was a success. Used MME & Voicemeeter as input and it only seems to work with certain output options. But it works.